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Red and Black Solitaire

Red and Black is played with two standard decks (104 cards). The eight foundations each contain an Ace. There are eight tableaus that contain one cards each. The objective is to move all cards to the eight foundations by building them up by alternating color.

Difficulty: Easy

Rules are easy to understand.

Odds of winning: Very High

Win about 9 in 10 games (90%).

Duration: Long

More than 10 minutes per game.

Skill Level: Mostly Luck

Winning is mostly determined by luck. A small amount of skill is involved.

How to Play Red and Black

Build foundations up by alternating color. Build tableaus down by alternating color. Move sequences built down by alternating color together. Fill empty tableaus with valid sequences. Stock deals one to waste without redeals.

Game Objective

The goal of Red and Black is to move all 104 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 eight foundations each contain a complete sequence of thirteen cards.

Foundation Rules

  • There are eight foundations.
  • Initially containing an Ace in each foundation.
  • The foundations build up by alternating color.
  • For example the 9♠ may move onto the 8♦ and the 9♦ may move onto the 8♣. Starting with the 9♦ the following sequence may build on top 10♠ J♥ Q♣.

Tableau Rules

  • There are eight tableaus.
  • Initially containing one card face up in each tableau.
  • The tableaus build down by alternating color.
  • For example the Q♠ may move onto the K♦ and the Q♥ may move onto the K♣. Starting with the Q♥ the following sequence may build on top J♠ 10♦ 9♣.
  • Sequences of cards built down by alternating color may move together as a group.
  • Any card or valid sequence of cards may move together to fill an empty tableau.

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.