CATS IN THE CORNER



OBJECTIVE OF CATS IN THE CORNER:  Build up the four foundations in ascending order based on suit

NUMBER OF PLAYERS: 1 player

NUMBER OF CARDS: 52 cards

RANK OF CARDS: (low) Ace – King (high)

TYPE OF GAME: Solitaire

AUDIENCE: Kids


INTRODUCTION OF CATS IN THE CORNER

Cats in the Corner is a fun game for kids to learn the basics of solitaire.  Although the layout is simple, this game allows for a fair bit of strategy.  If you can focus and organize your cards correctly, you will have a consistent win rate for this game.  

THE CARDS & THE DEAL

Cats in the Corner uses a standard 52 card French deck.  Remove the four aces from the deck and place them face up to form a 2×2 grid.  These four Aces form the foundation piles.

During the game, players are trying to build up the four foundation piles in ascending order according to suit.

Shuffle the remaining 48 cards and place them on the table as the draw pile.

THE PLAY

Begin the game by flipping the top card of the draw pile.  If this card can be added to its foundation, the card may be placed there.  If not, it is to be placed onto one of the four waste piles.  Waste piles are located on the outside corners of the 2×2 grid.  Cards that must go to a waste pile may be placed onto the pile of your choice.  This is where strategy comes into play as waste piles should be managed in such a way that cards can be easily moved to their foundations.  

Whenever a waste pile card is able to be moved to its proper foundation, you may do so.

Once the draw pile has run out of cards, you may collect the waste piles and combine them to form a new draw pile.  Do no shuffle them.  When doing this, think about how you have strategically built your waste piles and form the new draw pile accordingly.

During this phase, there is only one waste pile.  Flip through the draw pile one card at a time and place the cards onto the foundations when you are able.  Once the second draw pile has run out of cards, the game is over.

WINNING

If you successfully moved all of the cards to their proper foundations, you win.  If you get through the second draw pile with waste cards remaining, you lose.

Mark Ball
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