Games of patience, or (card) solitaires as they are usually called in North America, have their own 'language' of specialised terms such as "building down", "packing", "foundations", "talon" and "tableau". Once learnt they are helpful in describing, succinctly and accurately, how the games are played. Patience games are usually for a single player, although a small number have been designed for two and, in rare cases, three or even four players. They are games of skill or chance or a combination of the two. There are three classes of patience grouped by object.[1]
Patience or solitaire cards
The most frequent object is to arrange the cards either in ascending sequence (e.g. from Ace to King) or descending sequence. Occasionally both forms of sequence are aimed at in the same game. The card forming the starting point of the required sequence is known as the foundation card and the sequence or family is said to be 'built up' on such card. In some cases foundation cards are picked out and placed in position beforehand; in others they are only laid down as they come to hand in course of play. In some instances the cards forming the sequence must be of the same suit as the foundation card; in others suit is disregarded. Some games permit the provisional formation of auxiliary sequences (descending or ascending), i.e. groups of cards in succession but not yet ripe to be played to the families or sequences on the foundation cards. A second object of many patiences is merely to 'pair' cards. The cards thus paired are thrown aside and, if the player is able, under the limitations of the particular game, to throw out all the cards in this way, the game is won. A third object is to throw out or dispose of any two cards which together form a particular number, say eleven or thirteen–the player's success, as before, depending on being able to get rid of all the cards in this manner.[1]
It will be obvious that the endeavour to arrange, pair, or combine the cards of a whole pack is a difficult task, varying in degree according to the rules of the particular game. The player must therefore be prepared for a good many failures even when close to success. Hence why the name 'patience games' has been give to recreations of this description.[1]
Placing red on black cards or black on red cards alternately.[2]
available
A card that is available may be picked up and laid down elsewhere.[2]
available cards
Those that are not blocked or covered by other cards, i.e., not forbidden by the particular rules of each game, to be used.[3][4]
auxiliary sequence
A pile of cards that is packed on a depot within the tableau in readiness for being built in the reverse order on the foundations when the time is right.
The situation when no more legal moves can be made. In some instances the game is automatically lost; in others a grace may be used to unblock the game.[2] Also chockered.
build
To place one card on the top of the other in sequence, or otherwise, according to the rules.[6] To place cards in their final location, in stacks or cascades according to the rules.[7]
build down
To place cards one on top of another in descending sequence. Cards may be 'built downward', e.g. from King to Ace.[7]
build up
To place cards one on top of another in ascending sequence. Cards may be 'built upward', e.g. from Ace to King.[7]
Cards are built on one another, starting from the bottom up. Each card's value and suit is face up, and should be able to be viewed by the player. However, only the top card is available for play. It is most commonly found in addition games.
cells
In computer games, such as freeCell, cells allow only one card at a time to be placed in them. Any card can be put in a cell. Same as space and formerly known as a depot.
A line of cards extending towards the player and usually spread, i.e. overlapping so that all are identifiable, but only the topmost card is exposed and therefore available.[2]
come out, out
A game is 'out' or said to 'come out' when the player achieves its objective.[2] See also get out.
court card
Picture card. The picture cards or face cards, being dressed in costume, were originally called coat cards. They are the King, Queen and Knave or Jack.[8]
covered
A card is covered when another card lies wholly or partially over it. It is not normally available. Also buried.[2]
crown
A suite or family is 'crowned' when the last card, often the King, is played to it.[2]
Dedit
deal
To take cards from the top of the pack and lay them on the tableau, face up unless the rules state otherwise.[2]
Position in the layout comprising a pile of cards, one card or a space waiting for a card.[2] A depository to which cards not playable direct to foundations may be placed.[6]
When the cards in the pile are overlapping, but part of each card can be seen. The fan is usually crescent-shaped and three in number.[9]
foundation, foundation pile
A pile of cards, typically squared and face-up, and built on the bottom card which is the foundation card. As the tableau is cleared, cards are moved to the foundations.
foundation card
A card on which the Patience is formed. Foundations cards are generally Kings and Aces.[4] Also base or base card.
A game which starts off closed, i.e. with incomplete information because not all cards are visible on the table, and which becomes open as play proceeds. Thus it is a combination of chance and skill.[2] See also closed and open.
