Ephemeral FreeCell

Game Objective:

The primary objective of Ephemeral FreeCell Solitaire is to move all cards from the tableau and cells to the four foundation piles, building each foundation in ascending order by suit from Ace to King.

Setup & Layout:

• Deck: Uses a standard 52-card deck with no jokers.
• Deal: All 52 cards are dealt face-up into eight tableau columns at the start of the game.
  • The first four tableau columns each receive seven cards.
  • The remaining four tableau columns each receive six cards.
• Play Areas:
  • Tableau: Eight columns where the main play occurs.
  • Foundations: Four piles, one for each suit, where cards are built up from Ace to King.
  • Cells: Four free cells, each capable of holding a single card temporarily.
• Visibility: All cards are dealt face-up; there are no face-down cards in any area.

Ephemeral FreeCell Solitaire Rules:

• Card Movement:
  • Only the top card of each tableau column or any card in a free cell may be moved at a time.
  • Cards can be moved:
    • From tableau to another tableau (following building rules).
    • From tableau or cell to a foundation pile (if the move is legal).
    • From tableau to a free cell (if the cell is empty).
    • From a cell back to tableau or to a foundation.
• Building Sequences (Tableau):
  • Cards must be built down in rank and must alternate colors (red on black, black on red).
  • Example: A red 7 can be placed on a black 8.
• Foundations:
  • Each foundation pile starts with an Ace of its suit.
  • Cards are added in ascending order by suit (Ace, 2, 3, …, King).
• Cells:
  • Each cell can hold only one card at a time.
  • Cards in cells may be played back to tableau or to foundations as allowed.
• Sequence Moves:
  • You may move a sequence of cards in correct order and alternating colors, but only if you have enough empty cells and/or empty tableau columns to facilitate the move.
  • The maximum number of cards in a movable sequence is calculated as:
    Number of empty cells + 1 (multiplied by 2 for each empty tableau column).

Gameplay:

• On each turn, the player may:
  • Move the top card of any tableau column to another tableau column, to a free cell, or to a foundation pile (if the move is legal).
  • Move a card from a free cell to a tableau column or to a foundation pile.
  • Move a sequence of cards (in alternating colors and descending order) to another tableau column, subject to the sequence move rule above.
• No Stock or Reserve: There are no additional cards introduced during play; all cards are present from the start.
• If No Legal Moves Remain: If no further moves are possible, the game is lost.

Winning & Losing Conditions:

• Win Condition: The game is won when all cards are moved to the four foundation piles, each built up by suit from Ace to King.
• Lose Condition: The game is lost if no further legal moves are possible and not all cards have been moved to the foundations.

Special Rules & Edge Cases:

• Filling Empty Tableau Columns:
  • Only a King (or a sequence starting with a King) may be moved into an empty tableau column.
• Ephemeral Rule (Variant-Specific):
  • In Ephemeral FreeCell, the distinction from standard FreeCell is that any card moved to a free cell must be played out of the cell on the very next turn; cards cannot remain in a cell for more than one move.
  • If a card is placed in a free cell, it must be moved to either a tableau column or a foundation pile before any other action is taken.
  • If there is no legal move for the card in the free cell on the next turn, the game is immediately lost.
• No Undo: Moves into free cells are strictly ephemeral; you cannot "wait" with a card in a cell for multiple turns as in standard FreeCell.
• Other Restrictions:
  • Only one card may occupy a free cell at any time.
  • Cards cannot be moved from the foundation back to the tableau or cells.

Summary of Unique Mechanic:
The defining feature of Ephemeral FreeCell Solitaire is the ephemeral use of free cells: cards placed in a free cell must be moved out immediately on the next turn, or the game is lost. This increases the difficulty and strategic planning required compared to standard FreeCell.