How to Play Accordion Solitaire

Accordion solitaire is a patience game using a single deck of playing cards, where you try to compress the deck into one pile. The best way to form an accodion solitaire strategy is to try something new, stick with it for a few games, then go on to test another strategy. See what works for you and what doesn't.

Accordion Solitaire Rules

| Players: 1 | Type: Solitaire | Supplies: 1 Deck |

Objective

The objective of Accordion is to consolidate all cards in one pile.

Setup

Deal the cards one by one, face up, from left to right, as space permits. If you need to make multiple rows, you may. The first card on the left of the second row is considered one space to the right of the last card on the first row. Additional rows continue to follow this pattern: the first card on the left of the row is considered one space to the right of the last card on the row above it.

Game Play

Any card may be placed on top of the card to its left, or the third card to its left, as long as the cards are of the same suit or rank. If a card qualifies for being moved, it is your choice whether or not you move it. When the movement of one or more cards has formed a pile, the entire pile is moved solely based on the top card of the pile. All cards underneath are ignored yet are still moved with the top card.

For example, you could move the 9 of hearts from the bottom row one space to the left onto the 2 of hearts, since they both share the same suit. The 2 of hearts is now considered out of play. Following this, you could move the 9 of spades three spaces to the left onto the 9 of hearts, since they share the same rank. Now the 2 of hearts and the 9 of hearts are out of play and in a pile underneath the 9 of spades.

Gaps will appear in the tableau each time a card or pile is moved. You can either ignore the gaps when counting spaces or choose to shift all cards to the left to close the gaps. When there are no more moves, the game is over.

To Win