Simple Pairs

Game Objective:

The primary goal in Simple Pairs Solitaire is to discard all cards from play by forming and removing pairs of cards of the same rank, regardless of suit. The player wins when no cards remain to be paired.

Setup & Layout:

• Deck: Use a standard 52-card deck.
• Tableau: Deal nine tableau piles, each with one card, all face up.
• Stock/Reserve: The remaining 43 cards form the stock (also called the reserve), which is kept face down and used to refill tableau spaces as the game progresses.
• Play Areas Defined:
• Tableau: The main area with nine face-up cards, each in its own pile.
• Stock/Reserve: The pile of undealt cards, face down, used to fill empty tableau spaces.
• No other play areas (such as foundations, waste, or cells) are used in this variant.

Simple Pairs Solitaire Rules:

• Pairing: Only pairs of cards of the same rank (e.g., two Kings, two 7s) can be removed from the tableau. Suit is irrelevant.
• Card Availability: Only the top card of each tableau pile is available for pairing and removal.
• No Building: Cards cannot be built or moved between tableau piles; the only action is pairing and discarding.
• Automatic Filling: When a tableau pile is emptied, it is immediately filled with the top card from the stock/reserve.
• No Redeal: Once the stock/reserve is exhausted, no redeal or reshuffling is permitted.

Gameplay:

• Player Actions:
• Inspect the nine face-up tableau cards for any two cards of matching rank.
• Select and remove a pair of matching rank cards from the tableau.
• Each time a tableau pile is emptied by removing a card, immediately fill it with the top card from the stock/reserve.
• Introducing New Cards:
• New cards enter play only by filling empty tableau piles from the stock/reserve.
• When No Moves Remain:
• If no pairs of matching rank are present and the stock/reserve is exhausted (i.e., no more cards can be dealt to tableau spaces), play ends.
• If pairs remain, continue pairing and removing them, refilling tableau spaces as needed.

Winning & Losing Conditions:

• Winning: The game is won when all cards have been successfully paired and discarded, leaving no cards in the tableau or stock/reserve.
• Losing/Unwinnable State: The game is lost if the tableau contains nine cards of different ranks (no possible pairs), and the stock/reserve is empty, making further moves impossible.

Special Rules & Edge Cases:

• Filling Empty Spaces: Any time a tableau pile becomes empty, it is immediately filled with the top card from the stock/reserve, if available.
• No Moves Between Tableaus: Cards cannot be moved between tableau piles or rearranged in any way; only pairing and removal are allowed.
• No Suit Restriction: Pairing is strictly by rank, not by suit.
• No Redeal: Once the stock/reserve is depleted, there is no option to reshuffle or redeal cards.
• Automatic Play: The game flow is straightforward and deterministic, with no player choices beyond selecting available pairs.

Definitions of Key Terms:

• Tableau: The main play area consisting of nine piles, each with one face-up card.
• Stock/Reserve: The face-down pile of undealt cards used to replenish empty tableau spaces.

This ruleset provides the complete mechanics for playing Simple Pairs Solitaire, ensuring clarity and precision for both new and experienced players.