Gypsy

Game Objective:

The primary goal in Gypsy Solitaire is to move all cards from the tableau and stock to the eight foundation piles, building each foundation up in ascending order by suit from Ace to King.

Setup & Layout:

• Deck: Use two standard 52-card decks (total 104 cards).
• Foundations: Eight empty foundation piles are positioned on one side of the play area. These piles will be built up by suit starting with Aces.
• Tableau: Eight tableau piles are arranged in a row. Each tableau pile is dealt three cards: the bottom two cards are placed face-down, and the top card is placed face-up.
• Stock: The remaining cards form the stock pile, placed face-down, typically below or beside the tableau and foundations.
• Face Orientation: Only the top card of each tableau pile is face-up at the start; all other tableau cards and all stock cards are face-down.

Key Play Areas:

• Foundations: Where cards are built up by suit.
• Tableau: Where cards are built down by alternating colors.
• Stock: Supplies new cards to the tableau.

Gypsy Solitaire Rules:

• Foundations:

• Only an Ace can be placed on an empty foundation pile.

• Foundations build up by suit in ascending order (Ace → King).

• Cards may be moved from the tableau or stock to the foundations if they follow the ascending suit sequence.

• Cards from the foundations may be moved back to the tableau if needed.

• Tableau:

• Tableaus build down by alternating colors (e.g., a red card on a black card).

• Cards or sequences of cards built down by alternating colors can be moved together as a group.

• Any card or valid sequence may be moved to an empty tableau pile.

• Only the top card of each tableau pile is face-up; when a face-up card is moved, the next card beneath is turned face-up.

• Stock:

• When no more moves are available, one card is dealt face-up from the stock to each tableau pile.

• The stock is used to replenish tableau piles and introduce new cards into play.

Gameplay:

• Player Actions:

• Move cards or valid descending sequences (by alternating colors) between tableau piles.

• Move cards from the tableau or stock to the foundations if they follow the ascending suit sequence.

• Move cards from foundations back to tableau piles to enable further moves.

• Fill empty tableau spaces with any card or valid sequence.

• Introducing New Cards:

• When no more moves are possible, deal one face-up card from the stock to each tableau pile.

• Continue play with the newly dealt cards.

• No Legal Moves:

• If no moves are possible and the stock is depleted, the game is lost.

Winning & Losing Conditions:

• Winning Condition:

• The game is won when all 104 cards are successfully moved to the eight foundation piles, with each pile built up by suit from Ace to King.

• Losing/Unwinnable Condition:

• The game is lost if no legal moves remain and the stock is exhausted, leaving cards in the tableau that cannot be moved to the foundations.

Special Rules & Edge Cases:

• Filling Empty Tableau Piles:

• Any card or valid descending sequence (by alternating colors) can be moved into an empty tableau pile.

• Moving Cards from Foundations:

• Cards placed on the foundations may be moved back to the tableau to facilitate further moves, increasing strategic options.

• Redeal (Rare Variant Rule):

• Some versions allow a redeal: if no moves are possible, cards from tableau piles are collected and redealt in the initial pattern, without shuffling. This may be permitted up to twice per game, but is not standard in all implementations.

• Sequence Movement:

• Sequences built down by alternating colors can be moved as a group between tableau piles.

• Stock Depletion:

• Once the stock is empty, no further cards can be dealt to the tableau. Play continues only with available cards in the tableau and foundations.

• No Suit Restriction for Tableau Moves:

• Descending sequences in the tableau must alternate colors, but do not need to match suit.

Definitions:

• Foundation: A pile where cards are built up by suit from Ace to King.
• Tableau: The main play area where cards are built down by alternating color and sequences can be moved.
• Stock: The pile from which new cards are dealt to the tableau.

This guide is derived from official and reputable sources to ensure semantic precision and clarity for optimal gameplay understanding.