Also a single-player game similar to other patience games such as Klondike and Clock.
The Rules
The player has a full deck of playing cards, minus jokers, and an imaginary 4x4 grid to play the cards onto. If it helps, you can make your own. The player turns one card over from the top of the deck. If the card is a picture card (jack, queen, king), s/he must place it around the edge in the following pattern:
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
| | | | | | | |
| K | | Q | | Q | | K |
| | | | | | | |
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
| | | | | | | |
| J | | | | | | J |
| | | | | | | |
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
| | | | | | | |
| J | | | | | | J |
| | | | | | | |
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
| | | | | | | |
| K | | Q | | Q | | K |
| | | | | | | |
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
(Note: Alternatively, queens and jacks can swap spots, but queens cannot be played next to jacks and vice versa.)
It's usually a good idea to turn over picture cards as they are played, so that they are face down and create a neat little border.
If, however, the card is not a picture card, it may be played anywhere (but it must be played!). Be careful, however: you may be blocking the path for picture cards. It is best to fill the centre four spots first.
Once the grid is filled completely, no more cards can be played, so cards need to be removed. Now take out two non-picture cards at a time that add up to 10, or one 10, and discard them. (Aces are worth 1.) Once all possible cards are removed and discarded, start the process again. Repeat until either:
- no more moves are possible (all queen spaces are filled, and you draw a queen, for example, or no pairs of cards add up to 10), in which case the game is lost, or
- -the border is filled with picture cards in the correct pattern, in which case the game is won.
Sample game
This is a game I
played while noding to show you how to play. In the following example, X=10 and A=Ace.
First deal
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
| | | | | | |KKK|
| A | | 6 | | 5 | |KKK|
| | | | | | |KKK|
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
| | | | | | | |
| 3 | | 7 | | 4 | | 3 |
| | | | | | | |
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
| | | | | | | |
| X | | 8 | | 2 | | 4 |
| | | | | | | |
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
|KKK| |QQQ| |QQQ| | |
|KKK| |QQQ| |QQQ| | 8 |
|KKK| |QQQ| |QQQ| | |
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
Removal
Clearly, we can remove the 10
immediately. This goes into a separate pile of discards.
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
| | | | | | |KKK|
| A | | 6 | | 5 | |KKK|
| | | | | | |KKK|
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
| | | | | | | |
| 3 | | 7 | | 4 | | 3 |
| | | | | | | |
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
| | | | | | | |
| | | 8 | | 2 | | 4 |
| | | | | | | |
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
|KKK| |QQQ| |QQQ| | |
|KKK| |QQQ| |QQQ| | 8 |
|KKK| |QQQ| |QQQ| | |
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
Now we face
problems. We can match up a 6 and a 4, an 8 and a 2, a 7 and a 3... but which ones? It doesn't matter which 3 we
remove, because either one would free up room for a jack. I'll remove the one on the right.
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
| | | | | | |KKK|
| A | | 6 | | 5 | |KKK|
| | | | | | |KKK|
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
| | | | | | | |
| 3 | | | | 4 | | |
| | | | | | | |
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
| | | | | | | |
| | | 8 | | 2 | | 4 |
| | | | | | | |
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
|KKK| |QQQ| |QQQ| | |
|KKK| |QQQ| |QQQ| | 8 |
|KKK| |QQQ| |QQQ| | |
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
It's not a good idea to match the 2 with the
central 8 as that frees no space for a picture card. I'll remove the one in the corner and take my
chances with just one corner.
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
| | | | | | |KKK|
| A | | 6 | | 5 | |KKK|
| | | | | | |KKK|
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
| | | | | | | |
| 3 | | | | 4 | | |
| | | | | | | |
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
| | | | | | | |
| | | 8 | | | | 4 |
| | | | | | | |
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
|KKK| |QQQ| |QQQ| | |
|KKK| |QQQ| |QQQ| | |
|KKK| |QQQ| |QQQ| | |
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
There is no room to stick a queen so I'll remove the 6, and with it the 4 in the fourth column, to also free up
space for a jack.
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
| | | | | | |KKK|
| A | | | | 5 | |KKK|
| | | | | | |KKK|
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
| | | | | | | |
| 3 | | | | 4 | | |
| | | | | | | |
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
| | | | | | | |
| | | 8 | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
|KKK| |QQQ| |QQQ| | |
|KKK| |QQQ| |QQQ| | |
|KKK| |QQQ| |QQQ| | |
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
That's all the cards I can remove so I start the
process again.
