Happy Solitaire Day!
Today is National Solitaire Day for 2025, serving as an invitation to gather with friends and engage in a few rounds of card games! What fun. . .
Happy Card Playing Day! ! !
♠️ ♦️ ♣️ ♥️ ♠️ ♦️ ♣️ ♥️ ♠️ ♦️ ♣️ ♥️ ♠️ ♦️ ♣️ ♥️
A Brief History:
Origination: In the 9th century, the Chinese initiated the creation of games that incorporated money and various paper items. The initial playing cards from this period were quite different from the more durable European playing cards that appeared several centuries afterward. Card games proliferated globally, taking on numerous forms and styles. From the intricate Mamluk designs found in Egypt to the introduction of the first playing cards in Early Renaissance Europe, these decks were categorized into four suits: coins, cups, swords, and sticks or batons.
Photo by Clker-Free-Vector-Images courtesy of Openverse
It’s About the Cards: The contemporary decks of playing cards have evolved from these four suits. Various theories exist regarding the transformation of the suits into hearts, spades, diamonds, and clubs. One such theory posits that the suits symbolize the distinct social classes of the time: the clergy, the aristocracy, the military, and the peasantry.
Different Types of Decks: The two most common types of decks are the standard 52-card deck, and the 48-card Pinochle deck. There are others, but are very rare, and definitely special order.
English pattern ace of spades courtesy of Openverse
Sharp! A Card Sharp: A card sharp, also known in contemporary terms as a card shark, refers to an adept or cunning card player. Such individuals may employ techniques such as sleight of hand or various forms of deception to secure victory in a game.
Celebrated: National Solitaire Day, celebrated on May 22nd, serves as an invitation to play some solitaire.
solitaire courtesy of Openverse
A Few Facts:
I am sharing a few facts, and more, some trivia, some not trivial. . .
The Evolution of Solitaire:
| Popular Solitaire Card Games | |
| Deck Used |
Idea of Game |
| Klondike Solitaire |
|
| Standard 52-card Deck | Klondike is the most popular version of Solitaire, often referred to simply as “Solitaire. ” It likely began during the 19th-century gold rush in Klondike, Canada. Its popularity soared after being included in Microsoft’s Windows 3. 0 in 1990. The game uses a 52-card deck. The objective is to sort cards by suit from Ace to King in empty areas known as foundations. Cards are dealt into 7 piles on the tableau, with only the top card showing. Players must create sequences in descending order and alternating colors to reveal lower cards. Kings can fill empty tableau spaces. Remaining cards are kept in a Stock pile for play. |
| FreeCell |
|
| Standard 52-card Deck | Out of the different types of Solitaire games, FreeCell Solitaire is the most similar to Klondike but is more strategic. It has about a 99% solvable probability. FreeCell uses a single deck, dealing cards into 7 piles with all cards visible and no Stock pile. The goal is to build foundations by suit. Sequences are built by suit in ascending order for foundations and in descending order with alternating colors in the tableau. The main difference is the presence of 4 empty spaces called free cells, where cards can be placed to access those underneath. Cards in free cells can only be used to build sequences, not exchanged. |
| Spider | |
| Standard 52-card Deck |
Although Klondike is the most popular version of Solitaire, Spider Solitaire is the top choice among 2-deck Solitaire types. It is named for the 8 foundations needed to win, like a spider’s 8 legs. Players have about a 1 in 3 chance of winning a Solitaire Spider game. Game-play involves two card decks and can use one or more suits based on difficulty. The setting resembles Klondike, with piles, a Stock pile, and foundations, but all cards are exposed. The goal is to create suit sequences from King to Ace. Tapping the Stock pile adds an extra card to each pile. |
| Tripeaks | |
| Standard 52-card Deck | Tripeaks is named for the three pyramid peaks created by the card layout and is also known as Three Peaks, Tri Towers, and Triple Peaks. It was created by Robert Hogue in 1989, who found that over 90% of Tripeaks games can be won. The game uses a standard 52-card deck, arranged in three pyramids of four rows, with the base cards facing up. The objective is to clear all cards from the tableau by forming sequences of cards that are one point higher or lower than the previous card, regardless of their suit. Removed cards go to a discard pile, and the top card there starts the next sequence. Players can use the Stock pile when no moves are left. |
| Pyramid | |
| Standard 52-card Deck | Pyramid Solitaire is named for its pyramid-shaped layout of cards. Despite its simple rules, it has a low winning probability, especially when players can only draw from the Stock pile once, giving them about a 1 in 50 chance of winning. In the game, 28 cards are arranged in a pyramid, and players pair cards to reach a total of 13 points. Kings are worth 13, Queens 12, and Jacks 11. Players can draw one card at a time from the Stock pile to find matches for the pyramid’s exposed cards, with the game’s difficulty varying based on Stock pile access. |
