Klondike

Game Objective:

The primary goal in Klondike Solitaire is to move all 52 cards from the tableau and stock to the four foundation piles, building each foundation in ascending order by suit from Ace to King.

Setup & Layout:

• Deck: Use a standard 52-card deck with no Jokers.
• Tableau: Deal 28 cards into seven columns:
• The leftmost pile has 1 card, the next pile has 2 cards, and so on, up to the seventh pile with 7 cards.
• Only the top card of each tableau pile is dealt face up; all other cards in each pile are face down.
• Foundations: Place four empty foundation spaces above the tableau, one for each suit.
• Stock: Place the remaining 24 cards face down in a single pile (the stock) beside the tableau.
• Waste (Discard) Pile: Leave an empty space next to the stock for the waste pile, where cards from the stock will be placed as they are drawn.

Key Play Areas:

• Tableau: The main area with seven columns for building down in alternating colors.
• Foundations: Four piles, each dedicated to a single suit, built up from Ace to King.
• Stock: The face-down pile from which new cards are drawn.
• Waste: The face-up pile where cards from the stock are placed when drawn and cannot be immediately played.

Klondike Solitaire Rules:

• Building on the Tableau:
• Cards are built down in rank (King to Ace) and must alternate colors (red on black or black on red).
• Only the top face-up card of each tableau pile is available for play. When a face-down card becomes exposed, it is immediately turned face up.
• Sequences of cards in correct descending order and alternating colors can be moved together as a unit.
• Moving to Foundations:
• Foundations are built up by suit, starting with the Ace and proceeding in ascending order to King.
• Only the next higher card of the same suit may be placed on a foundation (e.g., 2♠ on Ace♠).
• Stock and Waste:
• Cards are drawn from the stock, usually one at a time or three at a time, and placed face up on the waste pile.
• The top card of the waste pile is always available for play onto the tableau or foundations.
• When the stock is depleted, the waste pile may be turned over to form a new stock, depending on the variant (see Special Rules).

Gameplay:

• On each turn, the player may:
• Move the top face-up card of any tableau pile to another tableau pile, following the descending rank and alternating color rule.
• Move a card to the foundation if it is the next in sequence and of the correct suit.
• Move a sequence of correctly ordered cards between tableau piles.
• Draw cards from the stock to the waste pile, making the top waste card available for play.
• If a tableau pile becomes empty, only a King (or a sequence starting with a King) may be placed in the empty space.
• When a face-down card is uncovered in the tableau, immediately turn it face up.
• Play continues until all cards are moved to the foundations or no more legal moves are possible.

Winning & Losing Conditions:

• Winning: The game is won when all 52 cards are successfully moved to the four foundation piles, sorted by suit in ascending order from Ace to King.
• Losing/Unwinnable: The game is lost or unwinnable if no more legal moves can be made and cards remain outside the foundations.

Special Rules & Edge Cases:

• Filling Empty Tableau Spaces: Only a King or a valid descending sequence starting with a King can be placed in an empty tableau column.
• Stock Reuse Variants:
• Some versions allow unlimited passes through the stock (reshuffling the waste into a new stock as often as needed).
• Other versions limit the number of times the stock can be reused (commonly three passes or only once).
• The method for drawing from the stock may be one card at a time or three cards at a time, depending on the chosen ruleset.
• Card Movement Restrictions:
• Only face-up cards are eligible for play or movement.
• Only the top card of the waste pile is available for play.
• Sequences can only be moved if they are in proper descending order and alternating colors.
• Immediate Foundation Play: Whenever an Ace appears in the tableau, it should be moved to the foundation as soon as possible.

These rules define the unique structure and gameplay of Klondike Solitaire, distinguishing it from other solitaire variants through its tableau-building restrictions, foundation requirements, and specific handling of stock and waste piles.