Double Klondike

Game Objective:

The primary goal in Double Klondike Solitaire is to move all cards from the tableau and stock onto the eight foundation piles, building each foundation by suit in ascending order from Ace to King.

Setup & Layout:

• Decks Used:
  Double Klondike Solitaire is played with two standard 52-card decks (104 cards total), with jokers removed.

• Tableau:
  There are nine tableau piles.

• The first pile receives one card, the second two cards, and so forth up to the ninth pile, which receives nine cards.

• Only the top card of each tableau pile is dealt face-up; all cards beneath are dealt face-down.

• Foundations:
  There are eight foundation piles, one for each suit from both decks. All foundation piles start empty.

• Stock:
  After dealing the tableau, the remaining cards are placed face-down as the stock pile.

• Waste/Discard Pile:
  Cards drawn from the stock that cannot be played immediately are placed face-up in the waste pile.

Double Klondike Solitaire Rules:

• Building Sequences in Tableau:
  Cards in the tableau are built downward in rank and must alternate colors (red on black, black on red).
  Example: A red 7 can be placed on a black 8.

• Moving Cards:

• You may move the top card or a properly sequenced group of cards from one tableau pile to another, following the alternating color and descending rank rule.

• Only a King or a sequence starting with a King may be moved to an empty tableau pile.

• Foundations:
  Foundations are built upward by suit, starting with Ace and ending with King.
  Only an Ace can be played to an empty foundation pile.

• Stock and Waste:
  Cards are drawn from the stock pile (usually three at a time, but some variants allow one at a time).
  Unplayable cards from the stock go to the waste pile. The top card of the waste pile is available for play.

Gameplay:

• Turn Sequence:

1. Move cards within the tableau according to the building rules.
2. Move cards from tableau or waste to the foundation piles if possible.
3. Draw cards from the stock pile when no more moves are available in the tableau.
4. Place unplayable drawn cards in the waste pile.
5. Repeat until no more moves can be made or all cards are moved to the foundations.

• Introducing New Cards:
  Cards are introduced to play by drawing from the stock pile. When the stock is exhausted, some variants allow you to reshuffle the waste pile to form a new stock, with unlimited passes permitted in most versions.

• No Legal Moves:
  If no legal moves remain and the stock cannot be recycled, the game ends.

Winning & Losing Conditions:

• Winning:
  The game is won when all 104 cards are successfully moved to the eight foundation piles, each built up by suit from Ace to King.

• Losing/Unwinnable State:
  The game is lost or unwinnable if no further legal moves are possible and the stock pile cannot be recycled.

Special Rules & Edge Cases:

• Filling Empty Tableau Spaces:
  Only a King or a properly sequenced group of cards starting with a King may be moved into an empty tableau pile.

• Multiple Decks and Duplicate Cards:
  With two decks, there are two of each card. Both may be played to the foundations, but each foundation pile must be built strictly by suit and in ascending rank.

• Stock Dealing Variants:

• The most common variant deals three cards at a time from the stock, with unlimited passes allowed.

• Some versions allow dealing one card at a time.

• Partial Sequence Movement:
  Only properly sequenced groups following the alternating color and descending rank rule may be moved as a unit within the tableau.

• Edge Case – No Kings Available:
  If no King is available, empty tableau spaces cannot be filled until a King is uncovered.

• Edge Case – Duplicate Suits:
  Each foundation pile must be built with cards of the same suit, regardless of which deck they originate from.

Definitions:

• Tableau: The main play area with nine piles where cards are arranged and manipulated.
• Foundation: The goal area where cards are built up by suit from Ace to King.
• Stock: The pile of undealt cards used to introduce new cards into play.
• Waste: The pile where unplayable cards drawn from the stock are placed.

This guide is based on the official rules and recognized authoritative sources for Double Klondike Solitaire.