Solitaire Terms Explained: A Complete Glossary for Every Player

FAQs

• What is the tableau in solitaire?

  
  The tableau is the main seven-column grid from which you perform most of your sorting operations. The objective in the tableau is to reveal any concealed cards and arrange them in decreasing order of their value in alternating colors until they can be transferred to the foundations.

• What is the difference between the stock and the waste pile in solitaire?

  
  The stockpile lies face down and contains all the backup cards not distributed during the initial setup. The waste pile sits face up and holds the cards you have drawn from the stock pile but have not yet integrated into the main board.

• What does "building" mean in solitaire?

  
  Building refers to arranging cards in accordance with the rules of the game being played. In the context of the tableau, building involves arranging cards vertically in alternating colors. On the foundations, building means stacking cards upward from Ace to King while matching the specific suit of the pile.

• What is the foundation in solitaire?

  
  The foundation consists of four designated slots located at the top of your layout. The game is successfully won when you manage to transfer all 52 cards from the playing area into these four slots, organized neatly by suit from Ace to King.

• What is a sequence in solitaire?

  
  A sequence refers to a set of cards laid out in numerical order consecutively. The requirement for such a sequence varies based on their position on the board. A good sequence could involve alternate cards of descending color or same suit cards in ascending order. It is useful in both serious and casual games.