Adelaide

Game Objective

The primary goal in Adelaide Solitaire is to move all cards from the tableau and stock to the eight foundation piles, building each foundation in ascending order from Ace to King by suit.

Setup

1. Shuffle two standard 52-card decks (total 104 cards).
2. Deal seven cards face-up to each of the eight tableau piles (for a total of 56 cards).
3. Place the remaining 48 cards face-down as the stock.
4. Designate space for:

• Eight foundations (initially empty).
• One waste pile (initially empty).

1. All tableau cards are dealt face-up; stock is face-down until drawn.

Gameplay / Turn Structure

1. Player Actions (on each turn):

• Move any available Ace to an empty foundation.
• Build foundations up by suit (e.g., 2♠ on Ace♠, 3♠ on 2♠, etc.).
• Build tableau piles down by suit (e.g., 6♠ on 7♠, 5♠ on 6♠, etc.).
• Move any card or group of cards between tableau piles, regardless of sequence or suit (no restriction on rank, suit, or color for moving stacks).
• Only a King may be moved to an empty tableau pile.
• Draw one card from the stock to the waste pile when desired.
• Move the top card of the waste pile to the tableau or foundation if legal.

1. Options during play:

• Move cards between tableau piles to uncover hidden cards and create sequences.
• Transfer cards from the waste pile to tableau or foundations.
• Move stacks of cards within the tableau, regardless of build.

1. Stock and Waste Mechanics:

• Cards are drawn one at a time from the stock to the waste pile.
• After the stock is exhausted, a single redeal is permitted: shuffle the waste pile to form a new stock, allowing for two passes through the stock.

Winning the Game

• The game is won when all 104 cards are placed on the eight foundation piles, each built in ascending order by suit from Ace to King.
• The game is lost or unwinnable if no further legal moves are possible and the stock (including the allowed redeal) is exhausted.

Key Rules & Edge Cases

• Empty Tableau Spaces: Only a King (single or as part of a stack) may be moved to an empty tableau pile.
• Stack Movement: Any group of cards may be moved together within the tableau, regardless of suit or sequence; this is unique to Adelaide.
• Foundation Building: Foundations must be built strictly in ascending order by suit (Ace to King).
• Tableau Building: Tableau piles build strictly in descending order by suit (King to Ace).
• Stock Redeal: Only one redeal of the waste pile into the stock is allowed, for a total of two passes through the stock.
• Waste Pile: Only the top card of the waste pile is available for play.
• Game Odds: Most games are winnable; skill and luck are balanced, with roughly 95% solvability.
• No Restrictions on Stack Movement: Unlike most solitaire variants, stacks do not need to follow suit or sequence to be moved as a group—this allows for flexible manipulation of tableau piles.

Definitions:

• Foundation: Pile where cards are built up by suit from Ace to King.
• Tableau: Eight piles where cards are built down by suit; all cards are face-up.
• Stock: The face-down pile from which cards are drawn to the waste.
• Waste: The face-up pile where cards from the stock are placed; only the top card is playable.

This guide is based on official digital implementations and rule summaries for Adelaide Solitaire.