Fourteen Out

Game Objective:

The primary goal in Fourteen Out Solitaire is to remove all cards from the tableau by discarding pairs of cards whose combined values total exactly fourteen.

Setup & Layout:

• Deck: Use one standard 52-card deck (no jokers).
• Tableau: Deal all 52 cards face-up into twelve tableau piles:
• The first four piles each receive five cards.
• The remaining eight piles each receive four cards.
• Play Areas:
• Tableau: The twelve piles where all gameplay occurs.
• Foundation/Discard Pile: A single pile where removed pairs are placed (not used for further gameplay, only as a record of removed cards).
• Card Orientation: All cards are dealt face-up and are fully visible from the start.

Fourteen Out Solitaire Rules:

• Card Values:
• Ace = 1
• Number cards = face value (2–10)
• Jack = 11
• Queen = 12
• King = 13
• Valid Pairs: Only pairs of available (uncovered) cards whose values sum to fourteen may be removed. The valid combinations are:
• Ace + King
• 2 + Queen
• 3 + Jack
• 4 + 10
• 5 + 9
• 6 + 8
• 7 + 7
• Card Access: Only the top card of each tableau pile is available for pairing and removal. Cards beneath cannot be accessed until the cards above them are removed.
• No Building: There is no building of sequences or movement of cards between tableau piles. Cards cannot be stacked, moved, or rearranged except for pairing and removal.
• Pair Removal: When a valid pair is selected, both cards are removed from play and placed in the foundation/discard pile.

Gameplay:

• Turn Sequence:
• Identify all available (top) cards from each tableau pile.
• Find and select a pair of available cards whose values total fourteen.
• Remove the pair from the tableau and place them in the foundation/discard pile.
• The cards immediately beneath the removed cards (if any) are now exposed and available for play.
• No New Cards: All cards are dealt at the start; no cards are drawn or introduced during play.
• Blocked Cards: If two cards that would form a valid pair are in the same pile and one is beneath the other, the lower card cannot be accessed until the upper card is removed (possibly requiring the matching pair to be found elsewhere first).
• No Moves Available: If no valid pairs of fourteen are available among the top cards, play ends.

Winning & Losing Conditions:

• Win Condition: The player wins if all cards are successfully paired and removed from the tableau.
• Loss Condition: The game is lost if no further legal pairs can be made and cards remain in the tableau.

Special Rules & Edge Cases:

• Empty Piles: When a tableau pile becomes empty, it remains empty for the rest of the game. No cards can be moved into or dealt onto empty piles.
• No Redeals or Reshuffles: There is no redeal or reshuffling of the tableau at any point.
• Pairing Restrictions: Only the top card of each pile is eligible for pairing. Cards buried beneath others are inaccessible until uncovered.
• Blocked Pairs: If both cards of a necessary pair (e.g., both 7s) are buried beneath other cards or in the same pile, and cannot be accessed, the game may become unwinnable.
• Strategy Note: It is generally advisable to avoid emptying piles too early, as maintaining more available top cards increases pairing options and reduces the risk of blockages.

This guide provides a precise, rule-focused overview of Fourteen Out Solitaire for optimal understanding and play.