Gaps Solitaire 🎉

A typical layout of Gaps Solitaire. All four Aces are removed to create four empty "gaps" (highlighted in blue). The goal is to fill these gaps by arranging each row of cards in ascending order from 2 through King in the same suit. It's a fun twist on classic solitaire that will keep you entertained!

Gaps Solitaire (also known as Montana or Addiction Solitaire) is a playful and addictive single-player card game 😊. The game gets its name from the "gaps" left when you remove all the Aces from the deck. Your mission is to fill in these gaps by moving cards around, eventually arranging all cards in four rows from 2 up to King in each suit. It's easy to learn, but challenging to master – and best of all, you can play it right here on this page!

How to Play Gaps Solitaire 🃏

If you're new to Gaps Solitaire, don't worry – it's simple and fun to get started. Here's a quick rundown in a beginner-friendly way:

Setup the Deal: Shuffle one standard 52-card deck and deal out 4 rows of 13 cards face-up. Then remove all 4 Aces, which leaves four empty spaces or "gaps" on the table.
Filling the Gaps: The objective is to arrange each row in sequence from 2 through King in the same suit. You do this by moving cards into the gaps. But you can't just move any card anywhere – it has to "fit" in sequence. Specifically, a gap can only be filled by the next card in suit and rank that comes after the card to its left. For example, if you have a 3♣ on the left of a gap, only the 4♣ can go into that gap.
Starting New Sequences: If a gap is at the far left end of a row (meaning there's no card to its left), you can fill it only with a 2 (of any suit) to start a new sequence. Choosing which 2 to move into an empty row is up to you – it will determine which suit that row will be built in.
Dead Gaps (Kings at the End): If a gap is immediately to the right of a King, that gap is considered "dead" – no card can fill it, since King is the highest rank. Essentially, a King should ideally end a sequence on the far right of a row.
Reshuffling (Redeals): As you play, move cards into gaps whenever possible to continue sequences. When you reach a point where no more moves can be made, it's time to reshuffle. Click the "Redeal" (or shuffle) – the game will collect all the out-of-order cards (those not in a proper sequence) and re-deal them, while keeping any completed sequences in place. This gives you new gaps to work with and continues the game. You usually get up to 2 redeals in Gaps Solitaire, so use them wisely!
Winning the Game: You win when you have successfully arranged all the cards into four neat rows, each running from 2 through King in order, one suit per row. At that point, all gaps will have moved to the right end of each row (just after each King). Congratulations, you've filled all the gaps! 🎉

Rules of Gaps Solitaire 📜

For a quick reference, here are the basic rules of Gaps Solitaire in a simple list:

One Deck & Deal: Uses a standard 52-card deck. Deal all cards into 4 rows of 13 cards, then remove the 4 Aces, leaving four gaps (empty slots).
Goal: Arrange the cards into four sequences (one in each row) from 2 up to King in ascending order, all cards in each row being of the same suit.
Moving Cards: You can move a card into a gap only if it's the next rank in the same suit as the card immediately to the left of that gap. For example, a gap after 7♥ can only be filled by 8♥.
Empty Row Gaps: If a gap is at the start of a row (no card to its left), only a 2 can be placed there to begin a new suit sequence.
Kings Block Gaps: A gap immediately to the right of a King cannot be filled by any card (since nothing ranks higher than a King). In other words, a King effectively stops further placement in that row until a redeal moves it.
Redeals: When no more moves are possible, gather all cards that are not yet in order and shuffle/redeal them. Completed sequences (starting with a 2 and built up in suit) stay put. You are allowed 2 reshuffles (for a total of 3 deals) in standard Gaps Solitaire.
Winning Condition: The game is won when all the remaining cards (2 through King in each suit) are arranged in order in the four rows, with each row ending in a King.

A Brief History of Gaps Solitaire 🕰️

Gaps Solitaire is part of the long tradition of solitaire (patience) card games that have entertained people for centuries. The exact origins of this particular game are a bit of a mystery – like many solitaires, no one knows exactly who first invented it. Solitaire card games in general have been around since at least the late 18th century in Europe. In fact, these solo card games were called "patience" in Europe (legend says even Napoleon passed the time playing patience during his exile)!

Over time, many variations of solitaire have emerged. Gaps Solitaire itself goes by several names – you might hear it called Montana, Spaces, Addiction, or Blue Moon, among others. These are basically the same game or very close variants. The name "Gaps" obviously comes from the empty spaces that you create by removing the Aces at the start. This game likely evolved from earlier patience games and became popular in the 20th century as one of the classic solitaire challenges. While we may not know the exact creator, Gaps Solitaire remains a beloved member of the solitaire family, enjoyed by casual players looking for a fun single-player card challenge.

Tips & Tricks for Winning 🤩

Ready to improve your Gaps Solitaire skills? Here are some handy tips and tricks to help you play better (and maybe win more often):

👑 Avoid Trapped Kings: Try not to leave an empty gap immediately to the right of a King early in the game. A King at the end of a row is fine (that's where it should land eventually), but if a King is sitting with an empty space after it, that gap is unusable – no card can fill it. Plan your moves to fill gaps in a way that doesn't strand a King with a gap behind it too soon.
🔀 Use Shuffles Wisely: You get a limited number of reshuffles (usually 2), so use them only when you're truly stuck and have no moves left. It's usually best to play until you absolutely can't make any move before hitting that "Redeal" button. This way, you maximize the benefit of each shuffle.
🃏 Start with the Twos: Focus on placing 2s into empty rows as soon as possible. Every empty row gap should eventually be filled by a 2, which becomes the foundation of a new sequence. Getting the 2s out early helps establish the suit sequences you need to build.
🤔 Think Ahead: Sometimes a card you want to move is blocked by another card. For example, you might really need to move that 6♦ into a gap, but the 5♦ is in the way. Work backwards: move other cards out of the way first or create the gap that the 5♦ needs, and so on. By planning a couple of moves ahead, you can set up the cards you need to make the important moves.
💡 Stay Patient and Persistent: Like many solitaire games, Gaps can be tricky – don't get discouraged if you don't win every round. Even experienced players win only about 1 in 20 games on average. So if you lose, just shuffle the cards and try again! Each attempt will sharpen your skills, and you'll have that "aha!" moment when everything falls into place. Remember, it's called a "patience" game for a reason 😉.

Play Gaps Solitaire Online Now 🎮

The best part is you can play Gaps Solitaire right here on this page – no download or setup needed. Just scroll down and start filling in those gaps! The game is ready for you to enjoy, so have fun and see if you can win a round of Gaps Solitaire today 🎉.

And if you’re itching for more card game fun after this, be sure to check out the other awesome solitaire games on SolitaireX.io. There are plenty of different solitaire varieties to explore on the site, so you might just discover a new favorite. Happy gaming! 😃