Ultimate Book of Card Games: The Comprehensive Guide to More Than 350 Games (30 page)

St. Helena has one truly unique feature. On the first deal only, cards from the top tableau row may be played only to king foundations; cards from the bottom row may be played only to ace foundations; and cards from the sides may be played to both. These restrictions don’t apply on the second and third deals.

When you’re out of moves, pick up the twelve tableau piles in reverse dealing order, turn them over (do not shuffle), and redeal cards one at a time to the twelve tableau piles until you run out of cards. You are allowed two redeals in St. Helena.

1. DIFFICULTY
   :
   medium
   
2. TIME LENGTH
   :
   short
   
3. DECKS
   : 1
   

If you paid attention in school, you’ll remember that stalactites are mineral deposits that “grow” down from the ceilings of caves. This game “seeds” its stalactites with four cards and forces you to build foundations down from there. The game is easy to master but hard to win (odds of winning are 1 in every 7 hands).

HOW TO DEAL
Start with a fifty-two-card deck, and deal four cards face up. These are your “starter” cards. Leave space below for a row of four foundation piles, and below that deal eight tableau piles with six cards each, all face up. Leave room for a reserve pile, which you may use later in the game.

WINNING
Build four foundations in ascending rank (suits and colors do not matter), each starting with the card one rank higher than its corresponding starter card. For example, if the starter cards are 4, J, A, 7, your
foundations must start with 5, Q, 2, 8, respectively. You play foundation cards as they become available.
Continuous ranking
is permitted. The game is won when all four starter cards are played onto their corresponding foundation piles.

HOW TO PLAY
Only the top tableau cards may be played, either to the foundations or the reserve. There is no building within the tableau. The reserve may never contain more than two cards, and both of these may always be played directly to the foundations. There is no redeal. The game ends when you’re out of moves.

1. DIFFICULTY
   :
   medium
   
2. TIME LENGTH
   :
   medium
   
3. DECKS
   : 1
   

Stonewall is a game that seems easier to win than it really is. It’s not too complex, and the building rules are very generous. Even so, you’re doing well to win more than 1 in every 14 hands.

HOW TO DEAL
Start with a single fifty-two-card deck, and deal six tableau piles, each with six cards alternating between face up and face down. Next deal the remaining sixteen cards, all face up, into the reserve.

WINNING
Build four foundations by suit in ascending rank from ace to king.

HOW TO PLAY
Move aces to the foundations as they become available. Play the topmost tableau cards to the foundations, or build on other tableau piles in descending rank and alternating color (e.g., on 8 of hearts, either 7 of clubs or 7 of spades may be played). Move cards one at a time or in groups of properly sequenced cards. Fill vacancies at your discretion with any available card (or group of properly sequenced cards).

The sixteen reserve cards may be played at all times, either to the tableau or directly to the foundations. Cards played from the reserve are not replaced, and you may not move cards into the reserve. There is no redeal; the game ends when you’re out of moves.

1. DIFFICULTY
   :
   medium
   
2. TIME LENGTH
   :
   short
   
3. DECKS
   : 2
   

The “sultan” in this game is the K of hearts, which ends the game surrounded by eight queens. It’s another fine example of simple rules creating a game that is surprisingly difficult to win (the odds of doing so are 1 in every 11 hands).

HOW TO DEAL
Start with two fifty-two-card decks (104 cards total), remove all kings and the A of hearts, and lay them out as shown (one K of hearts is always in the center, the A of hearts is always above). These are your foundations.

Next, deal six cards, face up, in two rows of three. This is your tableau. The remaining cards are your stock.

WINNING
The goal is to build eight foundations by suit and in ascending rank. Build the A of hearts up to Q of hearts, and the seven outer kings up to the queens. At the end of the game, K of hearts is surrounded by eight queens.

HOW TO PLAY
No tableau pile may ever have more than one card, and there is no building within the tableau. When you’re out of moves, turn the topmost stock card over and play it to the foundations or to an empty tableau pile, or leave it face up in a waste pile. The topmost waste card may always be played to the foundations. You may redeal three times (do not shuffle).