A rule that allows the play of a card in certain circumstances in contravention of the normal rules of the patience concerned.[6] Similar to grace.
move
Any transfer of an available card from one place to another allowed under the rules.
multiples
Cards are placed in multiples when the sequence is a multiple of a number other than one e.g. where cards may only be placed on the card two, three, or four; higher or lower. In multiples, a Jack counts as eleven, a Queen twelve, and a King thirteen. Wrapping is often applied, i.e. if building up by two is required, then the sequence 10 - Queen - Ace - 3 - 5 is permitted.
Oedit
open
A game in which play begins with all cards face up on the table. Like chess, an open game is purely a game of skill.[2] See also closed and half-open.
out
A game of patience or solitaire is said to be 'out' when it is solved successfully. Also called 'getting it out'.
overlap, overlapping
A column of cards is overlapping when each succeeding card partly covers the preceding one such that it can be identified.[2]
Pedit
pack
To pack is to place cards in sequence in an intermediate location, usually the tableau, until they can be placed on the foundations.[9]
A pack (also deck) is the set of cards in hand which are being dealt[4] at the outset of the game. Normally 52 cards or a multiple thereof. However some patiences are played with a Piquet pack or Euchre pack of 32 cards.[8]
To combine two cards, either of the same rank or which total a given value e.g. 13, in order to discard or move them.
pass
A succession of deals that runs through the entire stock once. Some games allow several passes through the stock; others restrict it to one pass. If the game is not out within the required number of passes, it is lost.
patience
The name of a type of card game, usually for one player, in Britain and many other countries.[5]
peeking
Looking at the next card in the stock before deciding on the next play.[10]
The spots on the cards; that is, the figures of clubs, diamonds, etc.[8]
play (a card, cards)
To place (a card) on the foundations in contradistinction to placing them elsewhere.[3] To take up and use it in the game for building, packing or filling a space as opposed to discarding it to a wastepile.[5][2]
In two-pack patiences, when it is allowed to buildsequences simultaneously, ascending on Ace foundations and descending on King foundations, so that when the tops cards of two foundations are in sequence (e.g. a Six and a Seven), cards may be transferred from one to the other.[9]
round the corner, around the corner
A sequence of cards that is built 'around the corner' is one where the King and Ace are seen consecutive. e.g. Q K A 2 or 2 A K Q.[2] Also called wrapping.
row
A line of cards placed side by side. May or may not be overlapped.[2]
A cascade, pile or row of cards in order of rank. Often the aim is to form a full sequence in each suit, typically from Ace (low) to King (high). The regular succession of cards ascending from Ace to King or descending from King to Ace; a sequence need not be of one suit.[3]
shuttling
A feature in some games whereby placing a card under an existing pile releases the top card which must be now played next. See, e.g. Travellers and its variants.[11]
A gap in the tableau due to the removal of a singleton card or a pile of cards. Same as vacancy.[2] A gap or vacancy in the layout into which cards may be played or from which cards have been removed.[12] An empty depot. Also gap or vacancy.
Those whose value and suit fit them to be played or placed in the tableaux.[3]
Tedit
tableau
An arrangement of cards on the table, typically comprising several depots i.e. places where columns of overlapping cards may be formed, the packing taking place on the available cards on the columns. It is thus distinct from a layout, reserve, talon or wastepile.[2] The main part of the layout on the table.[9] Sometimes equated, confusingly, to layout.
The remaining stack of cards, typically squared and face-down, that is left after the layout has been populated. These cards can be turned over into the waste, usually one-by-one, but sometimes in groups of two or three (depending on rules), whenever the player wishes. Also stock. Sometimes equated, confusingly, to waste pile.[2]
A stack or pile of cards, usually from the stock or talon, that is formed when they are turned up but cannot be played immediately. The pile is usually squared and face-up and only the topmost card is available. Also rubbish heap, waste heap or discard pile.
