Neptune

Game Objective:

The primary goal in Neptune Solitaire is to remove all cards from play by pairing cards of consecutive rank, regardless of suit, until no cards remain.

Setup & Layout:

• Deck: Neptune Solitaire uses four standard 52-card decks, totaling 208 cards.
• Tableau: There are eight tableau piles, each initially containing one card dealt face up.
• Stock/Reserve: The remaining cards form the stock (or reserve), which is used to replenish tableau spaces as cards are removed.
• Play Area Definitions:
• Tableau: The main area with eight piles, each displaying a single face-up card.
• Stock/Reserve: The draw pile containing all undealt cards, used to fill empty tableau spaces automatically.
• Face Orientation: All tableau cards are dealt face up. The stock is kept face down until cards are drawn to fill tableau spaces.

Neptune Solitaire Rules:

• Pairing Principle: Remove cards in pairs of consecutive rank (e.g., 7 with 6 or 8), regardless of suit or color.
• Wraparound Rule: Aces and Kings are consecutive; Aces can be paired with 2s or Kings, and Kings can be paired with Aces or Queens.
• Jokers: Some versions include Jokers as wild cards, which can pair with any card. Jokers are limited in number and should be used strategically.
• Tableau Movement: Only the top card of each tableau pile is available for pairing and removal.
• Automatic Filling: When a tableau pile becomes empty, it is immediately filled with the top card from the stock.
• No Building: There is no building of sequences or stacking by suit/color; only pairing is allowed.

Gameplay:

• Turn Sequence:
• Identify and select any two cards of consecutive rank from the tableau.
• Remove the paired cards from play.
• Immediately fill any empty tableau spaces with cards from the stock.
• Repeat the process, continually pairing and removing cards.
• Introducing New Cards: New cards are introduced automatically from the stock whenever a tableau pile is emptied.
• No Legal Moves: If no consecutive pairs are available and the stock is depleted, play ends.
• Joker Use: When present, a Joker may be paired with any card to remove both from play. Use Jokers judiciously, as they are limited and not replenished.

Winning & Losing Conditions:

• Winning: The game is won when all cards have been successfully paired and removed from the tableau and stock.
• Losing/Unwinnable State: The game is lost if there are no available pairs of consecutive rank and the stock is exhausted, leaving unremovable cards on the tableau.

Special Rules & Edge Cases:

• Filling Empty Tableau Spaces: Any empty tableau pile is immediately refilled with the next card from the stock. If the stock is empty, empty spaces remain unfilled.
• Wraparound Pairing: The sequence wraps around: Aces can be paired with both 2s and Kings; Kings can be paired with both Aces and Queens.
• Joker Restrictions: Jokers, if included, are limited in number (the number may decrease in multi-level digital versions). They can be paired with any available card, but once used, they are removed from play.
• No Suit or Color Restrictions: Pairing is solely by consecutive rank; suit and color are irrelevant.
• No Multi-Card Moves: Only single-card pairs may be removed per turn; sequences or stacks cannot be moved.
• Edge Case – No Moves with Stock Remaining: If no pairs are available but tableau spaces are not empty, the player must wait until a pair becomes available as cards are removed and new ones are dealt from the stock.

Note: Variations may exist in digital implementations, such as timers, scoring, and the number of Jokers, but the above rules represent the core mechanics of Neptune Solitaire as derived from authoritative sources.