Arabella

Game Objective:

The primary objective in Arabella Solitaire is to move all cards from the tableau, waste, and stock to the twelve foundation piles, building each foundation up in sequence by suit from Ace to King.

Setup & Layout:

• Decks Used: Three standard 52-card decks (totaling 156 cards).
• Foundations: Twelve foundation piles, one for each suit in each deck.
• Tableau: Thirteen tableau piles arranged in a row.
  • The first tableau pile receives 1 card, the second receives 2 cards, the third receives 3 cards, and so on, up to the thirteenth pile, which receives 13 cards.
  • All tableau cards are dealt face up.
• Stock: The remaining undealt cards form the stock pile, placed face down.
• Waste: A single waste pile, where cards from the stock are dealt face up.

Key Play Areas:

• Foundations: Where cards are built up by suit.
• Tableau: Main play area for building down by rank.
• Stock: Supplies new cards to the waste.
• Waste: Holds cards drawn from the stock; only the top card is available for play.

Arabella Solitaire Rules:

1. Foundations:

• Only Aces may be moved to empty foundation piles.
• Foundations are built up by suit in ascending order (Ace, 2, 3, …, King).
• Only the top card of each foundation is available for play (though typically cards are only moved to, not from, foundations).

2. Tableau:

• Cards are built down by rank, regardless of suit (e.g., any 8 may be placed on any 9).
• Only a King or a sequence starting with a King may be moved to an empty tableau pile.
• Sequences of cards built down in the same suit may be moved together as a group.
• Cards built down in mixed suits may only be moved individually.

3. Stock and Waste:

• When the stock is tapped, one card is dealt face up to the waste pile.
• Only the top card of the waste is available for play to the tableau or foundations.

Gameplay:

• On each turn, the player may:

  • Move eligible cards or sequences from the tableau to the foundations.
  • Move cards within the tableau, building down by rank regardless of suit.
  • Move sequences of cards built down in the same suit as a unit between tableau piles.
  • Fill empty tableau spaces with a King or a group starting with a King.
  • Draw a card from the stock to the waste pile (one at a time).
  • Move the top card of the waste to the tableau or foundations, if legal.

• Introducing New Cards:

  • When no more moves are possible, or at any time, the player may deal a new card from the stock to the waste.
  • The top card of the waste is always available for play.

• No Redeals:

  • Once the stock is exhausted, no further cards can be introduced.

• If no legal moves remain and the stock is empty, play ends.

Winning & Losing Conditions:

• Win: The game is won when all 156 cards are moved to the twelve foundation piles, each completed from Ace to King in the same suit.
• Lose: The game is lost (or unwinnable) if no further legal moves are possible and the stock is depleted, with cards remaining in the tableau or waste.

Special Rules & Edge Cases:

• Filling Empty Tableau Spaces: Only a King or a group of cards headed by a King may be placed in an empty tableau pile.
• Moving Sequences: Only sequences built down in the same suit can be moved as a group; otherwise, cards must be moved individually.
• No Building on Foundations: Cards cannot be moved from the foundations back to the tableau.
• Waste Pile: Only the top card of the waste is playable; cards beneath cannot be accessed until the top card is moved.
• No Redeal: Once the stock is exhausted, there is no mechanism to recycle the waste back into the stock.

Definitions of Key Terms:

• Foundation: A pile where cards are built up by suit from Ace to King.
• Tableau: The main area where cards are arranged in piles and built down by rank.
• Stock: The pile of undealt cards, drawn one at a time to the waste.
• Waste: The pile where cards from the stock are placed face up; only the top card is available for play.

This ruleset reflects the unique mechanics of Arabella Solitaire, distinguishing it from standard solitaire variants by its use of three decks, thirteen tableau piles, and its specific movement and building rules.