wing
The left or right half of the tableau when it is divided in two by a clear space.[2]
worrying back
Putting a card already built on a foundation back onto one of the depots in the tableau.[9] Not allowed in many patiences. First introduced in Emperor Patience in 1890.[13]
glossary, patience, terms, games, patience, card, solitaires, they, usually, called, north, america, have, their, language, specialised, terms, such, building, down, packing, foundations, talon, tableau, once, learnt, they, helpful, describing, succinctly, acc. Games of patience or card solitaires as they are usually called in North America have their own language of specialised terms such as building down packing foundations talon and tableau Once learnt they are helpful in describing succinctly and accurately how the games are played Patience games are usually for a single player although a small number have been designed for two and in rare cases three or even four players They are games of skill or chance or a combination of the two There are three classes of patience grouped by object 1 Patience or solitaire cardsThe most frequent object is to arrange the cards either in ascending sequence e g from Ace to King or descending sequence Occasionally both forms of sequence are aimed at in the same game The card forming the starting point of the required sequence is known as the foundation card and the sequence or family is said to be built up on such card In some cases foundation cards are picked out and placed in position beforehand in others they are only laid down as they come to hand in course of play In some instances the cards forming the sequence must be of the same suit as the foundation card in others suit is disregarded Some games permit the provisional formation of auxiliary sequences descending or ascending i e groups of cards in succession but not yet ripe to be played to the families or sequences on the foundation cards A second object of many patiences is merely to pair cards The cards thus paired are thrown aside and if the player is able under the limitations of the particular game to throw out all the cards in this way the game is won A third object is to throw out or dispose of any two cards which together form a particular number say eleven or thirteen the player s success as before depending on being able to get rid of all the cards in this manner 1 It will be obvious that the endeavour to arrange pair or combine the cards of a whole pack is a difficult task varying in degree according to the rules of the particular game The player must therefore be prepared for a good many failures even when close to success Hence why the name patience games has been give to recreations of this description 1 Contents Top A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZA editalternating colours alternating color alternate colours alternate colors Placing red on black cards or black on red cards alternately 2 available A card that is available may be picked up and laid down elsewhere 2 available cards Those that are not blocked or covered by other cards i e not forbidden by the particular rules of each game to be used 3 4 auxiliary sequence A pile of cards that is packed on a depot within the tableau in readiness for being built in the reverse order on the foundations when the time is right B editbase base card See foundation card 5 batch A number of cards dealt at one time below A card is below another if it is nearer to the bottom of the playing board or to the player 2 See also beneath beneath A card is beneath another if it is covered or overlapped by it 2 See also below black suits The suits of Clubs and Spades blocked The situation when no more legal moves can be made In some instances the game is automatically lost in others a grace may be used to unblock the game 2 Also chockered build To place one card on the top of the other in sequence or otherwise according to the rules 6 To place cards in their final location in stacks or cascades according to the rules 7 build down To place cards one on top of another in descending sequence Cards may be built downward e g from King to Ace 7 build up To place cards one on top of another in ascending sequence Cards may be built upward e g from Ace to King 7 buried See covered C editcascade Cards are built on one another starting from the bottom up Each card s value and suit is face up and should be able to be viewed by the player However only the top card is available for play It is most commonly found in addition games cells In computer games such as freeCell cells allow only one card at a time to be placed in them Any card can be put in a cell Same as space and formerly known as a depot chockered See blocked a chocker chockering To become or becoming chockered or blocked b closed A game of incomplete information in which cards that cannot be played are discarded to a wastepile 2 See also open and half open color colour In French suited packs there are two colours red i e the suits of Hearts and Diamonds and black i e the suits of Clubs and Spades column A line of cards extending towards the player and usually spread i e overlapping so that all are identifiable but only the topmost card is exposed and therefore available 2 come out out A game is out or said to come out when the player achieves its objective 2 See also get out court card Picture card The picture cards or face cards being dressed in costume were originally called coat cards They are the King Queen and Knave or Jack 8 covered A card is covered when another card lies wholly or partially over it It is not normally available Also buried 2 crown A suite or family is crowned when the last card often the King is played to it 2 D editdeal To take cards from the top of the pack and lay