Second Deal
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
| | | | | | |KKK|
| A | | 6 | | 5 | |KKK|
| | | | | | |KKK|
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
| | | | | | | |
| 3 | | 3 | | 4 | | 7 |
| | | | | | | |
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
| | | | | | | |
| A | | 8 | | X | | 6 |
| | | | | | | |
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
|KKK| |QQQ| |QQQ| |KKK|
|KKK| |QQQ| |QQQ| |KKK|
|KKK| |QQQ| |QQQ| |KKK|
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
Removal
I can remove a six and the four, a three and the 7, and the 10.
Tactically, I'm freeing up two jack spots with the three and seven (on the far left and far right respectively), so I need to free up a queen spot with the six up the top-left. Unfortunately, there are no
corner spots available, so I'll have to try my luck. Fortunately, I only draw
five cards this time around.
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
| | | | | | |KKK|
| A | | | | 5 | |KKK|
| | | | | | |KKK|
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
| | | | | | | |
| | | 3 | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
| | | | | | | |
| A | | 8 | | | | 6 |
| | | | | | | |
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
|KKK| |QQQ| |QQQ| |KKK|
|KKK| |QQQ| |QQQ| |KKK|
|KKK| |QQQ| |QQQ| |KKK|
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
Third Deal
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
| | | | | | |KKK|
| A | | A | | 5 | |KKK|
| | | | | | |KKK|
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
|JJJ| | | | | | |
|JJJ| | 3 | | 5 | | X |
|JJJ| | | | | | |
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
| | | | | | | |
| A | | 8 | | 8 | | 6 |
| | | | | | | |
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
|KKK| |QQQ| |QQQ| |KKK|
|KKK| |QQQ| |QQQ| |KKK|
|KKK| |QQQ| |QQQ| |KKK|
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
Removal
I have a
dire problem now: three aces and no nines, and one of the aces is blocking the only corner!
Yikes! Thankfully, though, I can free up a queen and a jack spot by removing the ten and the two fives. Fives are
technically the hardest cards to
remove (think about it.) so it's a relief to get rid of that one up the top that's been
lingering.
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
| | | | | | |KKK|
| A | | A | | | |KKK|
| | | | | | |KKK|
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
|JJJ| | | | | | |
|JJJ| | 3 | | | | |
|JJJ| | | | | | |
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
| | | | | | | |
| A | | 8 | | 8 | | 6 |
| | | | | | | |
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
|KKK| |QQQ| |QQQ| |KKK|
|KKK| |QQQ| |QQQ| |KKK|
|KKK| |QQQ| |QQQ| |KKK|
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
The first card I get is going in the middle spot.
Fourth Deal
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
| | | | | | |KKK|
| A | | A | | 5 | |KKK|
| | | | | | |KKK|
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
|JJJ| | | | | |JJJ|
|JJJ| | 3 | | 9 | |JJJ|
|JJJ| | | | | |JJJ|
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
| | | | | | | |
| A | | 8 | | 8 | | 6 |
| | | | | | | |
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
|KKK| |QQQ| |QQQ| |KKK|
|KKK| |QQQ| |QQQ| |KKK|
|KKK| |QQQ| |QQQ| |KKK|
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
Removal
I've been given another
wretched five, but at least now I have a nine! But I also have a
dilemma: Which ace to remove? I can only free up one picture card spot. Since I already have 3 kings but only 2 jack/queen spots each, I am statistically more likely to draw a queen or jack, but
Murphy's Law says that I will get a king. Which do I trust? I actually trust Murphy's Law: Whatever can go wrong will go wrong.
