Four by Ten

Game Objective:

The primary goal in Four by Ten Solitaire is to remove all cards from the tableau by forming and discarding pairs of cards that sum to ten, with the exception of tens and face cards, which are handled according to specific rules.

Setup & Layout:

• Deck Used: A standard 52-card deck is used, with Jokers removed.
• Tableau: Lay out four rows of ten cards each, for a total of 40 cards. This forms the tableau. All cards are dealt face-up.
• Stock: The remaining 12 cards form the stock pile and are kept face-down for replenishing the tableau.
• Key Play Areas:
• Tableau: The main play area consisting of 40 face-up cards arranged in a 4x10 grid.
• Stock: The reserve pile of undealt cards used to refill the tableau when pairs are removed.

Four by Ten Solitaire Rules:

• Pair Removal: Remove pairs of cards from the tableau that add up to ten (e.g., 7 + 3, 6 + 4, 8 + 2, 9 + 1, 5 + 5).
• Tens: A single ten card can be removed on its own.
• Face Cards (J, Q, K): Face cards cannot be paired or removed directly; they remain in the tableau and act as blockers.
• Card Movement: Only pairs that sum to ten or single tens may be removed. No other card movements are permitted.
• Replenishing Tableau: When a pair or ten is removed, refill the empty spaces with cards drawn from the stock, maintaining the 4x10 layout.

Gameplay:

• Sequence of Actions:

1. Identify and Remove Pairs: Scan the tableau for pairs of cards whose values sum to ten, or for single tens.
2. Remove and Refill: Remove the identified pair or ten, then immediately fill each empty space with a card from the stock, keeping all cards face-up.
3. Repeat: Continue removing pairs and refilling until no more legal moves are available or the stock is depleted.

• Introducing New Cards: Cards are introduced into play only from the stock when spaces in the tableau are created by removing pairs or tens.
• No Legal Moves: If no pairs summing to ten or tens remain and the stock is depleted, the game ends.

Winning & Losing Conditions:

• Winning: The game is won when all cards in the tableau have been removed, leaving only face cards (J, Q, K) in all positions.
• Losing/Unwinnable State: The game is lost if no more pairs summing to ten or tens can be removed and the stock is exhausted, leaving non-removable cards (usually face cards and unpaired numbers) in the tableau.

Special Rules & Edge Cases:

• Filling Empty Spaces: Each time a pair or ten is removed, refill the empty tableau spaces immediately with cards from the stock, maintaining the tableau’s size and layout.
• Multiple Pairs: If multiple pairs are available, the player may choose any pair to remove first; there is no restriction on the order.
• Face Cards: Face cards (J, Q, K) are never removed and serve as blockers. The optimal outcome is for all tableau positions to be occupied by face cards at the end of the game.
• No Partial Moves: Only complete pairs or single tens may be removed; sequences or partial sets are not allowed.
• Stock Depletion: Once the stock is depleted, empty spaces in the tableau remain empty. No further refilling occurs.

Definitions:

• Tableau: The main grid of cards where pairing and removal occur.
• Stock: The pile of undealt cards used to refill the tableau.
• Face Cards: Jack, Queen, and King; these cannot be paired or removed.

This guide provides a semantically precise and complete overview of the rules and gameplay mechanics for Four by Ten Solitaire as supported by authoritative sources.