Chinaman

Game Objective:

The primary goal in Chinaman Solitaire is to move all cards from the tableau and stock to the four foundation piles, building each foundation up in ascending order by suit from Ace to King.

Setup & Layout:

• Deck: Use a standard 52-card deck.
• Tableau: Arrange seven tableau piles. The first pile receives one card, the second two cards, continuing up to the seventh pile with seven cards. Only the top card of each tableau pile is dealt face-up; all other cards beneath are dealt face-down.
• Foundations: Four empty foundation piles are reserved for building up by suit, starting with Aces.
• Stock: The remaining cards after dealing the tableau are placed face-down as the stock pile.
• Waste: Cards dealt from the stock are placed face-up in a single waste pile.

Key Play Areas Defined:

• Tableau: Seven columns where cards are initially arranged and manipulated.
• Foundations: Four piles where cards are built up by suit from Ace to King.
• Stock: The draw pile for additional cards.
• Waste: Receives cards dealt from the stock, with only the top card accessible.

Chinaman Solitaire Rules:

• Foundations:

  • Only Aces may be placed on empty foundation piles.
  • Foundations build up by suit in ascending order (Ace, 2, 3, …, King).
  • Only the top card of a foundation is accessible for building.

• Tableau:

  • Tableau piles build down in rank by any suit (not restricted by color or suit).
  • Only Kings (or groups of cards with a King at the bottom) may be moved to empty tableau spaces.
  • Any face-up card, or a group of face-up cards, may be moved together as a unit, regardless of suit or sequence.
  • Cards beneath a moved group remain face-down until uncovered, at which point they are flipped face-up.

• Stock & Waste:

  • Clicking the stock deals three cards face-up to the waste pile.
  • Only the top card of the waste pile is available for play.
  • A single redeal of the waste back into the stock is permitted, allowing for two complete passes through the stock.

Gameplay:

• Players may move cards from the tableau to the foundations if the card is the next in sequence and of the same suit.
• Cards may be moved within the tableau by building down in rank, regardless of suit, and only Kings (or stacks with a King at the bottom) may fill empty tableau spaces.
• Groups of cards can be moved together, even if not in perfect sequence or suit.
• When no moves are available on the tableau or foundations, draw three cards from the stock to the waste pile.
• The top card of the waste pile may be played to the tableau or foundations if legal.
• After the stock is exhausted, the waste pile may be redealt into the stock once, for a total of two passes through the deck.
• If a face-down card is exposed in the tableau, flip it face-up immediately.

Winning & Losing Conditions:

• Win Condition: The game is won when all cards are successfully moved to the four foundation piles, each built up by suit from Ace to King.
• Loss Condition: The game is lost or becomes unwinnable if no legal moves remain and the stock has been exhausted after the permitted redeal.

Special Rules & Edge Cases:

• Filling Empty Tableau Spaces: Only Kings, or groups of cards with a King at the bottom, may be moved into empty tableau columns.
• Moving Groups: Any contiguous sequence of face-up cards can be moved together, regardless of suit or strict sequence.
• Redeal Restriction: Only one redeal of the waste into the stock is allowed; after two passes, no further cards can be drawn from the stock.
• Card Accessibility: Only the top card of the waste and the top face-up cards in the tableau are available for play; face-down cards must be revealed before use.
• No Partial Moves: When moving groups, the entire group must be moved; partial moves are not permitted.
• No Building on Empty Tableau Spaces Except Kings: Non-King cards or groups without a King at the bottom cannot fill empty tableau columns.

Definitions:

• Tableau: The main area of play with seven columns where cards are manipulated.
• Foundation: The target piles for building up cards in suit from Ace to King.
• Stock: The draw pile for additional cards during play.
• Waste: The pile receiving cards dealt from the stock, with only its top card playable.

This guide provides a precise reference for playing Chinaman Solitaire, focusing strictly on its unique ruleset and play mechanics.