I want to be alone...... (Solitaire (PC))

Member Name: SusanLesley

Product:	Solitaire (PC)
Date:	05/09/01 (86 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Simple to play, Free with your computer

Disadvantages: Addictive

I often used to play Solitaire or patience as we called it, with a standard deck of cards, but now the miracles of modern science have brought it to my PC!

This is a game for one as you might well guess from the name. The object of the game is to use all the cards in the deck to build up four piles of cards, one for each suit, in ascending order, beginning with the aces and ending with the Kings.

The game begins with cards dealt in seven columns. The one on the far left consists of one card, face up. The next column has two cards one face down with the other face up on top of it. The next one has three cards, two are face down and one is face up on top of them. This continues across the screen until the one on the far left of the playing area has seven cards in it, six are face down and one is face up on the top of them. The remainder of the deck is face down at the top left-hand corner of the screen.

The player then looks at the cards. If there are any aces visible they can be moved straight away to the top right-hand corner of the screen where the four piles, one for each suit, will be built. Once the ace of a suit is placed at the top of the screen the two of the same suit, when available can be placed on top of it, then the three etc, up to and including the King.

The cards are moved by clicking on each one and dragging it to its destination.

In order to reveal the remaining cards, the cards which are face up can be placed on top of one another in descending order, of any suit, providing they are red and black alternately. For example a red nine could be placed on a black ten or a black Queen could be placed on a red King.

If the card on any column that is face up is moved to another column then the next card, which is face down, is turned over and brought into play. If a column is completely moved leaving a blank space a King can be put there to start a new column of cards, which are face up.

The d
eck at the top of the screen can be turned over by clicking on the top of the pack of cards, which are face down. These can be turned over one at a time or three at a time.

If a card appears which can be placed either on a suit pile or on one of the columns it is moved, and the next card is drawn form the deck.

Cards can also be removed from the top of the suit piles and returned to a column to facilitate the game if necessary.

Play continues in this fashion until either the four piles at the top of the screen contain ace to King of each suit and so there are no further cards remaining in play or there are no moves left.

If you want to you can score the game as you play it in either Standard or Las Vegas format.

Standard format scoring works like this:
10 points for each card placed on a suit pile.
5 points for each card moved from the deck to a column of cards.
5 points every time you turn over a card in a column of cards.
-15 points every time you move a card from a suit pile back into play.
If you’re playing the draw one option you loose a further 100 points every time you go through the pack after the first time.
If you’re playing the draw three option you loose a further 20 points every time you go through the pack after the third time.

Las Vegas format scoring works like this:
You begin the game with a debt of 52 dollars, which represents your bet.
You win back 5 dollars every time you place a card on one of the suit piles.
The object is to win more than your original bet.

There are various different patterns available for the reverse of the cards including a robot, a desert island, a spooky castle and some abstract coloured patterns. I’m a spooky castle girl myself!

Ooer – when I started to write this I never dreamt it would be quite so difficult to put into words. I hope it makes sense – you’ll have to let me know w
hether you understand it or not!

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