Cheops

Game Objective:

The primary goal in Cheops Solitaire is to discard all cards from the tableau by pairing eligible cards according to the game’s unique pairing rules, ultimately clearing the pyramid structure.

Setup & Layout:

• Deck: Use a standard 52-card deck.
• Pyramid Tableau:
• Deal cards face-up in a pyramid shape:
  • 1 card in the first row (top),
  • 2 cards in the second row, overlapping the first,
  • 3 cards in the third row, and so on,
  • Continue until the seventh row, which contains 7 cards.
• The pyramid contains a total of 28 cards, all dealt face-up and partially overlapping the cards beneath.
• Stock Pile: Place the remaining 24 cards face-down to form the stock pile.
• Waste Pile: This area is created during play as cards are drawn from the stock and cannot be immediately paired.
• Key Play Areas Defined:
• Pyramid: The main tableau where cards are arranged in overlapping rows.
• Stock: The face-down pile from which cards are drawn.
• Waste: The face-up pile where unpaired stock cards accumulate.

Cheops Solitaire Rules:

• Card Values:
• Ace = 1, 2–10 = face value, Jack = 11, Queen = 12, King = 13.
• Pairing and Discarding:
• Pairs: Discard any two exposed cards (not covered by any other card) whose combined value equals 13.
  • Valid pairs: Ace + Queen, 2 + Jack, 3 + 10, 4 + 9, 5 + 8, 6 + 7.
• Kings: Kings (value 13) are discarded singly as soon as they are exposed.
• Exposed Cards: Only cards not overlapped by any other card (fully uncovered) are eligible for pairing or removal.
• Pairing Sources: Pairs can be formed from any combination of exposed cards in the pyramid and/or the top card of the waste pile or the drawn stock card.
• Movement Between Areas:
• Cards may be paired and discarded if both are exposed, regardless of their location (pyramid or waste/stock).
• The top card of the waste pile can be paired with another exposed card or the next stock card drawn.

Gameplay:

• Turn Sequence:
• Identify and discard any valid pairs of exposed cards in the pyramid totaling 13.
• Discard any exposed King immediately.
• If no pairs are available, draw one card from the stock pile and place it face-up in the waste pile.
• Attempt to pair the newly drawn card with any exposed card in the pyramid or with the top card of the waste pile.
• If no pair is possible, leave the drawn card on the waste pile and repeat with the next stock card.
• Stock and Waste Management:
• Only the top card of the waste pile is available for pairing at any time.
• Continue drawing from the stock and pairing as possible until the stock is depleted.
• Redeals:
• In standard Cheops Solitaire, you are allowed up to two redeals (three total passes through the stock).
• When no more moves are possible, and the stock is not yet exhausted, you may redeal the waste pile to form a new stock.
• No More Moves:
• If no valid pairs remain and the stock is exhausted (and no redeals remain), the game ends.

Winning & Losing Conditions:

• Winning Condition:
• The game is won when all cards from the pyramid and the stock have been successfully paired and discarded according to the rules.
• Losing/Unwinnable Condition:
• The game is lost if no more valid pairs can be made and the stock is exhausted (including all permitted redeals), with cards still remaining in the pyramid or waste pile.

Special Rules & Edge Cases:

• Filling Spaces:
• Spaces in the pyramid are not filled once cards are removed; only exposed cards become available for play.
• Redeal Limit:
• Only two redeals are permitted, for a total of three passes through the stock.
• Pairing Restrictions:
• Only fully uncovered cards may be paired or discarded; partially covered cards are ineligible until uncovered.
• Pairing Locations:
• Pairs can be made from any combination of exposed cards in the pyramid, the top card of the waste, or the drawn stock card.
• Edge Case – King Removal:
• Kings are unique in that they are removed singly and do not require a pair.
• Game Variants:
• Some digital or unofficial versions may allow for different pairing rules (such as pairing consecutive ranks or same ranks), but the standard Cheops Solitaire follows the “pairs totaling 13” rule.
• Unpairable Cards:
• If a card cannot be paired and is not a King, it remains in play until uncovered or until the game ends.

Note: Cheops Solitaire is a variant of Pyramid Solitaire, and while some digital implementations may use the name interchangeably or with minor rule changes, the above rules reflect the most widely accepted and referenced version.