Diplomat

Game Objective:

The objective of Diplomat Solitaire is to move all cards from the tableau and stock to the eight foundation piles, building each foundation up in suit from Ace to King.

Setup & Layout:

• Deck: Use two standard 52-card decks (104 cards total).
• Tableau: Deal eight columns (tableau piles), each with four cards, all face-up and overlapping so that every card is visible.
• Foundations: Place eight empty foundation piles above the tableau. Each foundation will be built up by suit from Ace to King.
• Stock: The remaining cards after dealing the tableau form the stock pile, placed face-down.
• Waste: The waste pile is created as cards are drawn one at a time from the stock.

Key Play Areas:

• Tableau: Eight columns where cards are built down by rank, regardless of suit.
• Foundations: Eight piles, one for each suit, built up from Ace to King.
• Stock: Supplies additional cards, drawn one at a time.
• Waste: Receives cards drawn from the stock; only the top card is available for play.

Diplomat Solitaire Rules:

• Card Movement:

• Only the top card of each tableau pile or the waste pile may be moved at any time.

• Cards can be moved between tableau piles, to the foundations, or to empty tableau spaces.

• Building on Tableau:

• Build down by rank only (regardless of suit or color). For example, a 7♣ can be placed on any 8♦, 8♠, 8♥, or 8♣.

• Only one card may be moved at a time; sequences cannot be moved as a unit.

• Building on Foundations:

• Foundations are built up by suit, starting from Ace and proceeding in ascending order to King (e.g., Ace♠, 2♠, 3♠, …, King♠).

• Only the next higher card of the same suit may be placed on each foundation pile.

• Stock and Waste:

• When no moves are possible on the tableau, draw one card at a time from the stock to the waste pile.

• The top card of the waste pile is available for play to the tableau or foundations.

• There are no redeals; once the stock is exhausted, no more cards can be drawn.

Gameplay:

• Turn Sequence:

• Move any available card from the tableau or waste to another tableau pile (if it is one rank lower) or to the foundations (if it is the next in suit sequence).

• If no moves are available, draw a card from the stock to the waste pile.

• Play the top card of the waste to the tableau or foundations if possible.

• Repeat this process, always working to free up and move Aces to the foundations as soon as possible.

• Introducing New Cards:

• Cards are introduced into play from the stock, one at a time, to the waste pile.

• The top card of the waste is playable to the tableau or foundations.

• No More Legal Moves:

• If the stock is exhausted and no further moves are possible on the tableau or waste, the game ends.

Winning & Losing Conditions:

• Winning: The game is won when all 104 cards are successfully moved to the eight foundation piles, built up in suit from Ace to King.
• Losing/Unwinnable State: The game is lost or becomes unwinnable if no legal moves remain and all cards cannot be moved to the foundations (this typically occurs when the stock is depleted and no further moves are available on the tableau or waste).

Special Rules & Edge Cases:

• Filling Empty Tableau Spaces:

• Any single card (from the tableau or the top of the waste) may be moved into an empty tableau pile.

• There is no restriction on rank or suit for filling empty tableau spaces.

• Stock Restrictions:

• Cards are dealt from the stock only when no moves are available on the tableau.

• There are no redeals; once the stock is empty, it cannot be replenished.

• Movement Limitations:

• Only one card may be moved at a time, and only the top card of each tableau or the waste is accessible.

• Cards moved to the foundations cannot return to the tableau.

• Foundation Suit Matching:

• Each foundation pile must be built strictly in suit, from Ace to King.

• No Multi-Card Moves:

• Sequences of cards cannot be moved together; only single cards may be moved at any time.

• Edge Case—Empty Stock and Tableau:

• If both the stock and all tableau piles are empty except for the foundations, the game is complete and won.

• Edge Case—No Moves and Stock Depleted:

• If the stock is empty and no moves are possible on the tableau or waste, the game is lost.

Note: All cards are dealt face-up in the tableau, maximizing visibility and strategic planning. There are no hidden or face-down cards in this variant.