Ten By One

Game Objective:

The primary goal in Ten By One Solitaire is to remove all non-face cards from the tableau by forming and eliminating pairs of cards that sum to ten, ultimately leaving only face cards (Jacks, Queens, Kings) visible in all tableau positions.

Setup & Layout:

• Deck: Use a standard 52-card deck. Remove Jokers if present.
• Tableau: Deal ten cards in a single row, all face-up. This row is the tableau and is the main play area.
• Stock: Place the remaining 42 cards face-down as the stock pile. This pile will be used to refill tableau spaces as cards are removed.
• Foundations: There is no traditional foundation. Instead, removed cards are set aside in a discard area.
• Face Cards: Jacks, Queens, and Kings are considered "dead ends" and cannot be paired or removed except under special rules (see below).

Ten By One Solitaire Rules:

• Pair Removal: Only pairs of cards whose values sum to exactly ten may be removed from the tableau. Valid pairs are:

• Ace (1) + 9

• 2 + 8

• 3 + 7

• 4 + 6

• 5 + 5

• Face Cards and Tens:

• Tens: A single ten may be removed by itself.

• Jacks, Queens, Kings: Four of a kind (e.g., all four Jacks) may be removed together as a set if all are present in the tableau.

• Card Movement: Only the topmost face-up cards in the tableau are available for pairing and removal. There is no building or moving cards between tableau positions.

• Refilling Spaces: Whenever a card or pair is removed, immediately refill the empty space(s) with the top card(s) from the stock pile, dealt face-up.

Gameplay:

1. Identify and Remove Pairs: Examine the tableau for any available pairs that sum to ten, or single tens, and remove them.
2. Refill Tableau: For each card removed, immediately deal a new card from the stock to fill the empty spot, keeping all tableau cards face-up.
3. Special Sets: If all four Jacks, Queens, or Kings are present in the tableau, you may remove them as a set.
4. Repeat: Continue removing pairs and refilling tableau spaces as long as legal moves are available.
5. No Moves Available: If no valid pairs or sets can be removed and the stock is depleted, the game ends.

Winning & Losing Conditions:

• Win: The game is won if all tableau positions are occupied only by face cards (Jacks, Queens, Kings), with all other cards successfully paired and removed.
• Lose: The game is lost if no further legal moves are possible (no pairs summing to ten, no sets of four face cards), and the stock is exhausted, with non-face cards remaining in the tableau.

Special Rules & Edge Cases:

• Filling Empty Spaces: Always refill tableau spaces immediately after cards are removed, provided there are cards remaining in the stock.
• Multiple Pairs: If multiple pairs are available, the order of removal can affect your chances of winning. There is no restriction on which pair to remove first.
• Unplayable Starting Hands: Some deals may be unwinnable from the start due to card distribution. This is a normal part of the game's challenge.
• No Suit Restriction: Pairs do not need to be of the same suit—only the face value matters.
• Face Card Removal: Four-of-a-kind removals (Jacks, Queens, Kings) can only occur when all four are simultaneously present in the tableau.
• Stock Depletion: Once the stock is empty, no further refills are possible. Play continues with the remaining tableau cards until no moves remain.

Definitions:

• Tableau: The main row of ten face-up cards where play occurs.
• Stock: The face-down pile used to refill tableau spaces.
• Face Cards: Jacks, Queens, Kings; only removable in sets of four.

This guide is based on the most authoritative sources available and reflects the standard rules for Ten By One Solitaire.