Grounds for Divorce

Game Objective:

The primary goal in Grounds for Divorce Solitaire is to discard all cards by creating complete sequences from King down to Ace of the same suit within the tableau. When a full suit sequence is assembled, it is automatically removed from play. The game is won when no cards remain on the tableau or in the stock.

Setup & Layout:

• Deck: Two standard 52-card decks are used, totaling 104 cards.
• Tableau: There are ten tableau piles.
  • Each tableau pile is initially dealt five cards: the bottom four cards are face-down, and the top card is face-up.
• Stock: The remaining cards form the stock pile, which is used to replenish the tableau during play.
• Play Areas Defined:
  • Tableau: The main area where cards are built down and sequences are formed.
  • Stock: The pile from which cards are dealt onto the tableau.
• Face Orientation:
  • In each tableau, four cards are face-down and one card (topmost) is face-up.

Grounds for Divorce Solitaire Rules:

• Building on Tableau:
  • Cards are built downward regardless of suit (e.g., any Jack may be placed on any Queen).
  • However, complete sequences must be in the same suit (King through Ace) to be removed from play.
  • Sequences built down in the same suit can be moved together as a group.
  • Only one card or a valid sequence may be moved to another tableau pile at a time.
  • Kings cannot be placed on Aces; building is strictly downward, ending at Ace.
• Moving Cards:
  • Any single card or a valid sequence (built down in suit) can be moved to fill an empty tableau pile.
  • There is no restriction by suit or color for general building, but only same-suit sequences can be removed.
• Stock Dealing:
  • When no tableau pile is empty, a single card is dealt face-up from the stock to each tableau pile.
  • Only one pass through the stock is permitted; redeals are not allowed.
  • Cards dealt from the stock remain on the tableau until used in a valid move.

Gameplay:

• Typical Sequence of Actions:
  • Move cards or sequences between tableau piles to build down.
  • Assemble sequences of King through Ace in the same suit; these are automatically discarded when complete.
  • Fill empty tableau piles with any card or valid sequence.
  • When all tableau piles have at least one card, deal one card from the stock to each tableau pile.
• Introducing New Cards:
  • Cards are introduced from the stock only when no tableau pile is empty.
  • No cards are dealt to empty tableau spaces from the stock.
• No More Legal Moves:
  • If no moves are possible and the stock is exhausted, the game ends. If cards remain, the game is lost.

Winning & Losing Conditions:

• Winning Condition:
  • The game is won when all cards have been discarded by forming complete King-to-Ace sequences in suit, leaving no cards in the tableau or stock.
• Losing Condition:
  • The game is lost if no more legal moves can be made and cards remain in the tableau or stock after the stock is exhausted.

Special Rules & Edge Cases:

• Filling Empty Tableaus:
  • Any card or valid sequence (built down by suit) may be moved to fill an empty tableau pile.
• Stock Restrictions:
  • Cards are only dealt from the stock when all tableau piles have at least one card; empty piles prevent stock dealing.
  • Only a single pass through the stock is allowed; no redeals.
• Sequence Removal:
  • Only full sequences from King to Ace in the same suit are removed; partial sequences or mixed suits remain.
• Group Moves:
  • Sequences built down in the same suit may be moved together as a group; mixed-suit sequences cannot be moved as a unit.
• No Foundations:
  • Unlike many solitaire games, there are no foundation piles; all play occurs within the tableau and stock.

Definitions:

• Tableau: The primary area where cards are arranged and manipulated during play.
• Stock: The pile of undealt cards used to replenish the tableau.
• Sequence: A run of cards in descending order, ideally all in the same suit for removal.

This guide provides a complete and precise reference for playing Grounds for Divorce Solitaire according to official rules and authoritative sources.