Calculation Solitaire

Rules and help

Four foundations start on the aces, each by its own step.

How to play

• Layout. Forty-eight cards stay in the stock, and four waste piles start empty. Suit does not matter.
• By 1s: A, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, J, Q, K. By 2s: A, 3, 5, 7, 9, J, K, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, Q. By 3s: A, 4, 7, 10, K, 3, 6, 9, Q, 2, 5, 8, J. By 4s: A, 5, 9, K, 4, 8, Q, 3, 7, J, 2, 6, 10. After a king the count wraps. The label shows the next rank.
• Draw. Turn one card and place it before the next draw. No redeal.
• Play. Tap the card or its foundation when only one wants it. Choose when several do. Drag it to a waste pile to hold it.
• Waste. Only the top card moves, and only to a foundation. It may be played while a drawn card waits.
• End. You win when each foundation has thirteen cards. The deal also ends when nothing left can be played. Undo includes the last move. Hint marks a play. Left is cards still off the foundations.

Tips

• When a rank fits two foundations, give it to the higher step. The by-4s pile meets its king early.
• Do not cover a waste card that will be needed soon. An empty pile is safer.
• Keep kings on their own pile. The by-3s and by-4s foundations need one before they are half built.
• Play a fitting waste card before you cover it.

Playing on a phone or tablet

Tap the stock to draw one card. Tap the drawn card when one foundation can take it, or tap that foundation. When you must choose, tap a highlighted foundation or waste pile. You can drag a card instead. Swipe sideways if the four piles are wider than the screen.

Frequently asked questions

How do you play calculation solitaire?

The four aces start the foundations, and the other forty-eight cards form the stock. Draw one card at a time. Play it onto a foundation when it is the next rank in that sequence, or set it on one of four waste piles. Only the top card of a waste pile can move, and only onto a foundation. You win when all four foundations are complete. The stock is not redealt.

What are the four foundation sequences?

Suit does not matter. By 1s the pile runs ace, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, jack, queen, king. By 2s: A, 3, 5, 7, 9, J, K, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, Q. By 3s: A, 4, 7, 10, K, 3, 6, 9, Q, 2, 5, 8, J. By 4s: A, 5, 9, K, 4, 8, Q, 3, 7, J, 2, 6, 10. After a king the count wraps. The label under each pile shows the next rank.

How do the four waste piles work?

A drawn card that you do not play to a foundation goes face up on any waste pile. You cannot move cards between waste piles, and you cannot play a covered card. Leave soon-needed ranks on top, and keep kings easy to reach: the by-3s and by-4s foundations need a king early. Not every deal can be won.