Box Kite

Game Objective:

The primary goal in Box Kite Solitaire is to move all 104 cards (using two standard 52-card decks) to the eight foundation piles by building sequences in suit, with four foundations built upward from Ace to King and four built downward from King to Ace.

Setup & Layout:

• Deck: Two standard 52-card decks (total 104 cards).
• Foundations: Eight piles in the center:
  • Four Ace foundations (one for each suit), each starting with an Ace and building up in suit to King.
  • Four King foundations (one for each suit), each starting with a King and building down in suit to Ace.
• Tableau: Twelve piles arranged around the foundations.
  • Each tableau pile contains eight cards.
  • Dealing: Most sources indicate all eight cards are dealt face up in each tableau pile. Some sources specify the top card is dealt face up and the remaining seven cards face down. The most common implementation is all cards face up for visibility and playability.
• Key Play Areas:
  • Foundations: Where sequences are built for each suit.
  • Tableau: The main area for manipulating cards before moving them to foundations.
• Stock/Reserve: There is no stock or reserve in Box Kite Solitaire.

Box Kite Solitaire Rules:

• Foundations:
  • Ace Foundations: Build up in suit (e.g., A♠, 2♠, 3♠, … K♠).
  • King Foundations: Build down in suit (e.g., K♥, Q♥, J♥, … A♥).
  • Cards may be transferred between foundations of the same suit if the sequence is maintained, except for the base Ace or King.
• Tableau:
  • Build up or down regardless of suit or color (e.g., play a 7♦ on a 6♠ or 8♣).
  • Sequences can wrap around: an Ace may be played on a King, and a King may be played on an Ace.
  • Only the top card of each tableau pile is available for play.
  • Only one card can be moved at a time.
• Movement Conditions:
  • Cards from the tableau may be played onto foundations or onto another tableau pile following the build-up/down rule.
  • Cards from foundations (except the base Ace or King) may be moved to another foundation pile of the same suit if the sequence allows.

Gameplay:

• On each turn, the player may:
  • Move the top card of any tableau pile to a foundation if it fits the sequence.
  • Move the top card of any tableau pile to another tableau pile, building up or down regardless of suit, including wrapping from King to Ace or Ace to King.
  • Transfer cards between foundations of the same suit if the sequence allows and neither the base Ace nor King is moved.
• There is no redeal; once cards are played, they cannot be returned to the tableau or foundations.
• Empty tableau piles remain empty and cannot be filled.

Winning & Losing Conditions:

• Win: The player wins by moving all 104 cards to the eight foundation piles, completing each foundation sequence (Ace to King upward and King to Ace downward for each suit).
• Lose/Unwinnable: The game is lost or unwinnable if no legal moves remain and not all cards have been moved to the foundations.

Special Rules & Edge Cases:

• Filling Empty Spaces: Empty tableau piles cannot be filled; they remain empty for the duration of the game.
• Foundation Transfers: If the top cards of two foundations of the same suit are in sequence, cards may be transferred between them, except for the base Ace or King.
• Wrap-Around Building: Building in the tableau is continuous; Kings can be built on Aces and vice versa.
• No Redeal: There is no redeal, and no additional cards are introduced once the initial layout is complete.
• Only Top Cards Movable: Only the top card of each tableau pile is available for movement; sequences cannot be moved as a group.

Definitions:

• Foundation: A pile where cards are built in sequence by suit, either upward (Ace to King) or downward (King to Ace).
• Tableau: The primary area for card manipulation, built up or down regardless of suit, with only the top card playable.
• Wrap-Around: In tableau building, Ace can follow King and King can follow Ace, creating a continuous cycle.

This guide provides the precise rules and mechanics for playing Box Kite Solitaire as supported by multiple authoritative sources.