Patience Card Game

The fundamental rule to mastering any game is to be patient. What if you could play patience? Sounds weird? Well, there’s a card game called Patience.

To make it simple, we’ve all played Solitaire, right? The Patience card game is also known as the Solitaire card game. The objective is to arrange cards of the same suit in a systematic order.

Read further to learn more about the game and how to master it.

What is the Patience Card Game?

Also known as the Solitaire, Patience is a genre of card games. You win by arranging cards of the same suit in a systematic order.

In some variations, you don’t have to follow the suit within themselves, whereas in some sequences, they are made in reverse order.

In other variations such as Fourteen, Pairs, Accordion, etc, you don’t arrange cards but eliminate them to make a matching pair or similar pattern.

History

Early records from the 1700s and 1800s suggest that the game originated in Germany or Scandinavia. The term 'Solitaire' first appeared in France in the late or early 19th century and spread across Britain and America.

In 1783, in Germany, the first known description of the game appeared. By the 1800s, books about the game appeared in Russia and Sweden, and later, in 1826, the first book on the game was published.

Some people believe that the game is connected to Cartomancy, a form of fortune-telling. The connection between them became famous after cartomancy layouts were developed around 1765.

Slowly, many authors published books on the Patience card game. This includes William Henry Cremer's (1860) and Ednah Dow Littlehale Cheney's book on the Patience game (1869). Mary Whitmore Jones is also known for contributing to the Patience card game. While the rest of the world still uses the term Patience, North America coined the term 'Solitaire'.

Genre Name

‘Patience’ is an old-fashioned way of denoting the Solitaire card game, which implies a one-player game. In modern French, they use ‘réussite’, which means success, as the game feels rewarding when you win.

Card size and format

The cards are about 67*42 mm, smaller than the standard deck. Three different sizes of games are available: 88 x 58 mm, 54 x 36 mm, and 45 x 32 mm. You need two decks of cards to play.

Patience Card Game Types

Here are three different types of patience card game:

Closed games

As the name suggests, all the cards are closed or not visible. Since you don’t know the card sequence, it would be best to exercise more judgment. Since the cards will appear once, you strategically decide whether to play them immediately or put them in the waste pile. This type is further divided into simple builders, reserved builders, simple packers, reserved packers, and non-builders.

Open games

In this type, the entire deck is visible. You need to analyse it carefully to win. It further divides into open builders, open packers, and open non-builders.

Half-open games

You begin the game with close cards, and the cards start to open as the game progresses. They are divided into half-open builders, blockades, planners, half-open packers, and spiders.

How to play the Patience Card Game

• The game of Patience starts with a standard deck of 52 cards. 

• The goal is to move all the cards to the foundations, four stacks in ascending order from Ace to King of the same suit.

• The game is played by dealing cards into seven columns, with the top card of each column facing up. The remaining cards are placed in a stockpile, and the game begins.

• To play, you can move cards from one column to another to create sequences of cards in descending order, alternating between red and black suits. You can also move a complete sequence of cards to the foundation piles if the sequence starts with a King.

• You must arrange these rows in descending order by placing the cards from A to K (A, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, J, Q, K). 

• In Patience card games online, you will find the same functions and rules for playing this card game. The gameplay will also be the same.

Patience Card Game Rules

The rules of the Patience card game are simple. However, there are a few key things to keep in mind as you play:

• You can only move a face-up card to another column or the foundation piles.

• You can only move a complete sequence of cards to the foundation piles if the sequence starts with a King.

• You can only place a card on top of another card if the card being placed is of the opposite colour and one rank is lower.

• If you run out of moves, you can turn over the top card from the stockpile and use it to make new moves.

Free Patience Card Game

If you're looking to play the patience card game for free, you can easily find it online. Many websites offer free game versions you can play in your web browser. Some of these websites even allow you to play against other players online.

Patience Card Game for Two

While one person usually plays the patience card game, two players can. In this version, each player is dealt half of the deck, and the goal is to be the first player to move all their cards to the foundation piles.

Important Tips for Patience Card Game

Here are some tips for playing patience:

• Plan your moves: Before making a move, take some time to plan out your moves and visualise how you can sort the cards more efficiently.

• Use empty tableau piles: If you have an empty tableau pile, use it to your advantage by placing a King in it. This will create more room for you to move cards around.

• Pay attention to suit: Organise the cards in each tableau pile by suit so you can quickly move them to the foundation piles when necessary.

• Use the stockpile: If you are stuck and can't move any more cards, turn over a card from the stockpile. Use it to your advantage if it can be used; otherwise, place it in a waste pile and try the next card.

• Be mindful of the waste pile: Remember that you can only use the top card, so it's essential to choose wisely and make the most of each move.

• Don't get discouraged: The Patience card game can be challenging, so don't get discouraged if it takes a few tries to win. Keep trying, and you will eventually get better.

What is the difference between Solitaire and the Patience card games?

Solitaire and "Patience" are often used interchangeably to refer to single-player card games. However, the terms can have slightly different connotations, depending on the context and the country.

In the United States, "Solitaire" typically refers to a specific type of patience game that involves arranging cards in a particular manner, such as in the popular game "Klondike." In contrast, "Patience" is often used more broadly to refer to any single-player card game, including but not limited to solitaire games.

In other countries, especially in Europe, "Patience" is the more commonly used term and refers to all types of single-player card games. "Solitaire" is sometimes used to refer to games played with the cards laid out in a tableau (a specific arrangement of cards).

So, in short, "Solitaire" and "Patience" can be considered synonymous, with the term "Solitaire" often being used more narrowly to refer to a specific type of patience game.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the basic rule of the Patience card game?

The rule of the Patience card game is to arrange all the cards in the foundation piles.

How many rows of cards do you need for the Patience card game?

You need seven rows of cards for the Patience card game.

How to win in the Patience card game?

You must arrange all the card rows in descending order to win this card game. Like from A to K ( A, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, J, Q, K).

Can I play the Patience card game online?

You can find many free Patience card games online on the Play Store. If you want to play a card game that requires some skills, try Poker on Adda52, where you can play many poker variations.

Conclusion

Next time you feel bored, gather your friends and play a game of Patience with them. Yes, there is a variation called Competitive Patience, where not only you but also your friends can play at the same time. In this variant, you compete against each other.