Milligan Harp

Game Objective:

The primary goal in Milligan Harp Solitaire is to move all cards from the tableau and stock to the eight foundation piles, building each foundation up in suit from Ace to King.

Setup & Layout:

• Deck: Two standard 52-card decks (104 cards total).
• Tableau: Eight tableau piles are created. Deal as follows:
  • Pile 1: 1 card (face up)
  • Pile 2: 2 cards (top card face up, rest face down)
  • Pile 3: 3 cards (top card face up, rest face down)
  • Continue this pattern until Pile 8, which has 8 cards (top card face up, rest face down).
• Stock: The remaining cards after dealing to the tableau form the stock pile, placed face down.
• Foundations: Leave space for eight foundation piles above or beside the tableau. Foundations start empty.
• Face-up/Face-down: Only the top card of each tableau pile is dealt face up; all other tableau cards are face down.

Key Play Areas:

• Tableau: The main play area where cards are arranged in eight piles.
• Foundations: The goal area where cards are built up by suit from Ace to King.
• Stock: The draw pile that introduces new cards into play.

Milligan Harp Solitaire Rules:

• Foundations:

  • Each foundation pile must begin with an Ace.
  • Foundations are built up in suit, in ascending order (Ace, 2, 3, …, King).
  • Only the next higher card of the same suit may be placed on a foundation (e.g., 2♣ on Ace♣).

• Tableau:

  • Cards are built down in alternating colors (e.g., red 7 on black 8).
  • Only the top face-up card (or a properly sequenced group) of a tableau pile may be moved.
  • Groups of cards may be moved together if they form a descending sequence in alternating colors.
  • Empty tableau spaces may be filled with any card or valid group of cards.

• Stock:

  • When no more moves are available or desired, deal one card from the stock onto each tableau pile (face up).
  • The stock is only dealt when the player chooses, not automatically after every move.

Gameplay:

1. Move available cards: Move any available face-up card from the tableau to the foundations if it fits the ascending suit sequence.
2. Build tableau sequences: Move cards or valid groups between tableau piles, building down in alternating colors.
3. Reveal face-down cards: When a face-up card is moved from a tableau pile, flip the next card in that pile face up (if any remain).
4. Fill empty tableau spaces: Fill any empty tableau pile with any card or valid group of cards.
5. Deal from stock: When no further moves are possible or desired, deal one card from the stock face up onto each tableau pile.
6. Repeat: Continue making moves and dealing from the stock as needed.
7. End of stock: When the stock is depleted, play continues with only the cards in the tableau until no more moves are possible.

Winning & Losing Conditions:

• Winning: The game is won when all 104 cards are moved to the eight foundation piles, each built up in suit from Ace to King.
• Losing/Unwinnable: The game is lost or unwinnable if:
  • The stock is exhausted, and
  • No further legal moves are possible on the tableau, and
  • Not all cards have been moved to the foundations.

Special Rules & Edge Cases:

• Moving Groups: Groups of cards may be moved together between tableau piles if they are in a proper descending sequence with alternating colors.
• Empty Tableau Spaces: Any card or valid group of cards may be placed in an empty tableau pile.
• Stock Dealing: When cards are dealt from the stock, deal one card face up to each tableau pile, regardless of whether the pile is empty or not.
• No Redeals: Once the stock is exhausted, there are no redeals; play continues only with the tableau.
• Sequence Flexibility: Some sources note that any group of cards may be moved together, regardless of sequence, but the most authoritative rules specify that only properly sequenced (descending, alternating colors) groups can be moved. If in doubt, use the stricter rule for consistency.

Definitions:

• Foundation: The area where cards are built up by suit from Ace to King.
• Tableau: The main play area where cards are built down in alternating colors.
• Stock: The pile of undealt cards used to introduce new cards into play.

This guide provides the essential structure and rules for playing Milligan Harp Solitaire according to the most authoritative and consistent sources available.