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Needle Solitaire

Needle is an open game (all 52 cards are displayed face up at the beginning of the game). The objective is to move all cards to the four foundations by building them up by the same suit.

How to Play Needle

Build foundations up by the same suit. Fill empty foundations with Aces. Build tableaus down by alternating color. Fill empty tableaus with any card. Build reserve with any rank regardless of suit.

Game Objective

The goal of Needle is to move all fifty-two cards to the foundation piles. You achieve this by building sequences of cards up by the same suit that start with an Ace and end with a King. You win when the four foundations each contain a complete sequence of thirteen cards.

Foundation Rules

  • There are four foundations.
  • The foundations are initially empty.
  • The foundations build up by the same suit.
  • For example the 5♠ may move onto the 4♠ and the 5♦ may move onto the 4♦. Starting with the 5♦ the following sequence may build on top 6♦ 7♦ 8♦ 9♦.
  • An Ace may move to an empty foundation.

Tableau Rules

  • There are nine tableaus.
  • Initially containing a custom layout.
  • The tableaus build down by alternating color.
  • For example the 8♠ may move onto the 9♦ and the 8♥ may move onto the 9♣. Starting with the 8♥ the following sequence may build on top 7♠ 6♦ 5♣.
  • The top card is movable.
  • Any single card may move to an empty tableau.

Reserve Rules

  • There is one reserve.
  • Initially containing eight cards face up in the reserve.
  • The reserve build regardless of rank regardless of suit.
  • The top card is movable.
  • Any single card may move to an empty reserve.
  • The reserve may hold no more than eighteen cards.

Similar Games

There are 2 games that have a similar play style to Needle:

  1. Haystack - Eight cards may be added to the reserve.
  2. Stewart - No reserve. Empty foundations cannot be filled. Initially containing an Ace in each foundation. There are twelve tableaus. Initially containing four rows alternating between face down and up.