Opus

Game Objective:

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

Setup & Layout:

• Deck: Uses a standard 52-card deck.
• Play Areas:
• Tableau: Arranged in a single row. Each tableau pile can hold only one card at a time.
• Cells: There are four cells, each able to hold one card. Cells act as temporary storage for cards.
• Foundations: Four foundation piles, one for each suit, begin empty and are built up from Ace to King.
• Dealing:
• Deal one card to each tableau pile, face up.
• The remaining cards form the stock pile (sometimes called the deck), placed face down.
• Cells and foundations start empty.

Opus Solitaire Rules:

• Card Movement:
• Only the exposed card on each tableau pile or cell may be moved.
• Any available card can be played into any empty cell.
• Cards from cells can be played back to the tableau or directly to the foundations.
• Building Sequences:
• Foundations: Built up by suit, starting from Ace and ending with King.
• Tableau: Each tableau pile holds only one card. Any card may be played to an empty tableau pile.
• Moving Cards:
• Cards may be moved from the tableau or cells to the foundations if they follow the ascending suit sequence.
• Cards may be moved from the tableau to an empty cell, or from a cell back to the tableau or to the foundations.
• Only one card may occupy each tableau pile or cell at any time.

Gameplay:

• Player Actions:
• Move available cards between tableau piles, cells, and foundations according to the rules above.
• Use cells strategically to temporarily hold cards and free up tableau spaces.
• Draw cards from the stock pile to refill tableau piles or cells as needed (if the variant includes a stock; some digital versions may deal all cards at the start).
• Introducing New Cards:
• When a tableau pile or cell becomes empty, any available card may be moved into that space.
• No More Legal Moves:
• If no cards can be moved to the foundations and no further moves are possible between tableau and cells, play ends.

Winning & Losing Conditions:

• Winning: The game is won when all cards have been moved to the foundations, completing all suits from Ace to King.
• Losing: The game is lost (or unwinnable) if no further legal moves can be made and not all cards are in the foundations.

Special Rules & Edge Cases:

• Filling Empty Spaces:
• Any card may be played to an empty tableau pile or cell.
• Each tableau pile and cell can hold only one card at a time.
• Restrictions:
• Only the top card of each tableau pile or cell is available for play.
• Cards cannot be stacked in tableau piles; each pile holds a single card.
• Exceptions:
• If all cells and tableau piles are occupied and no moves are possible, the game ends.
• In digital implementations, the stock pile may be omitted, and all cards are dealt at the start.

Definitions:

• Tableau: The main row of piles where cards are played and manipulated.
• Cells: Auxiliary spaces for temporarily holding single cards.
• Foundations: Target piles for building each suit in ascending order.
• Stock: The remaining undealt cards (may not be present in all versions).