Professor Layton and the Curious Village
Puzzle 102: Aces and the Joker
Turning cards from a face-down deck plus a joker, what's the chance you find all four aces before the joker?
- Chapter
- Chapter 6
- Location
- Tower Road · Martha
- Picarats
- 40 picarats
- Type
- Write Answer
- Region
- Same in all versions
Hint 1: A gentle nudge. Tap to flip.
You don't need to work out the odds card by card. Ask yourself which cards actually matter.
Tap to flip backHint 2: The key idea. Unlocks after the previous card is flipped.
The other 48 cards make no difference to whether the aces come before the joker.
Tap to flip backHint 3: Almost there. Unlocks after the previous card is flipped.
Look only at the five cards that matter: four aces and the joker. Where does the joker have to be among them?
Tap to flip backAnswer: See the answer. Unlocks after the previous card is flipped.
The answer is 20%.
Tap to flip backSolution, FAQ and sources
Solution
1. Only the order of five cards matters: the four aces and the joker. The other 48 cards can be ignored. 2. Shuffled at random, each of those five cards is equally likely to be the last of the five to turn up. 3. You need the joker to be the last of the five: a 1 in 5 chance.
1 ÷ 5 = **20%**. (We also checked this by listing every ordering of the five cards: the joker is last in exactly one fifth of them.)
About this puzzle
A full deck of 52 cards plus one joker is spread face down on a table. You turn cards over one at a time, never the same card twice. What are the chances, as a percentage, that you’ll have turned over all four aces before you reach the joker?
Unofficial fan guide, not affiliated with LEVEL-5. Puzzle description, hints and solution written by Hint by Hint.
Similar puzzles: Puzzle 116: The Largest Total, Puzzle 087: Ferris Wheel Riddle, Puzzle 117: Painting a Cube, Puzzle 099: 33333!
All Professor Layton and the Curious Village puzzles
FAQ
What is the answer to Puzzle 102, Aces and the Joker, in Professor Layton and the Curious Village?
The answer is 20%.
Where do you find Puzzle 102 in Curious Village?
Puzzle 102 appears in Chapter 6, in the Tower Road area, when you talk to Martha.
How many picarats is Curious Village Puzzle 102 worth?
40 picarats.
Sources
- Professor Layton Wiki (Fandom): Puzzle:Aces and the Joker
- StrategyWiki: Professor Layton and the Curious Village/Puzzles 101-120
- Professor Layton Wiki (Fandom): Module:PuzzleData/CV
Facts checked on November 14, 2026
Unofficial fan guide. Not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by LEVEL-5 Inc. Professor Layton, The New World of Steam, and all related names, characters, and trademarks are the property of their respective owners.