| Yukon |
|
| Standard 52-card Deck | Yukon Solitaire is a challenging card game inspired by Klondike but with different rules. The aim is to build four foundations by suit, starting from the ace to the king. Players work with a shuffled 52-card deck laid out in seven piles, all cards visible except for the bottom one to six cards in each pile. Unlike Klondike, there is no Stock pile or hints. Cards can be moved onto free cards without needing a sequence, and the goal is to organize them into ascending suit sequences on the foundations. |
| Baker’s Dozen | |
| Standard 52-card Deck | This game utilizes a standard deck of 52 cards, which are arranged into 13 piles (referred to as a baker’s dozen), all oriented face up. The Kings are consistently positioned at the base of each pile. The objective is to construct the foundations in ascending order from Ace to King. Only the top cards of the piles are eligible for movement, and it is not permissible to shift sequences within the piles. The suit of the cards does not influence the formation of sequences in the tableau. |
| Forty Thieves |
|
| Standard 52-card Deck | Forty Thieves is played with two decks of 52 cards each. The cards are distributed into 10 piles, each containing 4 cards (representing the 40 thieves obstructing victory). All cards are laid face up. Players must create 8 foundations on the tableau, building suit sequences in ascending order. Within the piles, sequences must be arranged in descending order and must consist of cards of the same suit. Only one card may be moved at a time, and moving sequences is not allowed. Any card can fill empty spaces. Players are permitted to access the Stock pile only once. |
| Golf | |
| Standard 52-card Deck | Golf Solitaire is a card game that merges the thrill of golf with the intricate elements typically associated with online Solitaire games. The primary aim is to clear the tableau by pairing cards that are either one value higher or lower than the preceding card. |
| Scorpion | |
| Standard 52-card Deck | With an average win rate of only 5%, Scorpion Solitaire ranks among the most difficult Solitaire games available. Its layout resembles that of Solitaire Spider, where players must create complete descending sequences of the same suit on the tableau before transferring the cards to the foundations. However, the gameplay diverges significantly. Any card can be moved, irrespective of its position within the piles, but it may only be placed atop a free card. This flexibility in movement, rather than simplifying the game, actually constitutes its most formidable challenge. |
| Crescent |
|
| Standard 52-card Deck | Crescent Solitaire presents a formidable challenge, demanding considerable strategic planning and a strong memory from its players. The game features foundations positioned at the center of the tableau, with one set commencing with the Aces and the other with the Kings. This arrangement necessitates that players construct both ascending and descending sequences concurrently. The remaining cards are arranged in a crescent shape surrounding the foundations. Only the top cards and those directly beneath them are visible, compelling players to maneuver the cards by stacking them in piles with ranks that are either one higher or one lower. This process allows players to examine the remaining cards in a specific pile to locate the ones they require. While the rules may appear straightforward, players soon discover the complexities involved in mastering this game. |
| Canfield |
|
| Standard 52-card Deck | Canfield Solitaire experienced a revival in popularity during the 20th century, largely attributed to casino proprietor Richard A. Canfield. However, this card game has a much older history, previously known as Demon Patience, a name that aptly reflects its challenging nature. Despite its uncomplicated layout and rules, Canfield is not a game for those who play without thought. It demands significant strategic consideration, as players often find it necessary to dismantle or forfeit the foundations to create sequences that will unlock the Stock pile or reveal the face-down cards on the table. |
Photo by WikimediaImages courtesy of Pixabay
More Trivia: Here is some other great playing card trivia. . .
- The Four Suits in a Standard Deck of Cards: The four suits found in a standard deck of cards are hearts, clubs, diamonds, and spades. Each suit comprises thirteen cards, which include the ace, cards numbered two through ten, and three face cards. Additionally, the presence of two jokers increases the total number of cards in the deck to 54.
- The Largest Card Maker in the World: The largest manufacturer of playing cards globally is the United States Playing Card Company, renowned for producing Bicycle brand playing cards.
Photo by Ron Lach by Pexels
The Present:
People all over the world, including the U.S. are enjoying playing solitaire: with and without fellow players, every day!
The Future:
Let’s give thanks and enjoy playing solitaire, this great year and in years to come. . .
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Relationship Solitaire courtesy of Openverse
National Solitaire Day