them on the tableau face up unless the rules state otherwise 2 denomination See value depot depot Position in the layout comprising a pile of cards one card or a space waiting for a card 2 A depository to which cards not playable direct to foundations may be placed 6 discard To place a card on the wastepile instead of playing it to the tableau 2 discard pile See wastepile down card downcard A card lying face down 2 5 E editexposed A card is exposed when it is not covered or overlapped by another Exposed cards are usually available 2 F editface To turn a down card face up 2 face down A card is face down when its picture or pip side is hidden 9 face up A card is face up when its picture or pip side is uppermost 9 family families Cards built in sequence upon the foundation cards 4 fan A few cards usually three laid in an overlapping crescent shaped row such that only one is exposed and available 2 fanned When the cards in the pile are overlapping but part of each card can be seen The fan is usually crescent shaped and three in number 9 foundation foundation pile A pile of cards typically squared and face up and built on the bottom card which is the foundation card As the tableau is cleared cards are moved to the foundations foundation card A card on which the Patience is formed Foundations cards are generally Kings and Aces 4 Also base or base card foundation row A row of foundation cards or the spaces for them 5 G editgap See space get out To win a patience game to succeed in achieving the aim of the game 9 See also come out goes through Succeeds See also come out and get out grace A special move that might otherwise be illegal 9 5 Also called a privilege See also merci grace card A card which may be used as a grace c H edithalf open A game which starts off closed i e with incomplete information because not all cards are visible on the table and which becomes open as play proceeds Thus it is a combination of chance and skill 2 See also closed and open heel Cards set aside for later in the game 9 honors honours The Aces together with the court cards 8 L editlane An empty line of spaces in the tableau which has been formed by the removal of an entire row of cards 4 nbsp Layout for The Carpetlayout The arrangement of cards dealt to the table at the start of the game Parlett carefully distinguishes it from the tableau 2 M editmarriage The placing a card of the same suit on the next one above or below it in value Any number may be placed on each other in this way 3 master card See foundation card merci A rule that allows the play of a card in certain circumstances in contravention of the normal rules of the patience concerned 6 Similar to grace move Any transfer of an available card from one place to another allowed under the rules multiples Cards are placed in multiples when the sequence is a multiple of a number other than one e g where cards may only be placed on the card two three or four higher or lower In multiples a Jack counts as eleven a Queen twelve and a King thirteen Wrapping is often applied i e if building up by two is required then the sequence 10 Queen Ace 3 5 is permitted O editopen A game in which play begins with all cards face up on the table Like chess an open game is purely a game of skill 2 See also closed and half open outA game of patience or solitaire is said to be out when it is solved successfully Also called getting it out overlap overlapping A column of cards is overlapping when each succeeding card partly covers the preceding one such that it can be identified 2 P editpackTo pack is to place cards in sequence in an intermediate location usually the tableau until they can be placed on the foundations 9 A pack also deck is the set of cards in hand which are being dealt 4 at the outset of the game Normally 52 cards or a multiple thereof However some patiences are played with a Piquet pack or Euchre pack of 32 cards 8 packet A squared up pile of cards dealt at the start of a game Sometimes dealt such that the top card is face up and available while the ones beneath are face down 2 pairTwo cards of the same rank 9 To combine two cards either of the same rank or which total a given value e g 13 in order to discard or move them pass A succession of deals that runs through the entire stock once Some games allow several passes through the stock others restrict it to one pass If the game is not out within the required number of passes it is lost patience The name of a type of card game usually for one player in Britain and many other countries 5 peeking Looking at the next card in the stock before deciding on the next play 10 pile A stack of cards one on top of the other and squared such that only the topmost card whether face up or face down is visible 5 pips The spots on the cards that is the figures of clubs diamonds etc 8 play a card cards To place a card on the foundations in contradistinction to placing them elsewhere 3 To take up and use it in the game for building packing or filling a space as opposed to discarding it to a wastepile 5 2 privilege See grace R editrank The value or denomination of a card 5 red suits The suits of Hearts and Diamonds redeal re dealWhen the stock is empty to take the wastepile turn it over and use it to reform the stock Sometimes it must be shuffled A second or follow on deal released cards Those that by the removal of the cards that blocked them have now become available 3 4 reserve Cards available for play that are not part of the foundations talon tableau or discard piles 9 reversing In two pack patiences when it is allowed to build sequences simultaneously ascending on Ace foundations and descending on King foundations so that when the tops cards of two foundations are in sequence e g a Six and a Seven cards may be