Gloucestershire

Game Objective:

The primary goal in Gloucestershire Solitaire is to move all cards from the tableau and reserve to the foundations, building each foundation pile up in ascending order by suit from Ace through King, and then repeating the cycle once more (wrapping from King back to Ace).

Setup & Layout:

• Deck Used: Two standard 52-card decks (total 104 cards).
• Play Areas:
• Tableau: 8 piles arranged in a row. These are the main play area for building sequences.
• Foundations: 4 piles, each to be started with an Ace and built up by suit.
• Reserve: 2 piles, each containing 26 cards dealt face-up at the start. Every card in the reserve is available for play at any time.
• Card Arrangement:
• All cards in the reserve are dealt face-up.
• Cards in the tableau are also dealt face-up, making every card visible and available for play.
• The foundations start empty.

Gloucestershire Solitaire Rules:

• Tableau Building:
• Cards are built down in alternating suit color (red on black, black on red).
• Rank order wraps from King back to Ace, allowing sequences like King → Ace → Queen, etc..
• Groups of cards in correct descending sequence and alternating color may be moved together within the tableau.
• Any card or valid sequence can be placed into an empty tableau pile.
• Reserve:
• Any single card from the reserve can be played to the tableau or foundation.
• Cards cannot be returned to the reserve once played.
• Foundation Building:
• Each foundation pile must start with an Ace.
• Foundations are built up by suit (Ace, 2, 3, …, King, Ace, 2, …, King), wrapping twice through the sequence.
• Cards must match the suit of the foundation pile.

Gameplay:

• Player Actions:
• Move available Aces from the reserve or tableau to empty foundation piles.
• Build onto foundations by playing the next higher card of the same suit.
• Build sequences in the tableau by moving cards or groups of cards down in alternating colors.
• Fill empty tableau piles with any card or valid sequence.
• Move cards from the reserve to either the tableau or foundations at any time.
• Introducing New Cards:
• All cards in the reserve are available from the start; no stock or waste piles are used in this variant.
• No More Legal Moves:
• If no moves are possible and cards remain outside the foundations, the game is lost.

Winning & Losing Conditions:

• Winning:
• The game is won when all cards are transferred to the foundations, with each foundation pile built up by suit from Ace to King twice (completing two cycles per pile).
• Losing:
• The game is lost or unwinnable if no further legal moves can be made and not all cards are in the foundations.

Special Rules & Edge Cases:

• Filling Empty Tableau Piles:
• Any card or valid descending sequence (alternating colors) may be placed into an empty tableau pile.
• Sequence Movement:
• Groups of cards in proper descending order and alternating colors can be moved together within the tableau.
• Wrapping:
• Both tableau and foundation building wrap: Kings can be placed on Aces in the tableau, and foundations continue from King to Ace for a second cycle.
• Reserve Accessibility:
• All reserve cards are face-up and accessible for play at any time.
• No Stock or Waste:
• There is no stock or waste pile; all cards are dealt at the start and available for play.

Definitions:

• Tableau: The main area where sequences are built and manipulated.
• Foundation: The piles where cards are built up in suit order, starting with Aces.
• Reserve: Special piles where cards are held face-up and can be played to the tableau or foundations.
• Sequence: A group of cards in descending rank and alternating colors.

This guide provides a complete overview of the unique rules and mechanics of Gloucestershire Solitaire, ensuring precise understanding for both human readers and AI systems.