KingCell

Game Objective:

The primary goal in KingCell Solitaire is to move all 52 cards to the four foundation piles, building each foundation up in ascending order by suit, from Ace through King.

Setup & Layout:

• Deck: Standard 52-card deck is used.
• Initial Deal:
• All cards are dealt face-up into eight tableau columns.
  • The first four tableau columns each receive 7 cards.
  • The remaining four tableau columns each receive 6 cards.
• Play Areas:
• Tableau: Eight columns where most card manipulation occurs.
• Foundations: Four piles, one for each suit, where cards are built up from Ace to King.
• Cells: Four single-card holding spaces (also called "free cells") used for temporary storage.
• Card Orientation: All cards are dealt face-up; there are no face-down cards in KingCell Solitaire.

KingCell Solitaire Rules:

• Card Movement Principles:
• Only the top card of any tableau column or cell is available for play.
• Cells can each hold only one card at a time; any single card may be moved to an empty cell.
• Building Sequences in Tableau:
• Sequences are built down in rank by any suit except the same suit (i.e., a card can be placed on another card of the next higher rank, provided it is of a different suit).
  • Example: 7♠ may be placed on 8♥, 8♣, or 8♦, but not on 8♠.
• Groups of cards forming a valid sequence (built down by alternating suits) can be moved together as a unit, provided there are enough empty cells and/or empty tableau spaces to facilitate the move.
• Foundations:
• Each foundation pile is started with an Ace.
• Cards are built up by suit from Ace through King (e.g., Ace♠, 2♠, 3♠, …, King♠).
• Moving to Empty Tableau Spaces:
• Only a King or a group of cards headed by a King may be moved to an empty tableau column.
• No other card or sequence may fill an empty tableau space.

Gameplay:

• Turn Structure:
• On each turn, the player may:
  • Move a card from the tableau or a cell to a foundation, if legal.
  • Move a card or valid sequence within the tableau, following the building rules.
  • Move a single card to an empty cell.
  • Move a card from a cell back to the tableau or to a foundation, if legal.
• Introducing New Cards:
• There is no stock or reserve; all cards are in play from the start.
• When No Moves Are Available:
• If all cells are filled and no legal moves remain in the tableau, play is blocked.
• The game ends when no further moves can be made, and not all cards are in the foundations.

Winning & Losing Conditions:

• Winning Condition:
• The game is won when all 52 cards are moved to the four foundation piles, each built up in suit from Ace to King.
• Losing/Unwinnable State:
• The game is lost or unwinnable if no legal moves remain and not all cards have been moved to the foundations.

Special Rules & Edge Cases:

• Filling Empty Tableau Spaces:
• Only a King or a sequence headed by a King may be moved into an empty tableau column.
• No other card or sequence may be placed in an empty tableau space.
• Cells:
• Each cell can hold only one card.
• Any single card may be moved to an empty cell, but only the card in the cell's top position is available for play.
• Moving Sequences:
• You may move a sequence of cards only if the sequence is built down by alternating suits (not by suit or color), and only if you have enough empty cells and/or empty tableau columns to facilitate the move.
• No Redeals or Stock:
• There are no redeals, no stock pile, and no reserve pile in KingCell Solitaire.
• Strategic Note:
• Keeping cells empty increases maneuverability, allowing for more complex moves and sequence transfers.

Definitions of Key Terms:

• Tableau: The main play area with eight columns where cards are arranged and manipulated.
• Foundation: The four piles (one per suit) where cards are built up from Ace to King.
• Cell: One of four single-card holding spaces used for temporary storage.

This guide provides a complete, rule-focused overview for playing KingCell Solitaire, based strictly on the most authoritative sources available.