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
| | | | | | |KKK|
| | | A | | 5 | |KKK|
| | | | | | |KKK|
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
|JJJ| | | | | |JJJ|
|JJJ| | 3 | | | |JJJ|
|JJJ| | | | | |JJJ|
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
| | | | | | | |
| A | | 8 | | 8 | | 6 |
| | | | | | | |
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
|KKK| |QQQ| |QQQ| |KKK|
|KKK| |QQQ| |QQQ| |KKK|
|KKK| |QQQ| |QQQ| |KKK|
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
Fifth Deal
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
| | | | | | |KKK|
| A | | A | | 5 | |KKK|
| | | | | | |KKK|
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
|JJJ| | | | | |JJJ|
|JJJ| | 3 | | 4 | |JJJ|
|JJJ| | | | | |JJJ|
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
| | | | | | | |
| A | | 8 | | 8 | | 6 |
| | | | | | | |
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
|KKK| |QQQ| |QQQ| |KKK|
|KKK| |QQQ| |QQQ| |KKK|
|KKK| |QQQ| |QQQ| |KKK|
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
Removal
Not again. I can free a
jack space but that's it...
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
| | | | | | |KKK|
| A | | A | | 5 | |KKK|
| | | | | | |KKK|
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
|JJJ| | | | | |JJJ|
|JJJ| | 3 | | | |JJJ|
|JJJ| | | | | |JJJ|
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
| | | | | | | |
| A | | 8 | | 8 | | |
| | | | | | | |
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
|KKK| |QQQ| |QQQ| |KKK|
|KKK| |QQQ| |QQQ| |KKK|
|KKK| |QQQ| |QQQ| |KKK|
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
That was my only
option this time so I have no
guilt feelings or feelings of
doom.
Sixth Deal
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
| | | | | | |KKK|
| A | | A | | 5 | |KKK|
| | | | | | |KKK|
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
|JJJ| | | | | |JJJ|
|JJJ| | 3 | | 7 | |JJJ|
|JJJ| | | | | |JJJ|
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
| | | | | | | |
| A | | 8 | | 8 | | 6 |
| | | | | | | |
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
|KKK| |QQQ| |QQQ| |KKK|
|KKK| |QQQ| |QQQ| |KKK|
|KKK| |QQQ| |QQQ| |KKK|
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
Removal
Oh,
bugger. I cannot free up any picture card spots so I need to do what I can and hope to all the Gods that I get a
couple of nines.
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
| | | | | | |KKK|
| A | | A | | 5 | |KKK|
| | | | | | |KKK|
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
|JJJ| | | | | |JJJ|
|JJJ| | | | | |JJJ|
|JJJ| | | | | |JJJ|
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
| | | | | | | |
| A | | 8 | | 8 | | 6 |
| | | | | | | |
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
|KKK| |QQQ| |QQQ| |KKK|
|KKK| |QQQ| |QQQ| |KKK|
|KKK| |QQQ| |QQQ| |KKK|
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
Seventh Deal
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
| | | | | | |KKK|
| A | | A | | 5 | |KKK|
| | | | | | |KKK|
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
|JJJ| | | | | |JJJ|
|JJJ| | X | | 4 | |JJJ|
|JJJ| | | | | |JJJ|
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
| | | | | | | |
| A | | 8 | | 8 | | 6 |
| | | | | | | |
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
|KKK| |QQQ| |QQQ| |KKK|
|KKK| |QQQ| |QQQ| |KKK|
|KKK| |QQQ| |QQQ| |KKK|
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
Removal
Still safe, but still
floundering. I have
a picture card space.
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
| | | | | | |KKK|
| A | | A | | 5 | |KKK|
| | | | | | |KKK|
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
|JJJ| | | | | |JJJ|
|JJJ| | | | | |JJJ|
|JJJ| | | | | |JJJ|
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
| | | | | | | |
| A | | 8 | | 8 | | |
| | | | | | | |
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
|KKK| |QQQ| |QQQ| |KKK|
|KKK| |QQQ| |QQQ| |KKK|
|KKK| |QQQ| |QQQ| |KKK|
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
Eighth Deal
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
| | | | | | |KKK|
| A | | A | | 5 | |KKK|
| | | | | | |KKK|
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
|JJJ| | | | | |JJJ|
|JJJ| | 9 | | | |JJJ|
|JJJ| | | | | |JJJ|
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
| | | | | | |JJJ|
| A | | 8 | | 8 | |JJJ|
| | | | | | |JJJ|
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
|KKK| |QQQ| |QQQ| |KKK|
|KKK| |QQQ| |QQQ| |KKK|
|KKK| |QQQ| |QQQ| |KKK|
+---+ +---+ +---+ +---+
Things were
actually going
OK... until I drew a king with no
place to put it. One... card... away. ...Never mind, that's why they call these
games of
patience.