How to Play 10-20-30 Solitaire

The earliest recorded Solitaire game is described in a German book dating to 1793. Solitaire was a competitive game played head-to-head by two players, each using a separate deck and alternating turns. The idea of playing the game by oneself probably grew out of the enjoyment people found in practicing for the one-on-one matches.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Shuffle a regular deck of 52 cards. Be sure to remove the jokers.

2. Assign points to the cards based on their values. Count an Ace as one point, face value to cards two through nine and ten points for tens, Jacks, Queens and Kings. Disregard the suits.

3. Lay the cards out face up in three rows of four. Review the cards and their values. Find cards that together total 10, 20 or 30 points and pull them off the table. Set them aside face down in a pile.

4. Deal new cards to replace those pulled off the table. Make more combinations of 10, 20 and 30 points and remove them.

5. Look for combinations like two, eight and 10 or a face card and two fives. Combine face cards with other values, rather than pulling all the face cards off together. Strategize to remove as many cards from the field as possible.

6. Continue to remove cards and replace them until the deck is exhausted. Gather up the cards and deal to begin again.

7. Try to play the game quickly. Memorize the various combinations of 10, 20 and 30 and move fast to remove cards from the playing field.