Steve

Game Objective:

The primary objective in Steve Solitaire is to move all 104 cards (using two standard 52-card decks) to the eight foundation piles by building sequences up by suit, starting with an Ace and ending with a King in each foundation.

Setup & Layout:

• Deck: Two standard 52-card decks (totaling 104 cards) are used.
• Play Areas:
  • Foundations: Eight piles, each to be built up by suit from Ace to King.
  • Tableau: Eight columns where cards are initially dealt and played.
  • Stock: The remaining undealt cards, used to introduce new cards into play.
• Initial Arrangement:
  • Cards are dealt to form eight tableau columns. The specific number of cards per column is not detailed in the official rules, but all tableau cards are dealt face up.
  • The stock pile holds the remaining cards, which are also face down until dealt.
• Face-Up/Face-Down:
  • All tableau cards are dealt face up.
  • Stock cards are face down until drawn.

Steve Solitaire Rules:

Fundamental Principles:

• Cards are moved between tableau, foundation, and stock according to strict building and movement rules.

Foundation Building:

• Only an Ace may be moved to an empty foundation pile.
• Foundations are built up by suit, in ascending order (Ace → 2 → 3 … → King).
• Cards on the foundation may be moved if needed.

Tableau Building:

• Any card may be moved to an empty tableau column.
• Tableau columns are built down by rank, regardless of suit (e.g., 9♠ may be placed on any 10, regardless of suit).
• Sequences of cards built down by the same suit can be moved together as a group.

Movement Between Areas:

• Cards may be moved from tableau to foundation if they fit the ascending suit sequence.
• Cards may be moved within tableau columns if the descending rank rule is followed.
• Entire sequences (only if built down by the same suit) can be moved together within the tableau.

Gameplay:

• On each turn, the player may:
  • Move cards within the tableau according to the descending rank rule.
  • Move Aces to empty foundation piles, then build up by suit.
  • Move cards from tableau to foundation if they continue the ascending suit sequence.
  • Move sequences built down by suit as a group within the tableau.
  • Tap the stock to deal one card face up to each tableau column.
• Cards dealt from the stock are immediately available for play in the tableau or foundation.
• If no legal moves are available, the player may deal from the stock (if cards remain).

Winning & Losing Conditions:

• Winning: The game is won when all 104 cards are moved to the eight foundation piles, each containing a complete Ace-to-King sequence by suit.
• Losing/Unwinnable: The game is lost if no further legal moves are available and the stock is depleted, leaving cards stranded in the tableau or stock.

Special Rules & Edge Cases:

• Filling Empty Tableaus: Any card may be moved into an empty tableau column.
• Moving Groups: Only sequences built down by the same suit can be moved together as a group within the tableau.
• Stock Dealing: Tapping the stock deals one card face up to each tableau column. If the stock is empty, no further cards can be introduced.
• Foundation Flexibility: Cards on the foundation may be moved if needed, which is uncommon in many solitaire variants but allowed here.
• No Restrictions by Suit in Tableau: Building down in the tableau does not require matching suit or alternating color—only descending rank matters, except for group moves, which require the same suit.

Definitions:

• Foundation: A pile where cards are built up by suit from Ace to King.
• Tableau: The main play area where cards are arranged in columns and manipulated according to descending rank.
• Stock: The pile containing undealt cards, used to introduce new cards into play.

This guide provides a comprehensive and semantically precise overview of Steve Solitaire gameplay mechanics, strictly based on official rules.