transferred from one to the other 9 round the corner around the corner A sequence of cards that is built around the corner is one where the King and Ace are seen consecutive e g Q K A 2 or 2 A K Q 2 Also called wrapping row A line of cards placed side by side May or may not be overlapped 2 rubbish heap rubbish heap See wastepile S editsequence ascending sequence descending sequence A cascade pile or row of cards in order of rank Often the aim is to form a full sequence in each suit typically from Ace low to King high The regular succession of cards ascending from Ace to King or descending from King to Ace a sequence need not be of one suit 3 shuttling A feature in some games whereby placing a card under an existing pile releases the top card which must be now played next See e g Travellers and its variants 11 singleton A single care of any suit 5 solitaire North American name for games of patience 9 space A gap in the tableau due to the removal of a singleton card or a pile of cards Same as vacancy 2 A gap or vacancy in the layout into which cards may be played or from which cards have been removed 12 An empty depot Also gap or vacancy spots See pips spread To overlap cards in a row or column such that each card can be made out but only the topmost card is exposed and therefore available 2 squared When the cards in the pile are directly on top of one another stack stacked See pile stock See talon suit One of the four families of cards in a pack all sharing the same symbol e g Clubs Spades Hearts and Diamonds or Acorns Leaves Hearts and Bells 3 suite A pile of cards that has been built in sequence on a foundation card Same as foundation pile An Ace suite is one based on an Ace etc 2 A full sequence of 13 cards of one suit 7 12 suitable cards Those whose value and suit fit them to be played or placed in the tableaux 3 T edittableau An arrangement of cards on the table typically comprising several depots i e places where columns of overlapping cards may be formed the packing taking place on the available cards on the columns It is thus distinct from a layout reserve talon or wastepile 2 The main part of the layout on the table 9 Sometimes equated confusingly to layout talon The remaining stack of cards typically squared and face down that is left after the layout has been populated These cards can be turned over into the waste usually one by one but sometimes in groups of two or three depending on rules whenever the player wishes Also stock Sometimes equated confusingly to waste pile 2 top card topmost card See uppermost card turn the corner turning the corner In building or packing to continue the sequence after ascending to the King or descending to the Ace e g to run J Q K A 2 3 U editup card upcard A card lying face up usually at the top of a pile 2 9 5 See also down card uppermost card The exposed card on the top or surface of a packet 4 Also top or topmost card V editvacancy See space 2 value The figures of the court cards and the number of points pips or spots of the minor cards 3 4 W editwaste heap See wastepile wastepile waste pile A stack or pile of cards usually from the stock or talon that is formed when they are turned up but cannot be played immediately The pile is usually squared and face up and only the topmost card is available Also rubbish heap waste heap or discard pile wing The left or right half of the tableau when it is divided in two by a clear space 2 worrying back Putting a card already built on a foundation back onto one of the depots in the tableau 9 Not allowed in many patiences First introduced in Emperor Patience in 1890 13 wrappingBuilding around the corner Using modular arithmetic to build the sequence e g Queen King Ace 2 3 10 Queen Ace 3 5 8 Jack Ace 4 7 See also editGlossary of card game termsFootnotes edit Chockered is used e g by Whitmore Jones and Bergholt Chockering is used e g by Whitmore Jones For example see Parlett 1979 p 178 in the game of Baroness References edit a b c Hoffmann Professor 1892 pp 1 6 a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag Parlett 1979 pp 24 32 a b c d e f g h Cadogan 1874 p xi a b c d e f g h Dick 1884 pp 7 8 a b c d e f g h i j Jackson 2001 pp 7 ff a b c Tarbart 1905 pp 1 4 a b c d Barry 2010 p 11 a b c d Cheney 1869 pp 113 ff a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Arnold 2011 pp 159 160 Morehead amp Mott Smith 1950 p 32 Parlett 1979 p 185 a b Parodi 2004 pp 9 ff Whitmore Jones 1890 pp 72 74 Literature editArnold Peter 2011 Card Games for One London Chambers ISBN 978 0550 10201 0 Barry Sheila Anne 2010 Great Card Games for One NY Puzzlewright ISBN 978 1402 77116 3 Cadogan Lady Adelaide 1872 Illustrated Games of Patience Cheney Ednah Dow Littlehale 1869 Patience A Series of Games with Cards Boston Lee amp Shepard Dick William Brisbane 1883 Dick s Games of Patience Or Solitaire with Cards NY Dick amp Fitzgerald Hoffmann Professor Angelo Lewis 1892 The Illustrated Book of Patience Games London NY Glasgow and Manchester George Routledge Jackson Robin 2001 Solitaire Over 30 Challenging Solitaire Games NY Barnes amp Noble Morehead Albert and Geoffrey Mott Smith 1950 The Complete Book of Patience London Faber amp Faber Parlett David 1979 The Penguin Book of Patience London Penguin ISBN 0 7139 1193 X Parodi Francesca 2004 Big Book of Solitaire NY Sterling Tarbart 1905 Games of Patience 2nd edition London Thos De La Rue Whitmore Jones Mary 1890 Games of Patience for One or More Players 2nd Series London L Upcott Gill NY Scribner s External links editGlossary of card game terms provided by The United States Playing Card Company Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Glossary of patience terms amp oldid 1192530601 shuttling, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
