Double Signora

Game Objective:

The primary objective in Double Signora Solitaire is to move all 208 cards (using four standard 52-card decks) to the foundation piles, building complete sequences for each foundation from Ace to King by alternating colors.

Setup & Layout:

• Deck Composition: Four standard 52-card decks (total 208 cards).
• Play Areas:
• Foundations: Sixteen piles, initially empty. The rank of the first card moved to a foundation determines the base rank for all foundations.
• Tableau: Eleven piles, each with one card dealt face-up.
• Reserve: One pile containing twenty-one cards, all dealt face-up. Cards in the reserve cannot be refilled or moved into the reserve; only the top card is available for play.
• Stock: The remaining cards form the stock pile, face-down.
• Waste: One pile, initially empty. Cards are dealt face-up from the stock to the waste.
• Card Orientation:
• All tableau and reserve cards are dealt face-up.
• Stock is face-down; waste is face-up as cards are dealt.

Double Signora Solitaire Rules:

• Foundations:

• Build up by alternating color (e.g., black-red-black-red).

• Sequences wrap around: Kings can be followed by Aces.

• All foundations must begin with the same base rank, determined by the first card moved to any foundation.

• Empty foundation spaces may only be filled with the base rank card.

• Tableau:

• Build down by alternating color.

• Only the top card of each tableau pile is available for play.

• Cards from the tableau and waste may be moved to tableau piles.

• Empty tableau spaces are automatically filled, first from the waste, then from the stock, and finally by any card from the tableau or waste if both are empty.

• Reserve:

• Only the top card is playable.

• Once emptied, the reserve remains empty for the rest of the game.

• Stock & Waste:

• The stock deals one card at a time face-up to the waste.

• No redeals: a single pass through the stock is permitted.

• The top card of the waste is available for play.

• Once empty, the waste remains empty until more cards are dealt from the stock.

Gameplay:

• On each turn, the player may:
• Move the top card from the tableau, waste, or reserve to another tableau pile (building down by alternating color).
• Move the top card from the tableau, waste, or reserve to a foundation (building up by alternating color; must match base rank if starting a new foundation).
• Fill empty tableau spaces automatically (from waste, stock, or any available card).
• Draw a card from the stock to the waste when no other moves are possible.
• Cards from the reserve can only be played onto tableau or foundation piles, not refilled or moved back into reserve.
• Play continues until all cards are moved to the foundations or no legal moves remain.

Winning & Losing Conditions:

• Winning Condition: The game is won when all sixteen foundation piles contain a complete sequence of thirteen cards, moving all 208 cards from the tableau, reserve, waste, and stock to the foundations.
• Losing Condition: The game is lost (or becomes unwinnable) if no more legal moves can be made and cards remain outside the foundations, with no possibility to fill empty tableau spaces or continue building sequences.

Special Rules & Edge Cases:

• Filling Empty Spaces:
• Empty tableau spaces are filled automatically, in order: first from the waste, then from the stock, and finally by any card from the tableau or waste if both are empty.
• Empty foundation spaces can only be filled with a card of the base rank established at the beginning of the game.
• Wrap-Around Building: Foundations allow "around-the-corner" building (King followed by Ace).
• Reserve Restrictions: Once the reserve is empty, it cannot be refilled or used again.
• Stock Restrictions: Only one pass through the stock is allowed; no redeals.
• Card Movement: Only the top card of each pile (tableau, reserve, waste) is available for play.
• Sequence Building: Cards must be built up or down by alternating color, not by suit.

Definitions:

• Foundation: Pile where sequences are built from Ace to King by alternating color.
• Tableau: Main play area where cards are built down by alternating color.
• Reserve: Auxiliary pile with twenty-one face-up cards; only the top card is playable.
• Stock: Draw pile; cards are dealt one at a time to the waste.
• Waste: Discard pile for cards dealt from the stock; only the top card is playable.

This guide provides the complete ruleset for Double Signora Solitaire, ensuring accurate play and clear understanding of all unique mechanics and edge cases.