How to Play Big Ben Solitaire

Big Ben solitaire has a fun tableau design of a clock. Big Ben uses two decks of playing cards.

Big Ben Solitaire Rules

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

Objective

The objective of big ben solitaire is to build the foundation piles in suit until the circle of piles resembles a clock.

Setup

Twelve foundation piles are set up in a circle to resemble a clock. Starting from the top of the circle, the top card of the circle is a six of spades, then continuing clockwise, seven of hearts, eight of clubs, nine of diamonds, ten of spades, jack of hearts, queen of clubs, king of diamonds, two of spades, three of hearts, four of clubs, and finally five of diamonds.

Deal out twelve tableau piles of three face up cards each splayed down. Place the remaining cards face down in the center of the clock to form the stock.

Card Values

Ace: 1
2-10: Face value
Jack: 11
Queen: 12
King: King

Game Play

Build the foundation piles up in suit until the top card of the pile resembles the correct number of the position of a clock. Ace being 1, face value cards being face value, Jack being 11, and queen being 12. Only one available card may be moved to a foundation pile at a time.

The top card of each tableau pile is available for play either onto another tableau pile or onto a foundation pile. Tableau piles are built down in suit. When a tableau pile becomes empty, it is not refilled from other tableau piles or the stock.

The player may decide when to replenish the tableau piles. To refill the tableau piles, deal out one new card on top of each tableau pile until all tableau piles have three cards each. When there is not a sufficient number of cards in the stock to replenish all piles, use the remaining stock to replenish piles until the stock runs out.

When the stock runs out, there is one redeal. When you are ready, or there are no more moves available, to redeal, pick up all tableau piles and the waste pile, shuffle them, and deal out twelve tableau piles, once face up card at a time, until each pile has three cards. Play continues like normal until there are no more moves.

To Win

To win big ben solitaire, the foundation piles must be built up in suit until all cards are used and the circular foundation piles top card resemble a clock.