How to Play Acey-Deucey (In-Between)

Acey-Deucey is a fast, social card game in which you predict whether a third card will fall between two face-up “post” cards. It is also known as In-Between, Between the Sheets, Yablon, and sometimes Red Dog.

Which Acey-Deucey is this? This guide covers the three-card betting game, not the backgammon variant. This browser version uses only virtual chips and does not involve real-money wagering.

What you need

The traditional game uses a standard 52-card deck, chips, and two or more players. The online version handles the deck, pot, turns, and payouts automatically. You can invite friends with a private room code or add computer-controlled players.

Setup and objective

1. Each player receives a starting stack of chips.
2. Players contribute an ante to create the central pot.
3. On each turn, two cards are dealt face up as the posts.
4. The active player bets that the next card will rank strictly between the posts.

The standard rank is 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, Jack, Queen, King, Ace, with Ace high.

Winning, losing, and hitting the post

• Inside: the third card ranks strictly between the posts, so the player wins the bet from the pot.
• Outside: the third card is lower than the low post or higher than the high post, so the bet goes into the pot.
• Hit the post: the third card matches either post. Under the default house rules, the player pays twice the bet into the pot.

Pairs and consecutive cards

No rank can fit between consecutive posts such as a 7 and 8. Matching posts, such as two Queens, also create a special hand. House rules differ; this online game can award configurable instant bonuses for consecutive or paired posts so play continues without an impossible bet.

Beginner strategy

Count the ranks strictly between the posts before choosing a bet. A 2 and Ace create the widest possible spread, while narrow spreads leave many losing cards outside. Remember that duplicate ranks can hit a post, so a wide spread is strong but never guaranteed. Bet conservatively on narrow spreads and avoid risking a large part of your stack simply because the previous hand won.

Play online without downloading an app

This version runs in a modern phone, tablet, or desktop browser. There is no account or app-store installation. Host a private table, share the five-letter code, customize the house rules, and add bots whenever you need another player.