Blockade

Game Objective:

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

Setup & Layout:

• Deck: Two standard 52-card decks (104 cards total).
• Tableau: 12 tableau piles. Deal one card face-up to each tableau pile at the start of the game.
• Foundations: 8 foundation piles, initially empty. These are built up by suit from Ace to King.
• Stock: The remaining cards after the tableau deal form the stock pile, placed face-down.
• Waste: Some versions mention a waste pile, which receives cards dealt from the stock when no tableau spaces are available.
• Face Orientation: All tableau cards are dealt face-up; stock is face-down until dealt.

Key Play Areas:

• Tableau: Where most building and movement occurs.
• Foundations: Where cards are ultimately built up in suit.
• Stock: Supplies new cards to the tableau.
• Waste (if present): Holds unused cards from the stock.

Blockade Solitaire Rules:

• Foundations:

• Build up in suit from Ace to King (e.g., 2♠ on Ace♠, 3♠ on 2♠, etc.).

• Only Aces may be placed on empty foundation piles.

• Cards may be moved between foundations of the same suit if it continues the sequence.

• Tableau:

• Build down in suit (e.g., 7♥ on 8♥, 6♥ on 7♥).

• Sequences of cards built down in suit can be moved together as a unit.

• Any card or valid sequence may be moved to an empty tableau space.

• Only the top card (or a valid sequence) of each tableau pile is available for movement.

• Empty tableau spaces are automatically filled with a card from the stock if stock remains.

• Stock:

• When no more moves are available, deal one card face-up from the stock to each tableau pile.

• There is no redeal; once the stock is depleted, it cannot be reused.

Gameplay:

1. Initial Moves:

• Examine the tableau for any available moves to the foundations or within the tableau (building down in suit).
• Move any available Aces to empty foundations.

1. Building:

• Build tableau piles down in suit, moving single cards or sequences as allowed.
• Build foundations up in suit as cards become available.

1. Dealing from Stock:

• When no further moves are possible, deal one card from the stock onto each tableau pile.
• Continue making moves and dealing from the stock as needed.

1. Filling Spaces:

• If a tableau space becomes empty, immediately fill it with a card from the stock (if available).
• If the stock is exhausted, any card or valid sequence may be moved into an empty tableau space.

1. No More Moves:

• If no legal moves or stock cards remain, the game ends.

Winning & Losing Conditions:

• Winning Condition:

• The game is won when all 104 cards have been moved to the foundations, with each foundation built up in suit from Ace to King.

• Losing/Unwinnable Condition:

• The game is lost (or unwinnable) if no further legal moves can be made and the stock is empty, with cards remaining in the tableau.

Special Rules & Edge Cases:

• Filling Empty Tableau Spaces:

• If a tableau space is vacated, it is automatically filled with a card from the stock if the stock is not empty.

• Once the stock is depleted, empty tableau spaces can be filled with any card or valid sequence from the tableau.

• Moving Sequences:

• Sequences built down by suit can be moved together as a group between tableau piles.

• Only sequences in perfect descending order and matching suit can be moved as a unit.

• No Redeal:

• There is no redeal in Blockade Solitaire; once the stock is exhausted, no new cards can be introduced.

• Foundation Transfers:

• Cards may be moved between foundations of the same suit if it continues the correct sequence, but the Ace (or King, if at the base) cannot be moved from its foundation.

• Stock Depletion:

• After the stock is depleted, play continues with only the available tableau and foundation moves.

• Waste Pile (if present):

• In some implementations, cards that cannot be placed on tableau piles when dealing from the stock are placed in a waste pile.

Summary of Unique Features:
Blockade Solitaire is distinguished by its use of two decks, strict in-suit building both up (foundations) and down (tableau), the ability to move sequences, and the automatic filling of tableau spaces from the stock, with no redeal permitted.