Top Card / Royal Pair pinball rules and strategy
The Strategy
Top Card uses card-target hits to light three bumpers and cycle every star rollover from 10 to 100 to 1,000. Complete the Ace, 2-6, and 9-K objectives, stop the rollovers at 1,000, then leave the card targets alone and keep the ball in the upper area.
The goal
Use card targets to light all three bumpers and cycle the star rollovers to 1,000. Then avoid the targets and keep the ball in the top area for rollovers and bumper scoring.
Plunge through the top star rollovers. Guide the ball inside a top bumper toward the Ace target.
Hit card targets until the star rollover value reaches 1,000.
Complete the Ace, left 2-6 group, and right 9-K group to light all three bumpers.
When the star rollovers show 1,000, stop shooting card targets.
- Each card hit changes the star value from 10 to 100 to 1,000 and then back to 10.: Each card hit changes the star value from 10 to 100 to 1,000 and then back to 10.
Bank the ball off a card standup into the top of the playfield.
Move the cabinet briefly so the playfield shifts under the ball, changing its speed or path after contact with a post, rubber, or wall. within the tilt limit to collect star rollovers and lit-bumper hits.
Resume card-target shots only when the rollover value changes or an important bumper remains unlit.
Alternative route: Restore the 1,000 rollover value
Use this when the star value is 10 or 100 and broad target-bank completion is unsafe.
- Choose the card target with the safest rebound.
- Hit one target and read the new star rollover value.
- Repeat only until the value reaches 1,000.
- Return the ball to the top and avoid more card targets.
Need to know
- Star rollover value
- Each card-target hit cycles every star rollover from 10 to 100 to 1,000 and then back to 10.
- Ace target
- Hit the Ace standup to light the lower bumper.
- Left card group
- Complete the five 2-6 targets on the left to light the left bumper.
Top Card uses card-target hits to light three bumpers and cycle every star rollover from 10 to 100 to 1,000. Complete the three card objectives and stop the cycle at 1,000, then shift entirely to upper-playfield rollovers and lit bumpers. Check the starting rollover value because it persists from the previous game.
The goal
Use card targets to light all three bumpers and cycle the star rollovers to 1,000.Then avoid the targets and keep the ball in the top area for rollovers and bumper scoring.
- Plunge through the top star rollovers. Guide the ball inside a top bumper toward the Ace target.
- Hit card targets until the star rollover value reaches 1,000.
- Complete the Ace, left 2-6 group, and right 9-K group to light all three bumpers.
- When the star rollovers show 1,000, stop shooting card targets.
Rollover cycle scoring details
- Each card hit changes the star value from 10 to 100 to 1,000 and then back to 10.: Each card hit changes the star value from 10 to 100 to 1,000 and then back to 10.
- Bank the ball off a card standup into the top of the playfield.
- Move the cabinet briefly so the playfield shifts under the ball, changing its speed or path after contact with a post, rubber, or wall. within the tilt limit to collect star rollovers and lit-bumper hits.
- Resume card-target shots only when the rollover value changes or an important bumper remains unlit.
Builds toward: Three lit bumpers with 1,000 rollovers
- Hit the Ace to light the lower bumper.
- Complete 2-6 to light the left bumper.
- Complete 9-K to light the right bumper.
- Stop the card-target cycle at a 1,000 rollover value.
- Use repeated top play for the combined rollover and bumper scoring.