How to Keep Score in Solitaire

If you are a competitive person like I am than just playing a game of solitaire is no fun. I learned to remedy this by keeping score, giving me some competition—myself. I can then compete with myself to get a better score each time. There really is an easy way to keep score in Solitaire. Read on to find out more.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• One deck of playing cards
• A sheet of paper
• A pen or pencil
• A ruler
• Calculator (optional)

The Simple Old Fashion Way

1. Take out a sheet of paper and use your ruler to draw a line straight down the middle of the page.

2. At the top of the first column write the words "+5 Card Stack." That refers to the stack of cards you are holding in your hand after you have dealt out your seven rows. At the top of the second column write the words "+10 Pile of Aces." This is for the cards you are going to add on top of the aces.

3. Whenever you go through your card stack and find a card playable on the rows you have created you are going to give yourself five points in the column you made on your sheet of paper. Whenever you can transfer a card to one of the four piles of aces, you are going to give yourself 10 points on your "+10" side of the paper.

4. When you can no longer play any cards it's time to add up your score. You can use a calculator or do it by hand. Add up your left column ("+5") and then your right column ("+10"). Add your totals together and you have your score for solitaire.

5. Optional step: Every time you go through the stack of cards in your hand and are ready to start over subtract five points. For example, if you went through the cards in your hand three times before your had no more cards left to play your would subtract 15 points off of your score.

Tips & Warnings

• Add the points as you go instead of waiting to tally them at the end. That way you will know how good or bad you are doing or if you are on target to beat an old score.
• If you have trouble with your eyes like my grandmother does, buy a stack of Jumbo cards. My kids actually prefer to play with these too.
• Don't stay up all night playing this game just so you can beat your top score. I know it is tempting, but you need your beauty sleep.