Phoenix

Game Objective:

The primary goal in Phoenix Solitaire is to move all 52 cards from the tableau and reserve to the four foundation piles, building each foundation up in ascending order by suit from Ace to King.

Setup & Layout:

• Deck: Use a standard 52-card deck (no jokers).
• Tableau: Deal six tableau piles, each with six cards, all face up and splayed downward so every card is visible.
• Reserve: Place the remaining sixteen cards in a reserve area, all face up and fully visible.
• Foundations: Four foundation piles are empty at the start and will be built during play.
• Stock and Waste: Some variants include a stock and waste pile, but the most widely accepted ruleset for Phoenix Solitaire does not use a stock; all cards are available from the beginning.

Key Play Areas:

• Tableau: Six columns where cards are built down by alternating colors.
• Reserve: Sixteen face-up cards, all available for play.
• Foundations: Four piles, one for each suit, built up from Ace to King.

Phoenix Solitaire Rules:

• All cards are dealt face up at the start; there are no hidden cards.
• Foundations: Build up by suit, starting with Ace and ending with King (e.g., Ace♠, 2♠, 3♠, …, King♠).
• Tableau: Build down by alternating colors (red on black or black on red), one rank at a time (e.g., 8♠ on 9♥).
• Moving Cards:
• Any single card or a sequence of correctly ordered, alternating-color cards can be moved from one tableau pile to another.
• Any card from the reserve may be played to either the tableau or directly to the foundations.
• Empty Tableau Spaces: Any card (not just Kings) may be moved to an empty tableau pile.
• Reserve: Only the top card of each reserve pile is available for play (if the reserve is arranged in piles); if the reserve is a single group, all cards are available.
• No Stock: There is no stock or waste pile in the standard Phoenix Solitaire ruleset; all cards are accessible from the start.

Gameplay:

• On each turn, the player may:
• Move a card (or valid sequence) from one tableau pile to another, following the alternating-color, descending-rank rule.
• Move a card from the tableau or reserve to a foundation if it is the next card in suit and sequence.
• Move any available reserve card to the tableau or directly to the foundation.
• Fill any empty tableau space with any available card.
• Play continues as long as at least one legal move is available.
• Since all cards are face up and accessible, the game is primarily skill-based, with the player planning moves to avoid blocking necessary cards.

Winning & Losing Conditions:

• Win Condition: The game is won when all 52 cards have been moved to the four foundation piles, each built up in suit from Ace to King.
• Lose Condition: The game is lost (or unwinnable) if no legal moves remain and not all cards have been moved to the foundations.

Special Rules & Edge Cases:

• Filling Empty Tableau Spaces: Any card or valid sequence may be moved to an empty tableau pile; there is no restriction to Kings only.
• Moving Sequences: Sequences of cards built down by alternating colors may be moved as a group between tableau piles.
• Reserve Usage: All reserve cards are face up and available, but only one card may be moved at a time from the reserve.
• No Redeal: There is no redeal or recycling of cards; all cards are accessible from the start, and there is no stock or waste pile in the standard rules.
• Edge Cases: If all tableau columns are empty except for the reserve and foundations, continue play using only the reserve cards. If all moves are exhausted and cards remain outside the foundations, the game is lost.

Note: Some digital or variant rulesets may introduce a stock and waste pile or minor layout differences, but the above reflects the core, widely accepted rules for Phoenix Solitaire.