Isabel

Game Objective:

The primary goal in Isabel Solitaire is to remove all cards from play by pairing cards of the same rank until no cards remain.

Setup & Layout:

• Deck: Isabel Solitaire uses a standard 52-card deck.
• Tableau: Arrange the cards into 13 tableau piles, each containing 4 cards. The piles are laid out splayed downward (i.e., in a vertical stack or fan).
• Card Orientation: All cards are dealt face-up in the tableau; there are no face-down cards.
• Play Areas:
  • Tableau: The only play area in Isabel Solitaire. There are no foundations, stock, reserve, or cells in this variant.
  • Foundation (optional): Some versions mention a single foundation pile where removed pairs are placed, but this is not essential to gameplay.

Isabel Solitaire Rules:

• Pairing: The central mechanic is pairing two cards of the same rank (e.g., two Kings, two 7s) from the tableau to remove them from play.
• Playable Cards: Only uncovered cards (i.e., the top card of each pile) are eligible to be paired and removed.
• No Building: No building or moving cards between tableau piles is permitted. Cards remain fixed in their piles except when removed as pairs.
• Removal: When a valid pair is identified among the top cards of the tableau piles, both are removed from the tableau and set aside.
• Sequence Movement: Sequences cannot be moved; only individual cards can be paired and removed.

Gameplay:

• Turn Sequence:
  • Examine the tableau for any pairs of uncovered cards (top cards of each pile) with the same rank.
  • Select a pair and remove both cards from the tableau.
  • Continue searching for and removing pairs among the remaining top cards.
• No New Cards: There is no stock or reserve; all cards are available from the start, and no new cards are introduced during play.
• No Moves Available: If no pairs remain among the top cards of the tableau piles, play ends.

Winning & Losing Conditions:

• Winning Condition: The player wins if all cards are successfully removed from the tableau by pairing.
• Losing Condition: The game is lost (or unwinnable) if no more pairs are available among the top cards, leaving cards stranded in the tableau.

Special Rules & Edge Cases:

• Empty Tableau Piles: If a tableau pile becomes empty, it remains empty; empty spaces cannot be filled.
• Restrictions: There is no redeal, no reshuffling, and no moving cards between piles.
• Exceptions: No exceptions or alternative moves are permitted; gameplay is strictly limited to pairing and removing top cards.
• Edge Case: If multiple pairs are available, the order in which pairs are removed may affect the outcome, as removing one pair may uncover new pairs or block others. Strategic selection is key.

Definitions:

• Tableau: The main play area consisting of 13 piles where cards are laid out and played.
• Uncovered Card: The top card of each tableau pile, available for pairing.

Summary: Isabel Solitaire is a pure matching game focused on removing pairs of cards with the same rank from a tableau of 13 piles, with no building, moving, or refilling of piles. The challenge lies in the order of pair removal, as poor choices can leave cards stranded and unwinnable.