Bureau

Game Objective:

The primary objective in Bureau Solitaire is to move all cards from the tableau and stock onto the eight foundation piles, building each foundation according to the game's specific rules.

Setup & Layout:

• Deck: Bureau Solitaire uses two standard 52-card decks (104 cards total).
• Tableau: There are 13 tableau piles. Each pile is dealt four cards, alternating face up and face down—typically, the first card is face up, the second is face down, the third is face up, and the fourth is face down.
• Foundations: There are eight foundation piles. These piles start empty and are built during play.
• Stock: The remaining cards after dealing the tableau form the stock pile, which is placed face down.
• Face Orientation: In each tableau pile, cards are dealt in an alternating pattern of face up and face down.

Key Play Areas:

• Tableau: The main play area with 13 piles.
• Foundations: Eight piles where cards are built to win the game.
• Stock: Pile of undealt cards, used to introduce new cards into play.

Bureau Solitaire Rules:

• Building Foundations: Foundations are built in alternate colors (e.g., red-black-red-black), not by suit. The starting rank for each foundation is typically an Ace, but some variants may allow a different starting card depending on the initial deal.
• Tableau Building: Cards in the tableau are built down in alternate colors (e.g., a red 7 can be placed on a black 8).
• Card Movement:
• Only single cards may be moved at a time within the tableau or from the tableau to the foundation.
• Sequences of cards cannot be moved as a unit.
• Filling Spaces: Empty spaces in the tableau cannot be filled; once a tableau pile is empty, it remains empty for the rest of the game.
• Stock Play: Cards from the stock are introduced according to the specific game interface or house rules, typically one at a time.

Gameplay:

• On a turn, the player may:
• Move a single face-up card from one tableau pile to another, following the rule of building down in alternate colors.
• Move a single card from the tableau to a foundation pile, following the rule of building up in alternate colors.
• Draw a card from the stock and place it into play (the exact method—one at a time or in groups—may vary by implementation).
• When a face-up card is moved from a tableau pile, the card beneath (if any) is turned face up and becomes available for play.
• If no moves are possible in the tableau or with the stock, the game is at a standstill.

Winning & Losing Conditions:

• Winning: The game is won when all 104 cards are successfully moved to the eight foundation piles, built up in alternate colors according to the rules.
• Losing: The game is lost (or unwinnable) if no more legal moves are possible and cards remain in the tableau or stock.

Special Rules & Edge Cases:

• Empty Tableau Piles: Cannot be filled under any circumstances; once a tableau pile is empty, it stays empty.
• Movement Restriction: Only single cards may be moved, not sequences.
• Foundation Building: Foundations are built in alternate colors (not by suit), which is a key distinction from standard Klondike or other solitaire games.
• No Redeal: There is typically no redeal of the stock unless specified by the specific implementation.

Summary of Unique Features:

• Uses two decks (104 cards).
• 13 tableau piles, each with four cards dealt in an alternating face-up/face-down pattern.
• Eight foundations built up in alternate colors.
• Only single cards may be moved.
• Empty tableau piles cannot be filled.

These mechanics distinguish Bureau Solitaire from other solitaire variants, requiring careful planning and strategic play.