Use every tableau opportunity.
Duchess of Luynes uses two decks, four tableau piles, two reserve piles and eight Ace and King foundations. The reserves remain hidden until the stock runs out.
Last updated: September 2026
Use every tableau opportunity
Only the top of each tableau pile is available. Move a card to its Ace or King foundation whenever it fits, then inspect the newly exposed tableau top before dealing again.
Foundation bases are not predealt in Duchess of Luynes, so an Ace or King in the tableau may start a new suit direction.
Open the reserves
Each deal puts one card on every active pile. Reserve cards stay face down until the stock empties, then they turn face up and become playable.
Once open, any reserve card can go to a matching foundation. Survey the whole reserve before using a redeal, especially for bases that unlock a suit.
Manage the three redeals
The tableau and reserve can be gathered and dealt again up to three times. Later passes expose different tops from the same remaining cards.
On the third redeal, cards are dealt to the tableau only. The reserve no longer receives new cards, so plan to use its available cards before that final distribution.
Watch for foundation bases
The Ace and King foundations begin empty. An exposed base card is more than a single play: it creates a destination for an entire direction of its suit. Consider it before dealing another row.
When the reserve opens, search it for missing bases as well as the next ranks on established foundations. Playing one reserve card may reveal a tableau top that can also advance.
The last redeal deals only onto four tableau piles. If a needed base is still in the reserves, use its earlier appearance before committing to the final pass.