Four Cards Pro

Card Game Puzzler

Four Cards (also referred to as "24") is a popular card game in China. It thought to have originated in Shanghai in the 1960s. Four Cards is played in competition, and is also used to help students develop basic math skills. Pacific Software Solutions brings this classic math-puzzler card game to Android with a full range of options and an intuitive, clean interface.

24 or Bust

To play, you construct an equation equaling 24 using the face value of four cards. (Ace=1, Jack=11, Queen=12, and King =13). You are dealt four cards to place in each of the four slots, and then choose a math sign (plus, minus, multiply, or divide) between the cards. First, you combine the total of the first two cards and then combine that total with the third card. The second total must be combined with the fourth card to equal 24.

For example, you are dealt the 4, 8, 9, and 10 cards. First drag the 9 and 4 card in the first two slots. Choosing to add these cards gives you a total of 13. (You're free to subtract, multiply, or divide the 9 and 4, or use two other cards if you think that's the way to go). Now the total value of 13 must be combined with the third card. Subtracting 13 from the 10 card gives you a total of 3. In turn, you combine the total value of 3 with the remaining 8 card. If you multiply 3 and 8, you get 24. Problem solved!

Mathematical Madness

It won't take long to see Four Cards is a serious mathematical
brain buster that takes your arithmetic skills to the limit. With so many possible combinations, it takes quite bit of figuring out to get to the total of 24. If smoke starts coming out of your ears, you can start over, get the solution, or have the app deal you a new set of four cards at any time. In Normal Mode, Four Cards will only deal the Ace through 10 cards. Advanced Mode includes the face cards (11 through 13), which makes for a far tougher puzzle.