DUTCHESS



OBJECTIVE OF DUTCHESS:  Get all of the cards onto the appropriate foundation piles

NUMBER OF PLAYERS: 1 player

NUMBER OF CARDS: 52 cards

TYPE OF GAME: Solitaire

AUDIENCE: Adults


INTRODUCTION OF DUTCHESS

Dutchess is a solitaire game that is part of the fan family.  Players will begin the game able to see twelve reserve cards that are placed in fans of three.  This game utilizes a four card tableau that is built in descending order while alternating color.  Players will manage the layout as well as play through a draw pile.  There is about a 1 in 10 chance of winning this game.  

THE CARDS & THE LAYOUT

Play Dutchess with a standard 52 card French deck.  After thoroughly shuffling, deal out a reserve of twelve cards.  The cards should be dealt face up in groups of three, and each group of three is laid out like a fan.  Leave space for a row of four foundation piles below the reserve fans, and deal out a row of four cards face up.  These four cards begin the tableau columns.

THE PLAY

To begin play, choose one of the top cards from the fan to begin your first foundation pile.  The card you choose determines the starting card for all of the foundations.  For example, if you choose to place a 6 of hearts as your first foundation pile, all of the other foundations must also begin with a six.  The objective is to build up all of the foundation cards to a total of 13 cards.  Each foundation is the same suit, and cards are built up in ascending order.  Build from King to Ace and then to 2 and so on.

Tableau columns are built downward in descending order alternating by color.  Once a card is placed on a tableau column, it cannot be moved.  Only the entire can be moved and placed on another column if the move meets the rules of tableau building.  Any spaces formed in the tableau are first filled with available cards from the reserve first and the waste pile once the reserve is gone.  

Draw cards from the draw pile one at a time and play them on foundations or the tablea if able.  Cards that cannot be played are discarded to the waste pile face up.  The top of the waste pile is always available for play.

Once you have gone through the draw pile completely, pick up the waste pile and start again with the pile turned face down.  You may do this only once.

WINNING

Successfully get all of the cards into their foundation piles according to suit and in ascending order.

Mark Ball
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