Dealer's Choice / Lucky Ace / High Ace pinball rules and strategy

The Strategy

Dealer's Choice, Lucky Ace, and High Ace build base bonus through regular scoring, while completing the 1-through-9 matrix enables Double and then Triple Bonus. Reach 10K, complete the matrix twice, and carry the resulting 30K bonus to the end of the ball.

The goal

Complete the card targets from the right flippers, use the upper flipper to cross the 1-9 matrix, then build 10K bonus and light Triple Bonus before taking the upper-right lane.

  1. Use the right flippers to hit the 10-J-Q-K-A standups.

  2. From the upper-right flipper, shoot across the 1-9 matrix toward the card targets.

  3. Complete the 1-9 matrix once to light Double Bonus.

  4. Complete the 1-9 matrix a second time to light Triple Bonus.

    • One 1-9 completion lights Double Bonus. A second completion lights Triple Bonus.: One 1-9 completion lights Double Bonus. A second completion lights Triple Bonus.
  5. Use either top lane and safe yellow-target hits to build base bonus to 10K.

  6. After the cards are complete, take the upper-right lane when its award is useful.

  7. Protect the 30K end-of-ball collect after 10K and Triple Bonus are ready.

Alternative route: Top-lane bonus

Use this when lower-flipper shots through the 1-9 matrix reach the bumpers and return without control.

  1. Send the ball through either top lane.
  2. Take safe yellow-standup hits to add base bonus.
  3. Use the upper flipper for crosswise matrix progress.
  4. Do not shoot directly through the matrix from a lower flipper without a controlled return.
Need to know
Base bonus
Either top lane and each yellow standup advance the end-of-ball bonus to its 10K maximum.
1-9 matrix
Complete the center 1-9 rollover matrix once for Double Bonus and twice for Triple Bonus.
Card targets
Complete 10-J-Q-K-A to light the upper-right lane and the right return lane for their configured awards.

Machine setup

  • Confirm Dealer's Choice, Lucky Ace, High Ace, or the exact licensed edition, plus replay versus add-a-ball rules.
  • Confirm three-ball or five-ball setup, Extra Ball and Special conversion, matrix awards, right-lane awards, tilt, and bonus maximum.
  • Test both upper flippers, card-target rebounds, matrix switches, top lanes, return lanes, posts, and bumper exits before choosing the route.
Sources and references4 source links and outbound references.
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Dealer's Choice / Lucky Ace / High Ace playfield

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