Elba

Game Objective:

The primary goal in Elba Solitaire is to move all cards from the tableau and stock to the foundations, building each foundation up in suit from Ace to King.

Setup & Layout:

• Deck: Use a standard 52-card deck.
• Tableau: Deal five cards to each of the eight tableau piles. In each pile, the bottom four cards are dealt face down, and the top card is dealt face up.
• Stock: Place the remaining cards face down in a single stock pile at the top left of the play area.
• Foundations: There are four foundation piles, one for each suit, which start empty.
• Key Play Areas:
• Tableau: Eight piles, each with five cards (four face down, one face up).
• Foundations: Four piles, one for each suit, built from Ace to King.
• Stock: The remaining undealt cards, face down.

Elba Solitaire Rules:

• Building on the Tableau: Cards are built down in sequence and must alternate colors (for example, a black 7 can be placed on a red 8).
• Moving Cards: Only the top face-up card of each tableau pile is available for play. When a face-up card is moved, immediately turn the next card in that pile face up.
• Moving Sequences: Sequences of cards in correct order and alternating colors can be moved together as a unit between tableau piles.
• Foundations: Cards are moved to the foundations in ascending order and by suit, starting with the Ace and ending with the King.
• Stock Dealing: When no moves are available, deal one card from the stock to the top of each tableau pile (even if the pile is empty).

Gameplay:

• On each turn, perform any of the following actions:
• Move a face-up card (or a valid sequence) from one tableau pile to another, following the building rules.
• Move a face-up card to the appropriate foundation pile if it is the next in suit and sequence.
• When no further moves are possible, deal one card from the stock to each tableau pile. Repeat this process until the stock is exhausted.
• After each move, immediately turn face up the next card in any tableau pile from which a face-up card was removed.
• Continue making moves and dealing from the stock until all cards are moved to the foundations or no further moves are possible.

Winning & Losing Conditions:

• Win: The game is won when all cards have been moved to the foundations in ascending order by suit (Ace to King).
• Loss/Unwinnable: The game is lost if no more legal moves are possible and the stock has been exhausted, with cards remaining in the tableau.

Special Rules & Edge Cases:

• Filling Empty Tableau Piles: If a tableau pile becomes empty, it can be filled with any available card or valid sequence from another tableau pile.
• Stock Dealing: When dealing from the stock, always deal one card to each tableau pile, regardless of whether the pile is empty or not.
• No Redeal: Once the stock is exhausted, no redeal is permitted. Play continues only with available tableau moves.
• Sequence Movement: Only properly ordered and alternating-color sequences may be moved together; partial sequences or out-of-order groups cannot be moved as a unit.

Note: This guide is based on the rules for Elba Solitaire as described in authoritative sources, primarily Goodsol Solitaire Help. If you are playing a variant or using a digital implementation, consult the specific game’s help or rule section for any additional rules or exceptions.