Double Minerva

Game Objective:

The primary objective in Double Minerva Solitaire is to move all cards to the foundation piles, building each foundation up by suit from Ace to King.

Setup & Layout:

• Deck: Use two standard 52-card decks (104 cards total).
• Tableau: Deal nine tableau piles, each with four cards splayed downward (overlapping so all are visible in a column).
  • In each pile, the odd-numbered cards (1st and 3rd from the top) are dealt face-down.
  • The even-numbered cards (2nd and 4th from the top) are dealt face-up.
• Foundations: There are eight foundation piles (one for each suit from both decks), positioned separately from the tableau.
• Stock: The remaining cards form the stock pile, placed face-down.
• Waste: Cards discarded from the stock are placed face-up in a waste pile.

Key Play Areas:

• Tableau: The main play area with nine piles.
• Foundations: Where cards are built up by suit from Ace to King.
• Stock: The draw pile for additional cards.
• Waste: Discard area for cards drawn from the stock that cannot be played immediately.

Double Minerva Solitaire Rules:

• Building on Foundations: Build up by suit from Ace to King (e.g., Ace, 2, 3, …, King of Hearts).
• Tableau Building: Build down in alternating colors (e.g., a red 7 on a black 8).
• Moving Cards:
  • Only the top face-up card of each tableau pile is available for play.
  • You may move a single card or a sequence of cards in correct order (descending, alternating colors) from one tableau pile to another.
  • When moving a sequence, all cards in the sequence must be face-up and in correct descending, alternating-color order.
• Stock and Waste:
  • 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 either the tableau or the foundations.
• Dealing with Face-Down Cards: When a face-down card becomes the top card in a tableau pile (after all cards above it are moved), immediately turn it face-up.

Gameplay:

• Turn Sequence:
  • Move available cards among tableau piles, to the foundations, or from the waste pile as allowed.
  • If no moves are possible or desired, draw one card from the stock to the waste pile.
  • Continue making moves until no further moves are possible or all cards are moved to the foundations.
• Introducing New Cards:
  • Draw one card at a time from the stock to the waste.
  • Play the top waste card to the tableau or foundations if possible.
  • If the stock is empty, turn over the waste pile (without shuffling) to form a new stock.
• No More Moves:
  • If you are unable to make any legal moves and the stock is exhausted, the game ends.

Winning & Losing Conditions:

• Winning: The game is won when all 104 cards are 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 legal moves remain and not all cards have been moved to the foundations.

Special Rules & Edge Cases:

• Filling Empty Tableau Spaces: If a tableau pile becomes empty, it can be filled with any available card or valid sequence from the tableau or the waste pile.
• Turning Over Cards: Always turn a face-down card face-up when it becomes the top card of a tableau pile.
• Redealing Stock: When the stock is empty, turn over the waste pile to form a new stock. There is typically no limit to the number of redeals unless a specific house rule is used.
• Sequence Moves: Sequences can only be moved if they are in correct descending order and alternate in color, and all cards in the sequence are face-up.
• Multiple Decks: Since two decks are used, there will be two of each card in play. Foundations must be built separately for each suit from each deck.

Note: Double Minerva Solitaire is a challenging variant with a low probability of winning, requiring careful planning and strategic movement of cards.