Elevens

Game Objective:

The primary objective in Elevens Solitaire is to remove all cards from the tableau by forming valid pairs or sets according to the game’s rules. The player wins by clearing the entire grid; the game is lost if no further legal moves are possible and cards remain.

Setup & Layout:

• Deck: Use a standard 52-card deck with no Jokers.
• Tableau (Grid): Deal nine cards face-up in a 3x3 grid. This grid is the main play area and is referred to as the tableau.
• Stock: Place the remaining cards face-down in a single pile beside the grid. This is the stock pile and is used to refill the tableau as cards are removed.
• All cards in the grid are face-up and available for play. The stock remains face-down and is only accessed to refill empty spaces in the grid.

Elevens Solitaire Rules:

• Card Values:
• Ace = 1; Number cards (2–10) = face value; J, Q, K are special (see below).
• Pairing to Eleven:
• Only pairs of cards in the tableau whose values sum to exactly eleven may be removed together. Valid pairs are:
  • Ace + 10
  • 2 + 9
  • 3 + 8
  • 4 + 7
  • 5 + 6
• Suit is irrelevant; only the sum matters.
• Face Card Set:
• Jacks, Queens, and Kings cannot be paired. Instead, the only way to remove these cards is to have one Jack, one Queen, and one King in the tableau at the same time. When this occurs, all three are removed together as a set.
• No Building:
• Cards are never stacked or built in sequences. All removals are pairs (for number cards) or a set of three (for J, Q, K).
• Card Movement:
• Only cards in the face-up tableau are available for removal. Cards cannot be moved between positions; they can only be removed if they form a valid pair or set.

Gameplay:

• Player Actions:
• Examine the tableau for any pairs of cards that sum to eleven or for the presence of a Jack, Queen, and King.
• Remove each valid pair or set from the tableau.
• For each card removed, immediately refill the empty space with the top card from the stock pile, maintaining the 3x3 grid as long as cards remain in the stock.
• Introducing New Cards:
• After each removal, draw from the stock to fill each vacancy in the grid before searching for the next possible move.
• When the stock is depleted, no further refilling occurs. Continue playing with the remaining cards in the tableau.
• No Moves Available:
• If no pairs adding to eleven or sets of J, Q, K are present, and the stock is empty, the game ends.

Winning & Losing Conditions:

• Win Condition:
• The player wins by removing all cards from both the tableau and the stock, leaving no cards remaining.
• Loss Condition:
• The game is lost if the player is unable to make any more valid moves (no available pairs or sets) and cards remain in the tableau.

Special Rules & Edge Cases:

• Filling Empty Spaces:
• Every time cards are removed, immediately fill each empty space with a card from the stock, if available.
• Once the stock is exhausted, empty spaces in the tableau are not refilled.
• Face Card Removal:
• Jacks, Queens, and Kings can only be removed as a set of three (one of each). If two or more of the same face card appear without the third, they cannot be removed until the set is complete.
• No Partial Sets:
• Partial sets of face cards (e.g., two Jacks and a Queen) cannot be removed; only the complete set (one Jack, one Queen, one King) is valid.
• No Card Preview:
• The player may not look ahead at cards in the stock before they are drawn to fill the tableau.
• No Suit Restrictions:
• Suits are ignored for all removals; only card values matter.

This guide provides a precise and comprehensive overview of the rules and gameplay mechanics for Elevens Solitaire, ensuring accurate play and clear understanding of all core procedures and unique features.