Agnes Solitaire

What is Agnes Solitaire?

Agnes Solitaire is a Klondike variant named for its unusual foundation rule: instead of always starting on an Ace, foundations begin on a randomly determined base rank. The first card dealt to the foundation area sets that rank for all four suits — so if a 7 of hearts is turned up, all four foundations start on 7 and build upward in wrapping order (7→8→9→10→J→Q→K→A→2→3→4→5→6).

This single rule change transforms the entire strategic landscape compared to Klondike. No Ace is automatically foundationed at the start, every rank is equally important (depending on the base), and the tableau must be managed around a wrapping cycle rather than a linear Ace-to-King path.

Full rules

The 52-card deck is dealt into seven tableau columns in a Klondike-style triangle. The 29th card is placed face-up to start one of the four foundations and establish the base rank. Three remaining cards form the initial reserve; the rest form the stock.

Tableau sequences build downward in alternating colors. Empty columns accept any card. The stock deals one card at a time to each of several reserve piles (implementations vary); reserve top cards are available to play. Foundations build by suit in wrapping order from the base rank. Win by moving all 52 cards to the four foundations.

How Agnes differs from Klondike and Canfield

Klondike always starts foundations on Aces. Agnes randomizes the start rank — the same mechanic Canfield uses. Unlike Canfield’s 13-card reserve and draw-three stock, Agnes uses a Klondike-style triangle deal and a simpler reserve structure.

The wrapping foundation sequence is Agnes’s most disorienting aspect for players who know Klondike. A card of rank 5 might be urgently needed for the foundation (if the base is 4) or completely unneeded for many turns (if the base is 6). Knowing the base rank and computing how far each suit has to go to wrap around is the essential planning task.

Read the full Agnes strategy guide →

Key strategic concepts

Determine the full wrapping sequence at the start of each game. If the base is 9, the order is 9→10→J→Q→K→A→2→3→4→5→6→7→8. This tells you which cards are immediately useful (10s are next) and which are far away (8s will be last).

Reserve management is critical. The reserve cards available for play change with each stock deal, and their timing relative to foundation readiness determines whether they become useful or burdensome. Prefer tableau moves that reveal hidden cards before using reserve cards on marginal improvements.

Klondike family variants

• Klondike — the standard version with Ace-based foundations and no reserve
• Canfield — same base-rank foundation concept; 13-card reserve, draw-three stock, wraparound sequences
• Westcliff — three cards per column, three-card stock draw, standard Ace foundations
• Easthaven — three-column deal, row-based stock deals to all columns simultaneously

Related games and reference

• Agnes strategy guide
• Canfield strategy guide
• Klondike strategy guide
• Solitaire glossary
• All solitaire games