Block Ten

Game Objective:

The primary goal in Block Ten Solitaire is to remove all cards from play by discarding pairs of cards whose ranks add up to ten, as well as pairing off face cards (Jacks, Queens, Kings) with another card of the same rank. The game is won when all cards have been discarded except for any tens, which cannot be removed.

Setup & Layout:

• Deck: Use a standard 52-card deck.
• Tableau: Deal nine tableau piles, each with one card face-up.
• Stock: The remaining cards form the stock pile, which is used to refill empty tableau spaces automatically.
• Play Areas Defined:
  • Tableau: The nine piles where cards are actively paired and discarded.
  • Stock: The draw pile that refills tableau spaces when they are emptied.
• Card Orientation: All cards in the tableau are dealt face-up; cards in the stock are face-down until dealt to the tableau.

Block Ten Solitaire Rules:

• Pairing Rules:
  • Cards with ranks lower than ten can be paired if their sum equals ten:
    • Ace (counts as 1) + 9
    • 2 + 8
    • 3 + 7
    • 4 + 6
    • 5 + 5
  • Jacks, Queens, and Kings may only be paired with another card of the same rank (e.g., Jack + Jack).
  • Tens cannot be paired or removed; they remain in the tableau and block spaces.
• Card Movement:
  • Only the top card of each tableau pile is available for pairing and removal.
  • When a valid pair is found, both cards are discarded from play.
  • If a tableau pile is emptied, it is immediately refilled with a card from the stock, if available.
• Sequence Building: There is no sequence building by suit or color; only pairing and discarding are involved.

Gameplay:

• Player Actions:
  • Examine the tableau for available pairs (matching the pairing rules above).
  • Select and discard pairs as allowed.
  • When a tableau pile becomes empty, automatically refill it with a card from the stock.
• Introducing New Cards:
  • New cards enter play only when a tableau pile is emptied and refilled from the stock.
• No Redeal: Once the stock is exhausted, no further cards are introduced.
• Blocked Moves: If no valid pairs remain and the stock is depleted, play ends.

Winning & Losing Conditions:

• Winning Condition: The game is won when all cards have been successfully discarded according to the pairing rules, except for any tens which must remain in the tableau.
• Losing Condition: The game is lost (or becomes unwinnable) if there are no available pairs and the stock is exhausted, leaving cards (other than tens) in the tableau.

Special Rules & Edge Cases:

• Filling Empty Spaces: Any empty tableau pile is automatically filled from the stock. If the stock is empty, the space remains vacant.
• Tens: Tens cannot be paired or removed; they permanently occupy tableau spaces and reduce the number of available piles for pairing.
• Face Cards: Jacks, Queens, and Kings are only removed in pairs of the same rank (e.g., Jack + Jack).
• No Redeal: There is no redeal or reshuffling of cards once the stock is depleted.
• Skill vs. Luck: The game is almost entirely luck-based, with a very low win rate.

Definitions:

• Tableau: The primary play area consisting of nine piles, each holding one face-up card.
• Stock: The pile of undealt cards used to refill empty tableau spaces.
• Pair: Two cards that meet the specific matching criteria for removal.

This guide covers the precise mechanics and ruleset for Block Ten Solitaire, ensuring clarity and completeness for effective play.