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🎲 Calculation Solitaire

Ready for a brain-teasing card game? 😎 Calculation Solitaire is a fun, numbers-based patience game that puts your strategy skills to the test. In each round you’ll build four special piles by skipping cards in set steps – it sounds tricky, but it’s easy to pick up and incredibly addictive. Give it a try on SolitaireX and sharpen your wits! 🎉

How to Play

Start by dealing four cards as the foundations: an Ace, 2, 3, and 4 (suits don’t matter here). These four cards begin your foundation piles. Shuffle the rest of the deck and place it face-down as the stock. Then turn over one card at a time from the stock. If the card can continue any foundation’s sequence (for example, 2 on the Ace pile, 6 on the 4 pile, etc.), play it there. If it can’t go on a foundation yet, place it on one of up to four waste piles below the foundations. At any time you may move the top card of a waste pile onto a foundation if it fits the next number. Continue dealing and placing cards: the goal is to eventually build each foundation pile up to King. When all 52 cards are on the four foundations, you win! 🌟

Rules (Beginner-Friendly)

  • Setup: Use a standard 52-card deck. Set aside an Ace, Two, Three, and Four to start the four foundation piles.
  • Building Foundations: Each foundation pile has its own pattern. The Ace-pile builds up by ones (A-2-3-…-K), the Two-pile by twos (2-4-6-…-K, wrapping A-3-5-…), the Three-pile by threes (3-6-9-Q-2-5-…-K), and the Four-pile by fours (4-8-Q-3-7-J-…-K). (In short, you skip ahead by 1, 2, 3, or 4 steps on each pile.)
  • Dealing Cards: Deal the remaining cards one at a time from the stock. If a card can extend a foundation pile, place it there; otherwise, it goes on a waste pile.
  • Using Waste Piles: You have four waste (tableau) piles to hold cards that don’t fit immediately. You can start a waste pile with any card, and you can stack any cards there with no suit restrictions. Only the top card of each waste pile is available to move onto the foundations. (Once a card is on a waste pile, it can only move to a foundation – you cannot transfer cards between waste piles.)
  • Winning: You win by playing all 52 cards onto the four foundation piles, each built up to King. The game ends as soon as all cards are placed on foundations or no more moves are possible.

History of Calculation Solitaire

Calculation Solitaire is a classic card puzzle with a long pedigree. It likely originated in France, where it’s known as La Plus Belle, and it’s part of the old Sir Tommy family of patience games. Nobody knows exactly who invented it – it simply emerged in the 1800s as one of many beloved solitaire (patience) games. Over time it’s been called by many names (to make Googling fun!), including Broken Intervals, Hopscotch, and Four Kings Solitaire. Regardless of the name, the challenge is always the same clever mathy build-up that’s kept players hooked for generations.

Tips & Tricks

  • Play any available move right away. If a card can go on a foundation, don’t hesitate – waiting usually only buries a useful card under others.
  • Watch your waste piles carefully. Arrange them so you can see the bottom cards. A common strategy is to keep all Kings (which are hard to play) together in one waste pile to avoid blocking lower cards.
  • Remember: suits don’t matter. Only the rank (number) of each card counts. So focus on planning the sequence of numbers without worrying about hearts or spades.
  • Plan sequences strategically. For example, try using cards like 6s, 8s, and Queens early, and save big jumps (10s, Jacks, and Kings) for later. This approach keeps your foundations moving while stalling the hardest cards until last.
  • Stay patient and practice. Every Calculation deal is winnable if played well, and skilled players can win very often. Keep practicing to improve your odds and see patterns faster!

Play Now on SolitaireX

Ready to test your strategy? 🎉 Play Calculation Solitaire for free at SolitaireX right now! Have a blast stacking those piles, and when you’re done, check out the SolitaireX games page for even more solitaire fun. Good luck – you’ve got this! 🌟