Links

Game Objective:

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

Setup & Layout:

• Deck: Use a standard 52-card deck.
• Tableau: Deal 8 tableau piles. Each pile receives one card, all dealt face-up.
• Stock: Place the remaining 44 cards face-down as the stock pile.
• Waste: The waste pile begins empty; cards will be dealt here from the stock.
• Foundations: Four foundation piles, one for each suit, start empty. These are built up from Ace to King.

Key Play Areas Defined:

• Tableau: The main area with 8 face-up piles where most card movement occurs.
• Stock: The draw pile, face-down.
• Waste: The face-up pile where cards from the stock are placed for play.
• Foundations: The four piles where cards are built up by suit from Ace to King.

Links Solitaire Rules:

• Card Movement Principles:

• Only the top card of each tableau pile and the top card of the waste pile are available for play.

• Cards can be moved from the tableau or waste to the foundations if they are the next in sequence and of the same suit.

• Cards can be moved between tableau piles in descending order, regardless of suit (i.e., any card one rank lower may be placed on another, regardless of color or suit).

• Building Sequences:

• On the Tableau: Build down in rank (e.g., 7 on 8), but suits and colors do not matter.

• On the Foundations: Build up by suit, starting with Ace and ending with King.

• Moving Cards:

• Only one card may be moved at a time.

• Empty tableau spaces may be filled with any available card.

Gameplay:

• On your turn, you may:

• Move the top card of any tableau pile to another tableau pile (if it is one rank lower).

• Move the top card of a tableau pile or the waste to a foundation (if it is the correct suit and rank).

• Fill any empty tableau pile with any available card.

• When no moves are possible, deal one card from the stock to the waste pile.

• Only the top card of the waste pile is available for play.

• Stock Limitation: Only one pass through the stock is allowed. Once the stock is exhausted, no redeals are permitted.

• If No Moves Remain:

• The game ends if no further legal moves can be made and the stock is depleted.

Winning & Losing Conditions:

• Win: Successfully move all 52 cards to the foundation piles, building each suit from Ace to King.
• Lose/Unwinnable: The game is lost if no legal moves remain and the stock is empty, with cards still left in the tableau or waste.

Special Rules & Edge Cases:

• Filling Empty Tableau Piles: Any card may be moved into an empty tableau space, not just Kings.
• Stock Passes: Only one pass through the stock is permitted; you cannot recycle the waste back into the stock.
• No Sequence Moves: Only single cards may be moved at a time, not sequences.
• Waste Pile: Only the top card of the waste is available for play to the tableau or foundations.

These unique rules—especially the single pass through the stock and the ability to fill tableau spaces with any card—distinguish Links Solitaire from more common solitaire variants such as Klondike.