Usk

Game Objective:

The primary goal in Usk Solitaire is to build all cards onto the four foundation piles, each by suit in ascending order from Ace to King.

Setup & Layout:

• Use a standard 52-card deck (without Jokers).
• Tableau: There are 8 tableau piles. The initial deal is as follows:
  • Pile 1: 8 cards (face up)
  • Pile 2: 8 cards (face up)
  • Pile 3: 8 cards (face up)
  • Pile 4: 7 cards (face up)
  • Pile 5: 6 cards (face up)
  • Pile 6: 5 cards (face up)
  • Pile 7: 4 cards (face up)
  • Pile 8: 1 card (face up)
• Foundations: 4 piles, initially empty. These are the target piles for building up by suit from Ace to King.
• Stock/Waste: Usk Solitaire does not use a traditional stock or waste pile; all cards are dealt face up into the tableau at the start.
• Face Orientation: All cards in the tableau are dealt face up.

Usk Solitaire Rules:

• Building on Foundations: Foundations are built up by suit, starting with Ace and ending with King.
  • Only an Ace may be played to an empty foundation pile.
  • Cards placed on a foundation must be the next rank and of the same suit as the top card.
• Tableau Building: Cards in the tableau are built down by alternating colors (red on black, black on red), and in descending rank.
• Moving Cards:
  • You may move a single card or a properly sequenced group of cards within the tableau.
  • Sequences must be in descending order and alternate colors.
  • Only the top card (or a valid sequence) of a tableau pile may be moved.
• Empty Tableau Spaces: Only a King (or a sequence starting with a King) may be placed in an empty tableau space.

Gameplay:

• On each turn, the player may:
  • Move cards or sequences within the tableau according to building rules.
  • Move Aces to empty foundation piles.
  • Build up foundation piles by suit, in ascending order.
• No Stock/Waste: All cards are available from the tableau; there is no drawing from a stock or waste pile.
• Redeal Procedure: If no moves are possible, a redeal may be performed:
  • Collect all cards from the tableau, one column at a time starting from the left-most pile.
  • Redeal the cards back into the tableau in the original configuration (8, 8, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 1 cards).
  • This procedure is typically limited to a specific number of redeals (often once per game).

Winning & Losing Conditions:

• Win: The player wins by successfully building all cards onto the four foundation piles, each from Ace to King in the correct suit.
• Loss: The game is lost if no further moves are possible and any permitted redeals have been exhausted.

Special Rules & Edge Cases:

• Filling Empty Tableau Spaces: Only Kings (or sequences starting with a King) may fill empty tableau spaces.
• Redeal Limitations: The redeal is a unique feature; after performing the redeal, play continues. If after the redeal no moves are possible, the game is lost.
• Sequence Movement: Groups of cards can be moved together only if they form a valid descending, alternating-color sequence.
• No Stock/Waste: The absence of a stock or waste pile makes all cards visible and accessible from the start, increasing strategic planning requirements.

Key Terms Defined:

• Tableau: The main play area where cards are arranged in columns and manipulated according to building rules.
• Foundation: Target piles where cards are built up by suit from Ace to King.
• Redeal: A process where all tableau cards are collected and re-dealt in the original configuration, typically allowed only once per game.

This guide provides the definitive mechanics for playing Usk Solitaire as supported by official and authoritative sources.