Four Leaf Clovers

Game Objective:

The primary goal in Four Leaf Clovers Solitaire is to move all 52 cards from the tableau piles onto a single foundation pile, building sequentially by rank regardless of suit, wrapping from King to Ace as needed.

Setup & Layout:

• Deck Used: Standard 52-card deck.
• Initial Arrangement:
  • Thirteen tableau piles are created, each containing four cards, for a total of 52 cards.
  • One foundation pile is left empty at the start.
• Card Orientation:
  • All cards are dealt face-up in the tableau piles; there are no face-down cards in this game.
• Key Play Areas:
  • Tableau: Thirteen piles of four face-up cards each. The tableau is the main area where cards are manipulated.
  • Foundation: One pile, initially empty, where cards are sequentially built up by rank.

Four Leaf Clovers Solitaire Rules:

• Card Movement Principles:
  • Only the top card of each tableau pile is available for play.
  • Only one card may be moved at a time; sequences cannot be moved.
• Foundation Building:
  • The foundation pile is started with any available Ace from the tableau.
  • Cards are built up by rank regardless of suit (e.g., Ace, 2, 3, …, King).
  • Wrapping is allowed: After King, an Ace may be placed to continue the sequence.
  • The process repeats until all 52 cards are placed on the foundation pile.
• Tableau Building:
  • Cards may be built up or down by rank on the tableau, regardless of suit (e.g., a 6 can be placed on a 5 or a 7).
  • Wrapping is permitted: A King may be placed on an Ace, and an Ace may be placed on a King.
  • Only the top card of a tableau pile is available for building or moving.
• Restrictions:
  • Empty tableau piles cannot be filled; once a tableau pile is empty, it remains empty.
  • Cards moved to the foundation cannot be returned to the tableau.

Gameplay:

• Turn Sequence:
  • Examine the tableau for available moves.
  • Move any available Ace to start the foundation pile.
  • Build the foundation pile by placing the next higher card (regardless of suit) onto the top card of the foundation.
  • Move the top card of any tableau pile onto another tableau pile if it is one rank higher or lower, regardless of suit. Wrapping between King and Ace is allowed.
  • Continue moving cards from the tableau to the foundation or between tableau piles, observing all building and movement rules.
• Introducing New Cards:
  • There is no stock or reserve; all cards are in play from the start.
• No Legal Moves:
  • If no further moves are possible (no cards can be moved to the foundation or between tableau piles), the game ends and is considered lost.

Winning & Losing Conditions:

• Winning Condition:
  • The player wins by successfully building all 52 cards onto the single foundation pile in sequential order, wrapping as needed.
• Losing/Unwinnable Condition:
  • The game is lost if no legal moves remain and not all cards have been moved to the foundation pile.

Special Rules & Edge Cases:

• Filling Empty Spaces:
  • Empty tableau piles cannot be filled; once a pile is empty, it remains empty for the rest of the game.
• Wrapping:
  • Building is continuous: A King may be followed by an Ace and vice versa, both in the foundation and tableau.
• Movement Restrictions:
  • Only one card may be moved at a time; sequences of cards cannot be moved together.
  • Cards cannot be removed from the foundation once placed.
• Suit Irrelevance:
  • Suit does not matter for any building or moving action; only rank is considered.

Key Definitions:

• Foundation: The target pile where cards are built up by rank, regardless of suit.
• Tableau: The primary play area consisting of thirteen piles of four face-up cards each.
• Wrapping: The ability to continue sequences from King to Ace and vice versa.

This guide covers all core mechanics and unique rules for Four Leaf Clovers Solitaire, ensuring precise understanding for both new and experienced players.