Gargantua

Game Objective

The primary goal of Gargantua Solitaire is to move all 104 cards (from two standard 52-card decks) onto the eight foundation piles by building each foundation up in suit from Ace to King. Successfully completing all eight foundations results in a win.

Setup & Layout

• Decks Used: Two standard 52-card decks (104 cards total).
• Tableau: Nine columns (piles) are dealt at the start. The first column receives one card, the second two cards, and so on, up to nine cards in the ninth column. The top card of each tableau pile is face up; all others are face down.
• Foundations: Eight initially empty piles, located above the tableau. These are where cards are built up in suit from Ace to King to win the game.
• Stock: The remaining undealt cards form the stock, placed face down. Cards are turned over one at a time from the stock to the waste pile during play.
• Waste: A single pile where cards from the stock are placed face up after being dealt. Only the top card of the waste is available for play.

Gargantua Solitaire Rules

Fundamental Principles

• Foundation Building: Foundations are built up in suit, starting with an Ace. For example, the 2♠ can be placed on the A♠, the 3♠ on the 2♠, and so on up to the K♠.
• Tableau Building: Tableau piles are built down in alternating colors (red on black, black on red). For example, a red 7 can be placed on a black 8, and a black 6 on a red 7.
• Moving Cards: Any face-up card or sequence of cards (regardless of their internal build) may be moved as a group, provided the move is legal for the destination pile.
• Empty Tableau Spaces: Only a King (or a sequence headed by a King) may be placed in an empty tableau column.
• Stock and Waste: Cards are dealt one at a time from the stock to the waste. Only the top card of the waste is available for play onto the tableau or foundations.
• Redeal: One redeal is permitted. When the stock is exhausted, the waste pile (excluding the top card if it is playable) may be turned face down to become the new stock for a second pass through the deck.

Sequence Building Details

• Foundations: Strictly in suit, ascending from Ace to King. Only an Ace may start a foundation; no wrapping (King to Ace) is allowed.
• Tableau: Descending, alternating colors. Any valid sequence (e.g., 8♦, 7♠, 6♥) may be moved as a unit if the bottom card of the sequence can legally be placed on the destination pile.
• Availability: Only the top card of each tableau pile and the top card of the waste are available for play. Face-down cards in the tableau are turned face up as they become exposed.

Gameplay

1. Initial Deal: Deal the tableau as described above. Place the remaining cards face down as the stock.
2. Turn Over Stock: Turn over cards from the stock one at a time to the waste. The top card of the waste is always available for play.
3. Build Foundations: Move Aces to the foundations as they become available. Build foundations up in suit.
4. Build Tableau: Move cards or sequences between tableau piles according to the building rules. Expose face-down cards as they become available.
5. Fill Empty Spaces: Only a King (or a sequence headed by a King) may fill an empty tableau column.
6. Redeal: When the stock is empty, you may redeal the waste (excluding the top card if it is playable) as a new stock for one additional pass through the deck.
7. Continue Play: Repeat the process, moving cards between the tableau, waste, and foundations, until either all cards are moved to the foundations (win) or no more legal moves are possible (loss).

Winning & Losing Conditions

• Winning: The game is won when all 104 cards are moved to the eight foundation piles, each built up in suit from Ace to King.
• Losing: The game is lost when no more legal moves are possible and not all cards have been moved to the foundations, even after the permitted redeal.

Special Rules & Edge Cases

• Empty Tableau Columns: May only be filled by a King or a sequence headed by a King. No other card or sequence may occupy an empty tableau column.
• Sequence Moves: Any valid sequence (regardless of internal build) may be moved as a unit, provided the bottom card of the sequence can legally be placed on the destination pile.
• No Wrapping: Foundations do not wrap from King to Ace; each foundation must be built strictly from Ace to King in suit.
• Single Redeal: Only one redeal is permitted. After the second pass through the stock, the game ends if no more moves are possible.
• Exposed Cards: Whenever a face-down card in the tableau is uncovered, it is turned face up and becomes available for play.
• Tableau Count: Always ensure there are exactly nine tableau columns. If you accidentally create more, the game setup is incorrect and should be restarted.

Summary Table: Key Play Areas and Rules

| Play Area | Build Direction | Suit/Color Rule | Empty Pile Rule | Redeal Allowed | |--------------|-----------------|-------------------------|----------------------------|---------------| | Foundations | Up | Same suit | Ace only | No | | Tableau | Down | Alternating colors | King (or King sequence) | No | | Stock | N/A | N/A | N/A | Yes (once) | | Waste | N/A | N/A | Top card only | No |

Gargantua Solitaire is a challenging but accessible two-deck Klondike variant, emphasizing both strategic sequencing and careful management of tableau spaces. Mastery requires attention to tableau organization, timely foundation building, and efficient use of the single redeal.