Lucas Leaps

Game Objective:

The primary objective in Lucas Leaps Solitaire is to move all cards from the tableau, stock, and waste to the eight foundation piles, building each foundation up by suit from Ace to King.

Setup & Layout:

• Deck: Two standard 52-card decks (total 104 cards) are used.
• Foundations: Eight foundation piles are created. Each foundation starts empty and is built up by suit beginning with an Ace.
• Tableau: Thirteen tableau piles are arranged. Each tableau pile is dealt four cards face-up at the start. (Some sources specify three cards per pile, but the Lucas Leaps variant uses four cards per pile.)
• Stock: The remaining cards after dealing to the tableau form the stock pile, placed face-down.
• Waste: There is one waste pile, which starts empty.
• Face Orientation: All tableau cards are dealt face-up and visible. The stock is face-down; cards from the stock are dealt face-up to the waste.

Key Play Areas Defined:

• Foundation: Destination piles for building up by suit from Ace to King.
• Tableau: Thirteen piles where cards are built down by suit.
• Stock: Supplies new cards, dealt one at a time to the waste.
• Waste: Holds cards dealt from the stock; only the top card is available for play.

Lucas Leaps Solitaire Rules:

Card Movement Principles:

• Foundations: Cards are built up by suit, starting with Ace and ending with King (e.g., 2♠ on Ace♠, then 3♠, etc.).
• Tableau: Cards are built down by suit (e.g., 9♥ can be placed on 10♥).
• Sequence Movement: Sequences of cards in the tableau that are built down by the same suit may be moved together as a group. (This is a distinguishing feature of Lucas Leaps; classic Lucas only allows moving one card at a time.)
• Empty Tableau Spaces: Any card or valid sequence may be moved to an empty tableau pile.
• Stock and Waste: Tapping the stock deals one card face-up to the waste. The top card of the waste is available for play to the tableau or foundation.

Building Rules:

• Foundations: Build up by suit from Ace to King.
• Tableau: Build down by suit.
• Movement Between Areas: Cards (or sequences) may be moved from tableau to tableau, tableau to foundation, waste to tableau, or waste to foundation, following the building rules.

Gameplay:

Sequence of Actions:

• Move cards or valid sequences within the tableau, building down by suit.
• Move eligible cards from tableau or waste to the foundations, building up by suit.
• Fill empty tableau spaces with any card or sequence built down by suit.
• Draw from the stock by tapping it, which moves one card face-up to the waste.
• Play the top card of the waste to the tableau or foundation if possible.

Introducing New Cards:

• When the player taps the stock, one card is dealt face-up to the waste pile. Only the top card of the waste is available for play.

When No Legal Moves Remain:

• If no moves are possible and the stock is exhausted (no redeals are allowed), the game ends.

Winning & Losing Conditions:

Winning:

• The game is won when all cards are successfully moved to the eight foundation piles, built up by suit from Ace to King.

Losing/Unwinnable State:

• The game is lost or becomes unwinnable if no legal moves remain and the stock is depleted, with cards still left in the tableau or waste.

Special Rules & Edge Cases:

• Filling Empty Tableau Spaces: Any card or sequence built down by suit may be moved to an empty tableau pile.
• Sequence Movement: Unlike classic Lucas, Lucas Leaps allows moving sequences of cards built down by suit as a group within the tableau. This increases strategic options and ease of play.
• Stock Limitation: There is only one pass through the stock; once depleted, no redeals are permitted.
• Waste Pile: Only the top card of the waste is available for play.
• Foundation Restriction: Once a card is placed on a foundation, it cannot be removed.
• Skill vs. Luck: The game is primarily skill-based, with a moderate influence of luck due to the initial shuffle and stock order.

Summary of Unique Features:

• Two decks, eight foundations, thirteen tableau piles.
• Tableau builds down by suit; foundations build up by suit.
• Sequences built down by suit can be moved as a unit (Lucas Leaps variant).
• Any card or sequence can fill empty tableau spaces.
• No redeals; only one trip through the stock.
• Game is won by moving all cards to the foundations; lost if no moves remain and stock is exhausted.