Endless Harp

Game Objective:

The primary goal in Endless Harp Solitaire is to move all 104 cards (using two standard 52-card decks) onto eight foundation piles, building each foundation up in ascending order by suit from Ace to King.

Setup & Layout:

• Deck: Two standard 52-card decks (total 104 cards).
• Tableau: Ten tableau piles are created. The first pile receives one card, the second two cards, the third three cards, and so on up to the tenth pile, which receives ten cards. Only the top card of each pile is dealt face-up; all other cards in the pile are dealt face-down.
• Foundations: Eight foundation piles are placed above the tableau. Each foundation starts empty and will be built up by suit from Ace to King.
• Stock: The remaining undealt cards form the stock pile, placed face-down.
• Waste (Garbage): Cards drawn from the stock are placed face-up into a waste pile. The top card of the waste is available for play.

Key Play Areas:

• Tableau: The main play area with ten columns for maneuvering cards.
• Foundations: The target area for building completed suits.
• Stock: The draw pile for introducing new cards.
• Waste: The discard pile for cards drawn from the stock.

Endless Harp Solitaire Rules:

• Tableau Building: Cards in the tableau are built downward in alternating colors (red on black or black on red), one rank lower than the card they are placed on (e.g., a red 6 on a black 7).
• Foundation Building: Foundations are built up by suit in ascending order, starting with Ace and ending with King (e.g., Ace, 2, 3, …, King of clubs).
• Card Movement:
• Only the top (face-up) card of each tableau pile or the top card of the waste pile may be moved at any time.
• Cards can be moved from the tableau or waste to the foundations if they follow the ascending suit sequence.
• Cards can be moved from the waste to the tableau if they follow the alternating color, descending rank rule.
• Groups of cards may be moved only if they form a descending sequence in alternating colors and are headed by a King; such a sequence can be moved to an empty tableau column.
• Empty Tableau Columns: Only a King or a properly ordered sequence headed by a King may fill an empty tableau column.

Gameplay:

• Typical Turn Sequence:
• Move available cards from the tableau or waste to the foundations if possible.
• Move cards within the tableau, following the alternating color, descending rank rule.
• Move cards from the waste to the tableau if possible.
• If no moves are available, draw three cards from the stock to the waste pile. The top card of the waste is then available for play.
• Introducing New Cards: Clicking the stock deals three cards to the waste pile. Unlimited passes through the stock are permitted in Endless Harp Solitaire.
• Uncovering Cards: When a face-up card is moved from a tableau pile, flip the next face-down card in that pile face-up.
• No More Moves: If no legal moves are available and the stock is exhausted, the game is lost.

Winning & Losing Conditions:

• Winning Condition: 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 Condition: The game is lost if no legal moves remain and the stock is exhausted, making it impossible to complete the foundations.

Special Rules & Edge Cases:

• Filling Empty Tableau Columns: Only a King or a descending sequence headed by a King (alternating colors) may fill an empty tableau column.
• Unlimited Stock Redeals: Unlike classic Harp Solitaire, Endless Harp Solitaire allows unlimited passes through the stock pile.
• Moving Groups: Groups of cards can only be moved as a unit if headed by a King and placed into an empty tableau column.
• Foundation Restrictions: Cards cannot be removed from the foundations once placed.
• Foundation Ace Transfer: Any Ace in the foundation may be transferred to any vacant foundation pile, allowing flexibility in starting foundations.
• Waste Pile: The top card of the waste is always available for play; when the stock is exhausted, the waste pile is reshuffled into a new stock for continued play.

Definitions:

• Tableau: The main area of columns where cards are maneuvered.
• Foundation: The stacks where cards are built up by suit from Ace to King.
• Stock: The draw pile for introducing new cards to play.
• Waste: The discard pile for cards drawn from the stock, with only the top card playable.

This guide provides the definitive rules and gameplay mechanics for Endless Harp Solitaire, ensuring precise understanding for both new and experienced players.