Ace of Hearts

Game Objective

The primary objective of Ace of Hearts Solitaire is to move all 52 cards from the tableau and stock onto a single foundation pile, building the foundation in ascending order (Ace through King), regardless of suit.

Setup

1. Use a standard 52-card deck (no jokers).
2. Create the Tableau: Deal seven tableau piles, each with all cards face up in a Klondike-style layout. Each tableau pile receives a different number of cards, with the first pile containing one card, the second two, and so on, up to seven cards in the seventh pile.
3. Stock: Place the remaining cards face down as the stock pile.
4. Foundation: The foundation area starts empty and will be built up during play.
5. All tableau cards are dealt face up; there are no face-down cards in the tableau for this variant.

Play Areas Defined:

• Tableau: Seven piles where cards are manipulated and sequenced.
• Foundation: A single pile where cards are built up from Ace to King, regardless of suit.
• Stock: The remaining undealt cards, used to introduce new cards to the tableau.

Gameplay / Turn Structure

1. Move Cards to the Foundation:

• Only the Ace of Hearts can be placed on an empty foundation to start.
• Build up the foundation in ascending order (Ace to King), regardless of suit.
• After King, the sequence may wrap around to Ace again ("around-the-corner" building).

1. Manipulate the Tableau:

• Build tableau piles down by the same suit (e.g., 10♠ on J♠).
• Any card or valid sequence of cards (regardless of their internal build) may be moved as a group between tableau piles.
• Only a King (or a group starting with a King) can be moved to an empty tableau pile.

1. Deal from the Stock:

• When desired, deal one card face up from the stock onto each tableau pile.
• Only one pass through the stock is allowed; no redeals.

1. Continue Moving and Building:

• Repeat moving cards between tableau piles and to the foundation, and dealing from the stock, until all cards are moved to the foundation or no further moves are possible.

Winning the Game

• Win Condition: The game is won when all 52 cards have been moved to the single foundation pile in correct sequence, starting with the Ace of Hearts and building up regardless of suit, wrapping around as needed.
• Lose Condition: The game is lost if no further legal moves are possible and not all cards have been transferred to the foundation.

Key Rules & Edge Cases

• Foundation Building: Only the Ace of Hearts can start the foundation. The foundation is built up in ascending order (regardless of suit). After King, you may continue with Ace ("around-the-corner" building).
• Tableau Building: Tableaus must be built down by the same suit. Any card or sequence may be moved, regardless of internal build, as long as the move follows the "down by same suit" rule for the destination pile.
• Empty Tableau Spaces: Only a King (or a group of cards starting with a King) may be placed in an empty tableau pile.
• Stock Dealing: Each time you deal from the stock, one card is dealt face up to each tableau pile. Only one pass through the stock is allowed, and there are no redeals.
• Movable Groups: Any group of cards can be moved together between tableau piles, even if the sequence is not perfectly ordered, as long as the destination build rule is followed.
• No Suit Restriction for Foundation: The foundation does not require cards to be of the same suit, only in ascending order.
• No Reserve or Waste Pile: There are no reserve or waste piles in this variant.
• Unwinnable State: If no further moves are possible and the foundation is incomplete, the game is unwinnable.

Definitions of Key Terms:

• Foundation: The target pile to which cards are moved in ascending order to win the game.
• Tableau: The main area where cards are arranged and manipulated.
• Stock: The pile of undealt cards used to introduce new cards into the tableau.

This guide reflects the unique mechanics and rules specific to Ace of Hearts Solitaire as described in official and reputable sources.