Calculation

Game Objective:

The primary goal in Calculation Solitaire is to move all 52 cards onto four foundation piles, each built in a unique, predetermined sequence based on card rank, regardless of suit.

Setup & Layout:

• Deck: Use a standard 52-card deck with jokers removed.
• Foundations: Remove one Ace, one 2, one 3, and one 4 (any suits) from the deck. Place these four cards in a horizontal row to form the four foundation piles.
  • Foundation 1: Ace (builds by 1)
  • Foundation 2: 2 (builds by 2)
  • Foundation 3: 3 (builds by 3)
  • Foundation 4: 4 (builds by 4)
• Stock: Shuffle the remaining 48 cards and place them face-down as a single stock pile.
• Waste Piles: Below the foundations, create four empty waste piles.
• Face-Up/Face-Down: Foundations are face-up. The stock is face-down, but cards are drawn and played face-up. Waste piles are built face-up, with only the top card accessible.

Calculation Solitaire Rules:

• Card Movement:
  • Only the top card of the stock or the top card of any waste pile may be played to a foundation, if it fits the required sequence.
  • If a drawn card cannot be played to a foundation, it must be placed on any waste pile of your choice.
  • Cards in waste piles cannot be moved between waste piles; only the top card of each waste pile is available for play.
• Building Sequences: Foundations are built up in unique sequences, ignoring suit and color:
  • Foundation 1 (Ace): Build up by 1 (A, 2, 3, …, K)
  • Foundation 2 (2): Build up by 2 (2, 4, 6, 8, 10, Q, A, 3, 5, 7, 9, J, K)
  • Foundation 3 (3): Build up by 3 (3, 6, 9, Q, 2, 5, 8, J, A, 4, 7, 10, K)
  • Foundation 4 (4): Build up by 4 (4, 8, Q, 3, 7, J, 2, 6, 10, A, 5, 9, K).
• Rank Only: Only card rank matters—suits and colors are ignored throughout the game.

Gameplay:

• Draw the top card from the stock and turn it face-up.
• If the card fits the next required rank in any foundation sequence, play it to that foundation.
• If the card cannot be played to a foundation, place it face-up on any of the four waste piles.
• Only the top card of each waste pile is available to be played to a foundation; cards beneath are blocked until uncovered.
• Continue drawing and playing cards from the stock until it is empty.
• After the stock is exhausted, only play cards from the tops of the waste piles to the foundations, if possible.
• The game ends when all cards are placed on the foundations or no further legal moves are possible.

Winning & Losing Conditions:

• Win: The game is won when all 52 cards have been successfully built onto the four foundations according to their unique sequences.
• Lose: The game is lost if no further legal moves can be made and cards remain unplayed in the waste piles.

Special Rules & Edge Cases:

• Filling Empty Spaces: There are no special rules for filling empty waste piles; any unplayable card from the stock may be placed in any empty or non-empty waste pile.
• Waste Pile Restrictions: Cards in waste piles cannot be moved between waste piles or rearranged; only the top card is available for play to the foundations.
• Foundation Sequence Wrapping: Sequences "wrap around" after King, but each foundation's sequence is fixed and must be followed exactly as described above.
• Suit/Color: Suits and colors are ignored at all times—only the rank determines playability.
• Skill Factor: Every game is theoretically winnable, but requires careful planning, especially in waste pile management.

Key Terms Defined:

• Foundation: A pile where cards are built in a specific sequence, starting with Ace, 2, 3, or 4.
• Stock: The face-down pile from which cards are drawn.
• Waste Pile: Up to four face-up piles where unplayable cards from the stock are placed; only the top card is accessible.

This structure ensures all core mechanics and unique rules of Calculation Solitaire are clearly defined and actionable for new and experienced players alike.