How to Play Squadron Solitaire
Squadron Solitaire is a combination of FreeCell and Forty Thieves, where you can use 3 open cells to progress in the game.
Objective
The goal is to move all cards from the stock pile and tableau into 8 foundation piles by suit in ascending order.
The Setup and Play Area
Free cells: These are the 3 cells in the middle of the game. The game starts with 3 cards placed there. Any playable card can be moved to the free cell if it's open.
Tableau piles: This is the area where cards are placed face-up in 10 columns of 4 cards each, totaling 40 cards.
Stock pile: The remaining cards, or a total of 61 cards, are face-down in the stock pile. You are allowed a single pass through the stock pile, and cards are drawn 1 at a time.
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 eight piles at the top of 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 Spades can be played on an Ace of Spades.
- Only the last card in the tableau column is playable, and it can either be moved to the foundation or on top of another card of the same suit, one rank higher. A 5 of Diamonds, for example, can be moved on top of a 6 of Diamonds.
- Cards in the free cells can either be moved to the foundation or on top of another card in the tableau of the same suit, one rank higher.
- Any playable card in the tableau can be moved to an open free cell.
- Unlike Klondike, you cannot move a group of sequenced cards in the tableau.
- The top card of the waste pile can be moved to the foundation or the tableau.
- If a tableau column is empty, any legally playable card can be placed there.
- You win when all cards are placed in the 8 foundations.
Strategy
- 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 into 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.
- Use the free cells. Because you can move any card here, it can help you move groups of cards or unblock others.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are similar games?
Josephine Solitaire, Forty Thieves, and Thieves of Egypt all have similar rules.
What is the probability of winning Squadrom?
We looked at 327 random games played. Of those, 27 were won, or 8.26%. This makes Squadron easier than Forty Thieves, which has a win rate of 3.69%.
What are other popular Solitaire games to try?
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