HalfCell

Game Objective:

The primary goal in HalfCell Solitaire is to move all cards from the tableau and cells to the foundation piles, building each foundation up in suit from Ace to King.

Setup & Layout:

• Deck: Use a standard 52-card deck.
• Initial Deal: All 52 cards are dealt face-up into eight tableau columns.
  • Four columns contain seven cards each.
  • Four columns contain six cards each.
• Play Areas:
  • Tableau: Eight columns where cards are initially dealt and manipulated during play.
  • Foundations: Four piles, one for each suit, where cards are built up from Ace to King.
  • Cells: Four individual spaces ("half cells") that can each temporarily hold one card.
• Card Orientation: All cards are dealt face-up; no cards are hidden or face-down at any time.

HalfCell Solitaire Rules:

• Card Movement:
  • Only the top card of each tableau column or any card in a cell may be moved at a time.
• Building Sequences:
  • Tableau: Build down by alternating colors (e.g., red on black, black on red), and by descending rank (e.g., 6 on 7).
  • Foundations: Build up by suit, starting with Ace and ending with King (A, 2, 3, …, K).
• Moving Cards:
  • Top cards from tableau or cells may be moved to:
    • Another tableau column, if the move creates a descending sequence of alternating colors.
    • An empty cell (only one card per cell).
    • A foundation pile, if the card is the next in sequence for its suit.
  • Cards from cells may be moved back to tableau or to foundations.

Gameplay:

• Player Actions:
  • Move cards between tableau columns following the building rules.
  • Move cards into empty cells for temporary storage.
  • Move cards from tableau or cells to foundations when possible.
• Introducing New Cards:
  • No stock or reserve pile exists; all cards are in play from the start.
• No More Legal Moves:
  • If all cells are occupied and no tableau moves are possible, the game is lost.

Winning & Losing Conditions:

• Winning: The game is won when all cards are successfully moved to the foundation piles, built up in suit from Ace to King.
• Losing: The game is lost if no legal moves remain and all cells are occupied, preventing further progress.

Special Rules & Edge Cases:

• Empty Tableau Columns:
  • Any card may be moved into an empty tableau column.
• Cell Restrictions:
  • Only one card may occupy each cell at a time.
• Supermoves:
  • Multiple cards can be moved as a sequence between tableau columns, but only if there are enough empty cells and/or empty tableau columns to facilitate the move (the maximum number of cards that can be moved as a sequence is determined by the number of empty cells and tableau columns).
• Foundation Restrictions:
  • Once a card is placed in a foundation pile, it cannot be moved back to the tableau or cells.

Note: The above rules reflect the standard mechanics of FreeCell Solitaire, which forms the basis for HalfCell Solitaire, as no distinct official documentation for "HalfCell Solitaire" was found. If HalfCell Solitaire introduces additional unique mechanics beyond standard FreeCell (such as a different number of cells or tableau columns), please specify, as the current guide is based on authoritative FreeCell rules.