Empress of Italy Solitaire

Empress of Italy is played with four standard decks (208 cards). There are eleven tableaus that contain one cards each. The objective is to move all cards to the sixteen foundations by building them up by alternating color.

How to Play Empress of Italy

Build foundations up by alternating color and wrap around on Kings. Fill empty foundations with the same rank dealt at the beginning of the game. Build tableaus down by alternating color. Empty tableaus automatically fill from the stock, then the waste then with any card from the tableau or waste. Stock deals one to waste without redeals.

Game Objective

The goal of Empress of Italy is to move all 208 cards to the foundation piles. You achieve this by building sequences of cards up by alternating color that start with an Ace and end with a King. You win when the sixteen foundations each contain a complete sequence of thirteen cards.

Foundation Rules

There are sixteen foundations.
Initially containing one card face up in the first foundation.
The foundations build up by alternating color. Foundations may build around-the-corner (an Ace may move onto a King).
For example the 6♠ may move onto the 5♦ and the 6♦ may move onto the 5♣. Starting with the 6♦ the following sequence may build on top 7♠ 8♥ 9♣.
Empty foundation spaces may be filled with the same initial rank dealt to the first pile at the beginning of the game.

Tableau Rules

There are eleven tableaus.
Initially containing one card face up in each tableau.
The tableaus build down by alternating color.. Only cards from the WASTE and TABLEAU may move to the tableaus.
For example the 9♠ may move onto the 10♦ and the 9♥ may move onto the 10♣. Starting with the 9♥ the following sequence may build on top 8♠ 7♦ 6♣.
The top card is movable.
Empty spaces are automatically populated with a card from the stock. When the stock is empty spaces are automatically filled from the waste. When the waste is empty any card from the tableau or waste can fill an empty tableau.

Reserve Rules

There is one reserve.
Initially containing nineteen cards face up in the reserve.
The top card is movable.
Once empty the reserve remains empty.

Stock Rules

The stock deals one card face up to the waste when tapped.
A single pass through the stock is permitted. Redeals are not possible. Once on the waste, cards remain until used in a valid move.

Waste Rules

There is one waste.
The waste is initially empty.
The top card is movable.
Once empty the waste remains empty until more cards move from the stock.

Similar Games

There are 5 games that have a similar play style to Empress of Italy:

Blondes and Brunettes - Two decks. There are eight foundations. There are nine tableaus. Initially containing ten cards face up in the reserve.
Double Signora - The foundations are initially empty. Empty tableaus automatically fill from the waste, then the stock then with any card from the tableau or waste . Initially containing twenty-one cards face up in the reserve.
Balcony - One deck. There are four foundations. Empty tableaus automatically fill from the stock, then the waste then with any card. There are seven tableaus. Initially containing seven cards face up in the reserve.
Wood - Two decks. There are eight foundations. Fill empty tableaus with any card from the waste . There are eight tableaus. Initially containing ten cards face up in the reserve.
Signora - Two decks. There are eight foundations. Empty tableaus automatically fill from the waste, then the stock then with any card from the tableau or waste . There are nine tableaus. Initially containing eleven cards face up in the reserve.