Fair Maids

Game Objective:

The primary goal in Fair Maids Solitaire is to move all cards from the tableau and stock to the four foundation piles, building each foundation by suit from Ace to King.

Setup & Layout:

• Deck Used: Standard 52-card deck.

• Tableau: Seven tableau piles are created. Each pile receives four cards, splayed downward. The top card of each pile is dealt face-up; the remaining three cards in each pile are dealt face-down.

• Foundations: Four empty foundation piles are designated for each suit (hearts, diamonds, clubs, spades).

• Stock: The remaining cards after the tableau setup form the stock pile, placed face-down.

Fair Maids Solitaire Rules:

• Building on Tableau: Cards on the tableau are built down in sequence by alternating color (e.g., a red 9 can be placed on a black 10).

• Moving Cards: Only the top face-up card of each tableau pile is available for play. A card may be moved onto another tableau pile if it follows the descending, alternating color rule.

• Foundation Building: Foundations are built up by suit, starting from Ace and proceeding to King (Ace, 2, 3, …, King).

• Stock Dealing: When the stock is selected, one card is dealt to each non-empty tableau pile. Only a single pass through the stock is allowed per game.

• Sequence Removal: If a complete sequence of 13 cards down by alternating color from King to Ace is formed in the tableau, it is automatically removed from play.

Gameplay:

• Players may move available cards between tableau piles according to the descending, alternating color rule.

• Cards may be moved to the foundations if they are the next in sequence by suit.

• When no moves are possible, the player may deal from the stock. This action places one card face-up on top of each non-empty tableau pile.

• Play continues until either all cards are moved to the foundations or no legal moves remain and the stock is exhausted.

Winning & Losing Conditions:

• Win: The game is won when all cards have been successfully built onto the four foundation piles by suit from Ace to King.

• Loss: The game is lost (or unwinnable) if no further legal moves are possible and the stock has been fully dealt, leaving cards stranded in the tableau that cannot be moved to the foundations.

Special Rules & Edge Cases:

• Empty Tableau Piles: Empty tableau spaces cannot be filled; once a tableau pile becomes empty, it remains empty for the rest of the game.

• Stock Limitation: Only one pass through the stock is permitted. After all stock cards have been dealt, no further cards are introduced into play.

• Sequence Removal: When a full descending sequence from King to Ace is formed in a tableau pile, it is automatically cleared from play, helping to open up space and reduce the tableau.

• Movement Restrictions: Only the top card of each tableau pile is available for play; sequences cannot be moved as a unit—only single cards may be moved at a time.

This guide provides the essential rules and structure for playing Fair Maids Solitaire, ensuring precise understanding of its unique mechanics and win conditions.