Ultimate Book of Card Games: The Comprehensive Guide to More Than 350 Games (16 page)

HOW TO PLAY
The topmost tableau cards may be played to a valid foundation card, or you may use them to build by suit in descending rank on
another tableau pile. You may move only one card at a time. Fill empty spaces with any available card. There is no redeal in Grandfather’s Clock; the game is over once all moves are exhausted.

1. DIFFICULTY
   :
   medium
   
2. TIME LENGTH
   :
   short
   
3. DECKS
   : 1
   

This simple and addictive game is played using just one hand, so it’s perfect if you commute each day on crowded subways, buses, or trains. It’s similar to Decade, another “Solitaire-to-go” game, except it is a little easier to win (the odds of winning are 1 in every 15 hands).

HOW TO DEAL
Start with a fifty-two-card deck face down, and flip four cards from the bottom to the top of the deck, one at a time and face up.

WINNING
The goal is to discard all but five of the fifty-two cards in the deck.

HOW TO PLAY
Whenever the first and last cards on top of the deck are of the same suit, discard all cards between them. If they are of the same rank (two 7s, two Js, etc.), remove
all
cards, including the first and last card. Place all discards face up at the bottom of the deck. (With just a little practice, you can easily manage dealing with one hand.) Alternatively, if the first and last cards do not match in suit or rank, deal a fifth card, then a sixth, etc., until the first and last cards match in suit or rank.

1. DIFFICULTY
   :
   low
   
2. TIME LENGTH
   :
   short
   
3. DECKS
   : 2
   

Befitting its name, skill and strategy are more important than raw luck in this game. The odds of winning are 1 in every 5 games.

HOW TO DEAL
Start with two fifty-two-card decks (104 cards total), and deal eighteen tableau piles (three cards per pile), all cards face up and visible.

WINNING
Build eight foundation piles by suit, each in ascending rank from ace to king.

HOW TO PLAY
Play the topmost tableau cards either to the foundations (move aces up as they become available) or another tableau pile, building in ascending or descending order by suit. You may move only one card at a time. The stock serves only one purpose: to fill empty spaces in the tableau (with three replacement cards). Otherwise, you may not play cards from the stock.

Once you no longer can move or build, it’s time for a redeal. Pick up all cards
not
in a foundation, shuffle, and deal as many three-card tableau piles as possible. You are allowed two redeals.

1. DIFFICULTY
   :
   medium
   
2. TIME LENGTH
   :
   short
   
3. DECKS
   : 2
   

An interregnum is the period between the reigns of successive kings, popes, or governments. The name is a nod to the game’s unique layout, featuring a row of cards that dictate how the hand must evolve. The odds of winning are 1 in every 7 hands.

HOW TO DEAL
Start with two fifty-two-card decks (104 cards total), and deal eight cards, face up, in a row. These are your “topper” cards. Leave an empty row below the toppers for your foundations, and below that deal another row of eight cards, face up. These are your tableau piles.

WINNING
The goal is to build eight foundation piles, each with thirteen cards organized by ascending rank (suits and colors do not matter). This game allows
continuous ranking
.

The complication is that each foundation must start with a card one rank higher than the topper card above it. So a 7 of hearts topper, for example, requires the foundation below it to start with any eight and build from there in ascending rank. When the foundation reaches twelve cards, the topper card is added to the pile, making thirteen cards total, and the entire pile is set aside. The game ends when all eight foundations are set aside.

HOW TO PLAY
Move foundation cards as they become available. You may not build or move cards among tableau piles; cards may be moved only from the tableau to the foundations. Once all moves are exhausted, deal eight new tableau cards from the stock. You are allowed one redeal.