Deal a winning hand — Gottlieb’s Ace High is an electromechanical single-player wrapped in a classic cards-and-gambling theme, and it comes from the legendary team of designer Wayne Neyens and artist Roy Parker, one of the most beloved creative partnerships of pinball’s golden woodrail age. With light-based scoring and a confirmed run of 2,100, it’s a handsome early machine that hides a surprisingly rich card-based strategy behind its poker-table charm.
The strategy is genuinely engaging. The path to a Special runs through the cards: light Queens, Kings, or Aces, complete the suits, and reach a certain score to earn it. Hitting the center of the bullseye targets advances the Queen, King, and Ace lights, giving you a clear way to build toward those valuable card completions. The payoffs escalate beautifully — three Queens scores a Special, three Kings scores three Specials, one Ace scores a Special, and three Aces scores a whopping eight Specials, a genuine jackpot for the skilled player. Completing all four suits — Spade, Heart, Diamond, and Club — lights a Special at the outlane. And the seasoned wisdom for these woodrails is critical: nudge actively to keep the ball alive, but remember that a tilt ends the game entirely.
Ace High is a smartly designed showcase of the Neyens-and-Parker craft, packing real card-game depth into its gambling package with that escalating Specials scoring giving a thoughtful player plenty to chase. Neyens was a true master of EM design, and Parker’s warm artwork gave Gottlieb machines their storybook charm. For the collector who loves EM strategy and pinball’s foundational figures, it’s a rewarding find. Light your Aces, complete the suits, and chase those Specials — three Aces pays eight. Just don’t tilt. The house rewards the player who knows the game, and this classic deals a fine hand.