How to Play Alternations Solitaire

Alternations Solitaire is unique with a tableau of alternating face-up and face-down cards played with two decks of cards.

Objective

The goal is to move all cards from the stock pile and tableau into 8 foundation piles by suit in ascending order, starting with Aces and ending with Kings.

The Setup and Play Area

Tableau piles: This is the area where cards are placed in 7 columns with 7 cards each, totaling 49 cards. The bottom card of each tableau column is face-up, and each card after that alternates being face-up and face-down. In total, you'll have 4 face-up cards and 3 face-down cards in each column.

Stock pile: The remaining cards, or a total of 55 cards, are face-down in the stock pile. You are allowed one pass through the stock pile.

Waste pile: Cards drawn from the stock pile that cannot be placed in the tableau go to the waste pile.

Foundation piles: These are the 8 piles are the top to the game where cards are placed by suit in ascending order from Ace to King.

Available moves

• Only Aces can start in the foundation, and subsequent cards must be in ascending order by suit. For example, only a 2 of Hearts can be played on an Ace of Hearts
• The most recently drawn card from the stock pile can be moved to the foundation or the tableau.
• The last card of each tableau column can be moved to a foundation if it is playable.
• You can only place any card in an empty tableau column.
• Face-down cards are turned over when the card on top of it is moved.
• Tableau cards can be moved by sequencing them in descending order, alternating by color. For example, a 5 of Spades can be placed on top of a 6 of Hearts.
• You can move multiple cards at one time. To move a group of cards, they must be sequenced in descending order, alternating by color, and the top card of that group must be placed on top of a playable card of the opposite color and one rank higher.
• You win when all cards are placed in the 8 foundations.

Strategy

• Sequence as many cards as you can before drawing from the stock pile.
• Create empty columns to move cards and unblock others.
• If you have an empty column, try to place cards of higher ranks to help you create longer sequences in that column. Also, late in the game, consider moving cards from the stock pile into empty columns to get them in the tableau.
• Immediately move Aces to the foundation.
• The first visible sequence may not always be the best one. Plan out your moves to remove as many cards as possible from the tableau.
• Because foundations are built from Ace to King, try to make low cards available so you can move them out of the tableau into the foundation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the probability of winning Alternations Solitaire?

The game is challenging with a low win rate. We looked at 14,107 random games played. Of those, 35 were won, or 0.25%.

What are other popular Solitaire games?

Be sure to check out these Solitaire games:

• Solitaire
• Mahjong
• Spider Solitaire
• FreeCell Solitaire
• Yukon Solitaire
• TriPeaks Solitaire
• Pyramid Solitaire
• Golf Solitaire