Fifteen

Game Objective:

The primary goal in Fifteen Solitaire is to discard all cards from the deck by removing combinations of cards from the tableau whose values sum to exactly fifteen, following specific combination rules for face cards and tens.

Setup & Layout:

• Deck Used: Standard 52-card deck.
• Initial Deal: Deal 16 cards face-up in a 4x4 grid to form the tableau.
• Stock: The remaining 36 cards form the stock pile, kept face-down.
• Waste Pile: Discarded combinations are placed in a waste pile.
• Key Play Areas:
• Tableau: The 4x4 grid of face-up cards.
• Stock: The undealt cards, face-down.
• Waste: Discarded cards, face-up.

Fifteen Solitaire Rules:

• Card Values:
• Ace = 1
• Number cards = face value (2–9)
• 10, Jack, Queen, King = 10 each
• Valid Discards:
• Any set of two or more cards from the tableau whose total value is exactly 15 may be discarded.
• Tens, Jacks, Queens, and Kings can only be discarded as a set of four cards of the same rank (e.g., all four Kings together).
  • You cannot combine a 10, Jack, Queen, or King with other cards to make 15 (e.g., 10+5 is not allowed).
• Card Movement:
• Only cards currently face-up in the tableau may be selected for discard.
• Cards may be selected from any position in the tableau; they do not need to be adjacent.
• Refilling Tableau:
• After discarding cards, immediately fill any empty spaces in the tableau with new cards drawn from the stock, maintaining the 4x4 grid.

Gameplay:

• On each turn:
• Examine the tableau for any valid combinations of two or more cards that sum to 15, or for four-of-a-kind sets of 10s, Jacks, Queens, or Kings.
• Discard a valid combination to the waste pile.
• Immediately fill the resulting empty spaces in the tableau with cards from the stock, one per empty space, until the tableau is full or the stock is depleted.
• Repeat this process until no more valid combinations can be made.
• If no combinations are possible and the stock is empty, the game ends.

Winning & Losing Conditions:

• Win: Successfully discard all 52 cards from the tableau and stock by making valid combinations.
• Lose: The game is lost (unwinnable) if there are no valid combinations left in the tableau and the stock is depleted, leaving cards remaining in the tableau.

Special Rules & Edge Cases:

• Filling Empty Spaces: Always fill empty spaces in the tableau immediately after a discard, using cards from the stock, until the tableau contains 16 cards or the stock is empty.
• Face Cards and Tens: You may only remove 10s, Jacks, Queens, or Kings as a complete set of four matching cards. Partial sets or combining these cards with others to total 15 is not permitted.
• Multiple Card Combinations: Any number of cards (two or more) may be combined to total 15, except for the restriction on 10s and face cards.
• No Rearrangement: Cards in the tableau cannot be moved or rearranged except by discarding valid combinations.
• Stock Depletion: If the stock runs out, continue playing with the remaining tableau. If no further moves are possible, the game ends.

This guide is based on the most widely accepted rules for Fifteen Solitaire as found in authoritative sources.