Apophis

Game Objective:

The primary goal in Apophis Solitaire is to remove all cards from the pyramid-shaped tableau by discarding pairs of cards whose combined values total exactly thirteen. Kings, valued at thirteen, may be discarded singly.

Setup & Layout:

• Deck: Use a standard 52-card deck.
• Tableau (Pyramid): Deal 28 cards face-up in a pyramid formation:
  • Row 1: 1 card (top)
  • Row 2: 2 cards (overlapping previous row)
  • Row 3: 3 cards
  • Row 4: 4 cards
  • Row 5: 5 cards
  • Row 6: 6 cards
  • Row 7: 7 cards (bottom row)
• Waste Piles: Deal three additional cards face-up, one to each of three waste piles.
• Stock: Place the remaining cards face-down as the stock pile.
• Key Play Areas:
  • Tableau: The pyramid of 28 cards.
  • Waste Piles: Three separate piles, each with one face-up card.
  • Stock: The draw pile for replenishing waste piles.

Apophis Solitaire Rules:

• Card Values:
  • Ace = 1
  • 2–10 = face value
  • Jack = 11
  • Queen = 12
  • King = 13
• Pairing & Removal:
  • Remove pairs of uncovered cards whose values sum to 13.
  • Kings (13) are removed singly.
  • Cards must be fully uncovered (not overlapped by any other card) to be eligible for pairing or removal.
• Waste Pile Interaction:
  • You may pair any uncovered pyramid card with the top card of any waste pile if their values total 13.
  • Cards in waste piles may also be paired with each other or with the stock, if rules permit (variant-dependent).
• Stock Usage:
  • When no moves are available, draw from the stock to replenish the waste piles.
  • Only the top card of each waste pile is available for pairing.

Gameplay:

• Turn Sequence:
  1. Search for pairs of uncovered cards in the pyramid that sum to 13 and discard them.
  2. Pair uncovered pyramid cards with the top card of any waste pile to sum 13 and discard both.
  3. If no pairs are available, draw from the stock to refill waste piles (one card per pile as needed).
  4. Continue pairing and discarding until no legal moves remain or all cards are cleared.
• Introducing New Cards:
  • Draw from the stock to replenish waste piles when empty or when no moves are possible.
• No Legal Moves:
  • If no pairs can be made and the stock is exhausted, the game ends.

Winning & Losing Conditions:

• Winning: You win by removing all cards from the pyramid and waste piles through valid pairings that total 13.
• Losing: The game is lost if no more legal moves are possible and cards remain in the pyramid or waste piles.

Special Rules & Edge Cases:

• Empty Waste Piles: When a waste pile is emptied, it is refilled with the next card from the stock, if available.
• Uncovered Cards: Only cards not overlapped by others (fully uncovered) can be paired or removed.
• Multiple Waste Piles: The use of three waste piles (instead of one) increases pairing opportunities and strategic depth.
• No Redeal: Generally, the stock is not reshuffled or reused once depleted, unless a specific variant allows for it.
• Edge Case—Single King: Kings may always be removed singly when uncovered, as their value is 13.
• Blocked Cards: If a card is overlapped by another in the pyramid, it cannot be paired or removed until uncovered.

Definitions:

• Tableau: The main play area formed by the pyramid of cards.
• Waste Pile: A face-up pile where cards from the stock are placed and can be paired with tableau cards.
• Stock: The remaining face-down deck used to replenish waste piles.

This guide is based on official and reputable sources describing the rules and mechanics of Apophis Solitaire.