How to Play Saratoga Solitaire

Saratoga Solitaire is a variation of the standard solitaire set up, except that all the cards are face up. Strategy becomes more an issue in the game as it's possible to plan several moves ahead. This game is named for the Saratoga Casino, which was owned by Richard Canfield, a 19th century gambler credited for the popularity of Solitaire games in this country.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Remove the jokers from a standard deck of 52 cards. Shuffle the cards well.

2. Deal all the cards face up to the board. Hand out seven cards in a row to create the tableaux. Skip the first card to the left and add a second card to other six cards.

3. Skip the first two piles and add a third card to the next five cards. Continue adding cards across the row, skipping the next card in each time. Use the remaining cards as the stock pile.

4. Play cards one at a time from each of the tableau to another to create vertical rows of cards in descending order, alternating black and red. Turn over the stock pile, three cards at a time and play one card at a time to the tableaux as well.

5. Remove the Aces as they become available. Set them in a row as foundation cards above the tableau piles. Follow suit and build in ascending order to the foundation piles.

6. Continue play by moving cards on the board and playing cards from the stock pile to the board. Run through the stock pile once, then flip it over and play through again three cards at a time.

7. Win the game by completing all four foundation stacks Ace through King. Gather up the cards when no more plays remain. Shuffle and play again.