McClellan

Game Objective:

The primary goal in McClellan Solitaire is to build up all cards onto the foundation piles by suit, from Ace to King, using a standard 52-card deck.

Setup & Layout:

• Deck Used: Standard 52-card deck (no jokers).
• Tableau: Eight tableau piles are created. Each pile is dealt four cards: the bottom three cards are placed face down, and the top card is placed face up.
• Foundations: Four empty foundation piles are reserved for building sequences by suit from Ace to King.
• Stock: The remaining cards after the tableau setup form the stock pile, placed face down.
• Waste: Cards drawn from the stock that cannot be played are placed face up in the waste pile.
• Face-Up/Face-Down: Only the top card of each tableau pile is face up; all other tableau cards are face down at the start.

McClellan Solitaire Rules:

• Building on Tableau: Cards on the tableau are built down in sequence, alternating colors (e.g., red on black, black on red).
• Moving Cards: Only the top face-up card of each tableau pile is available for play. You may move a single card or a properly sequenced group of cards (descending order, alternating colors) between tableau piles.
• Empty Tableau Piles: Any card or valid sequence may be moved into an empty tableau pile; there is no restriction to Kings only.
• Foundations: Foundations are built up by suit, starting with Ace and continuing in ascending order to King.
• Stock and Waste: Cards are drawn one at a time from the stock to the waste pile. Only the top card of the waste pile is available for play onto the tableau or the foundations.
• Uncovering Cards: When a face-up card is moved from a tableau pile, the next card beneath (if any) is turned face up.

Gameplay:

• Typical Turn Sequence:

  • Move available face-up cards or valid sequences between tableau piles, following the descending order and alternating color rule.
  • Build up foundations by suit whenever possible.
  • Draw cards from the stock one at a time to the waste pile when no moves are available on the tableau.
  • Play the top card of the waste pile onto the tableau or foundations if possible.
  • Continue moving cards and drawing from the stock until all cards are built onto the foundations or no further moves are possible.

• Introducing New Cards: Cards are introduced into play from the stock pile, one at a time, to the waste pile. Only the top card of the waste pile can be played.

• No More Legal Moves: If no moves are possible and the stock is exhausted, the game ends.

Winning & Losing Conditions:

• Winning: You win by successfully building all cards onto the foundation piles in ascending order by suit, from Ace to King.
• Losing: The game is lost or unwinnable if no further moves can be made and cards remain in the tableau, waste, or stock.

Special Rules & Edge Cases:

• Filling Empty Tableau Spaces: Any card or valid descending, alternating color sequence may be placed into an empty tableau pile; there is no restriction to Kings.
• Stock Reuse: Typically, the stock is not reused once exhausted in McClellan Solitaire; when all stock cards have been drawn and no moves remain, the game ends.
• Sequence Movement: You may move a sequence of cards within the tableau only if the sequence is in strict descending order and alternates colors.
• Unblocking Tableau: When a face-up card is moved from a tableau pile, immediately turn the next card in that pile face up.

Definitions:

• Tableau: The main play area consisting of eight piles where cards are built down in alternating colors.
• Foundation: The area where cards are built up by suit from Ace to King.
• Stock: The face-down pile of undealt cards used to introduce new cards into play.
• Waste: The face-up pile where cards from the stock are placed when not immediately playable.

This guide provides the essential rules and gameplay structure for McClellan Solitaire, focusing on its unique tableau setup and movement rules.