Big Harp

Game Objective:

The primary goal in Big Harp Solitaire is to move all 104 cards (from two standard 52-card decks) to the eight foundation piles, building each foundation up in ascending order by suit from Ace to King.

Setup & Layout:

• Deck: Two standard 52-card decks (104 cards total).
• Tableau:
• Ten columns.
• Deal cards as follows: 10 cards in the first column, 9 in the second, 8 in the third, and so on, down to 1 card in the tenth column.
• All cards in each tableau column are dealt face-up.
• Foundations:
• Eight empty piles, one for each suit in both decks, placed above the tableau.
• Stock:
• The remaining undealt cards form the stock pile, placed face-down.
• Waste:
• A single waste pile, initially empty, positioned beside the stock.

Key Play Areas:

• Tableau: The primary play area where cards are built down in alternating colors.
• Foundations: Where cards are built up by suit from Ace to King.
• Stock: Supplies additional cards during play.
• Waste: Holds cards dealt from the stock, with only the top card accessible.

Big Harp Solitaire Rules:

• Foundations:

• Build up by suit from Ace to King (e.g., Ace♠, 2♠, 3♠, … King♠).

• Only an Ace may be placed on an empty foundation.

• Only the top card of each foundation pile may be moved (though typically cards are not moved from foundations back to tableau in standard play).

• Tableau:

• Build down in alternating colors (red on black, black on red).

• Any card or sequence of cards may be moved together, regardless of suit or sequence order.

  • However, some sources specify only one card or a properly ordered sequence (descending, alternating colors) may be moved at a time. The majority of modern implementations allow moving any group of cards, regardless of order.

• Only a King (or a group of cards with a King at the top) may be moved to an empty tableau column.

• Only the top card (or top group if allowed) of each tableau pile is available for play.

• Stock & Waste:

• When no moves are available in the tableau, deal cards from the stock to the waste pile.

• Each time the stock is tapped, three cards are dealt face-up to the waste pile.

• Only the top card of the waste pile is available for play to the tableau or foundations.

• When the stock is exhausted, the waste pile may be turned over to reform the stock. This can be done two times, allowing for three complete passes through the stock.

Gameplay:

1. Move available cards:

• Build cards down in alternating colors on the tableau.
• Move cards to the foundations in ascending order by suit.

1. Move sequences:

• Move any group of cards (regardless of order) between tableau columns, or only one card at a time if following stricter rules.
• Only Kings (or sequences headed by a King) may be placed in empty tableau columns.

1. Deal from the stock:

• When no more moves are possible, deal three cards from the stock to the waste pile.
• Play the top card of the waste to the tableau or foundation if possible.

1. Redeal:

• After the stock is depleted, turn over the waste pile to form a new stock. This can be done twice, for a total of three passes through the stock.

1. Continue:

• Repeat the above steps until all cards are moved to the foundations or no more legal moves remain.

Winning & Losing Conditions:

• Win:
• All 104 cards must be successfully moved to the eight foundation piles, built up in suit from Ace to King.
• Loss/Unwinnable:
• The game is lost if no legal moves remain and the stock has been exhausted (all three passes used), with cards still left in the tableau or waste.

Special Rules & Edge Cases:

• Filling Empty Tableau Columns:
• Only Kings (or sequences starting with a King) may be moved into empty tableau columns.
• Moving Groups of Cards:
• Most modern versions allow moving any group of cards between tableau columns, regardless of sequence order.
• Some stricter rule sets only allow moving a single card or a properly ordered descending, alternating color sequence. Always check the specific implementation you are playing.
• Stock Dealing:
• Three cards are dealt at a time from the stock to the waste pile.
• Only three passes through the stock are allowed (initial plus two redeals).
• No Moves Available:
• If no moves are possible and the stock is exhausted, the game ends as unwinnable.

Note: Always verify the move group rule for your specific version, as this is the most significant point of variation between implementations of Big Harp Solitaire.

This guide is based on the most authoritative and recent rulesets for Big Harp Solitaire, with priority given to official and widely accepted sources.