Rules for Klondike

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There are four foundations, which are initially empty. There are seven tableau piles, fanned down. The first tableau starts with one card, the second with two cards, and so on to the seventh, which starts with seven cards. The tableaus initially have all cards face-down except the top card of each, which is face-up. The remaining cards are kept in the hand, and dealt as needed into a wastepile.

Top cards of tableaus and wastepile are available for building onto the foundations, which build up in suit. Only an Ace may be played to an empty foundation. Top card of the wastepile and full builds from the tableaus are available for building on the tableaus, which build down by alternating color. Only Kings or builds whose bottom card is a King may be played to an empty tableau pile.

You may deal from the hand at any time by taking a card from the hand and turning it face-up onto the wastepile. When the hand is empty, no more dealing is allowed.

The goal is to move all the cards onto the foundations. In casino scoring, you charge 52 points per game, and win back 5 points for every card played to the foundations. Therefore if you can play 11 (or more) cards to the foundations, you will finish with a profit of 3 (or more) points for a win. Any fewer than 11 cards and you suffer a loss.

Familiar (Easier) Rules: The same as the strict rules, with these exceptions: You may move partial builds among the tableaus; you deal three cards at a time instead of one; and whenever the hand is empty you may pick up the discard pile, turn it over, and continue dealing.

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