Diavolo

Game Objective:

The primary goal in Diavolo Solitaire is to move all cards from the tableau and stock to the foundation piles, according to strict building rules. A win is achieved when all foundation piles are completed in their required sequences.

Setup & Layout:

• Deck: Use two standard 52-card decks (total 104 cards).
• Tableau: There are 9 tableau piles. Deal cards as follows:
• 1st pile: 9 cards
• 2nd pile: 8 cards
• 3rd pile: 7 cards
• Continue this pattern down to the 9th pile, which receives 1 card.
• Card Orientation: Only the top card of each tableau pile is dealt face-up; all other cards in the pile are face-down.
• Foundations: There are 8 foundation piles:
• 4 foundations start with Aces (2 red, 2 black) and are built up by color to Kings.
• 4 foundations start with Kings (2 red, 2 black) and are built down by alternating color to Ace. These can only be filled when a complete sequence is ready.
• Stock: The remaining cards form the stock pile.
• Waste: A waste pile is formed as cards are drawn from the stock and cannot be played immediately.

Diavolo Solitaire Rules:

• Tableau Building: Build tableau piles down in sequence by alternating color (e.g., red on black, black on red).
• Moving Cards: You may move a single card or a group of correctly sequenced cards (in alternating color, descending order) from one tableau pile to another.
• Filling Spaces: Empty tableau spaces can only be filled with a King or a group of cards headed by a King.
• Foundations:
• Ace Foundations: Build up by color (red or black) from Ace to King.
• King Foundations: Build down by alternating color from King to Ace, but only when a full sequence is available.
• Stock Play: When no more moves are available in the tableau, turn over cards from the stock one at a time. Cards from the stock can be played to the tableau or foundations as allowed by the rules.
• Redeal: There is no redeal; only one pass through the stock is permitted.

Gameplay:

• On each turn, perform any or all of the following actions:
• Move eligible cards or sequences within the tableau according to the building rules.
• Move cards to the foundations if they can be placed in sequence.
• When no more moves are possible, draw one card at a time from the stock. Play it to the tableau or foundations if possible; otherwise, place it in the waste pile.
• Continue play until either all cards are moved to the foundations or no further moves are possible and the stock is exhausted.

Winning & Losing Conditions:

• Winning: The game is won when all cards are successfully moved to the foundation piles, completing both the ascending (Ace to King) and descending (King to Ace) sequences as required.
• Losing: The game is lost if no further legal moves can be made and cards remain in the tableau, stock, or waste piles.

Special Rules & Edge Cases:

• Filling Empty Tableau Spaces: Only Kings or properly sequenced groups headed by a King may fill empty tableau piles.
• King Foundations: These can only be filled when a complete 13-card sequence (King down to Ace, alternating color) is available; partial sequences cannot be moved to these foundations.
• No Redeal: Once the stock is exhausted, no further cards may be drawn; careful play is required as there is only one pass through the stock.
• Automatic Turnover: When a face-down card becomes the top card of a tableau pile, it is immediately turned face-up.
• Group Moves: Only groups of cards in perfect descending order and alternating color may be moved together within the tableau or to fill tableau spaces.

This guide is based on the most authoritative and consistent rulesets for Diavolo Solitaire as found in official and reputable sources.