Clock Patience, a solitary card game that requires astute observation and logical deduction, is not for the faint of heart. With its intricate rules and challenging gameplay, this game will test your mental agility and patience like no other. As you embark on this enigmatic journey, be prepared to unravel the secrets of time and emerge victorious from the intricate web of cards.
The clock, a symbol of time’s relentless march, serves as the game’s central motif. Imagine a clock face divided into 12 sections, each representing an hour. As the game unfolds, you will meticulously place cards onto the clock, forming sequences based on their suits and ranks. But beware, the clock’s ticking is unforgiving, and the consequences of misplaced cards can be dire. Every move you make will determine the fate of your temporal puzzle.
Clock Patience is a game of calculated risks and strategic foresight. As you progress, you will encounter obstacles and dead ends that will challenge your resolve. However, with unwavering determination and a keen eye for detail, you can triumph over time itself. Each successful sequence brings you closer to the ultimate goal: completing the entire clock face and mastering the enigmatic dance of cards.
Setting Up the Game
Materials
To play Clock Patience, you will need:
- A deck of standard playing cards (52 cards)
- A flat surface with plenty of space
Creating the Clock
Begin by placing an ace in the center of the playing surface. This card represents the 12 o’clock position on the clock.
Next, place the remaining aces around the center card in a clockwise direction, forming the 1 o’clock, 2 o’clock, and so on, positions. Each ace represents an hour on the clock.
Surrounding the aces, arrange the remaining cards in piles, each representing a different suit. Place one pile at each of the 2 o’clock, 4 o’clock, 6 o’clock, 8 o’clock, and 10 o’clock positions. These piles will serve as the “suit piles.”
Fill each suit pile with all the cards of that suit, starting with the 2s and working upwards to the kings. For example, the 2 of spades goes in the 2 o’clock pile, the 3 of spades goes in the 4 o’clock pile, and so on.
Dealing the Cards
To begin a game of Clock Patience, shuffle a standard deck of 52 cards and create a 13-card tableau by dealing four overlapping piles of cards face down. The top card of each pile should be face up.
Next, create a four-suit foundation by placing the four Aces in a row above the tableau. As you play, build each foundation suit in ascending order, from Ace to King.
The remaining cards form the stock pile, which is placed face down to the left of the tableau. Turn the top three cards of the stock pile face up to create the waste pile. The cards in the waste pile can be moved to the tableau or foundations as needed.
Table: Tableau Layout
| Pile 1 | Pile 2 | Pile 3 | Pile 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 cards face down, 1 card face up | 3 cards face down, 1 card face up | 2 cards face down, 1 card face up | 1 card face down, 1 card face up |
Creating the Foundations
The first step in playing Clock Patience is to create the foundations. These are four piles of cards, one for each suit. The foundations are built by stacking cards of the same suit in ascending order, starting with the Ace and ending with the King.
To build the foundations, start by placing any Aces that you have in your hand onto the foundation piles. Then, look through the remaining cards in your hand for any cards that can be placed on the foundations. For example, if you have the 2 of Hearts, you can place it on the Heart foundation pile.
If you don’t have any cards that can be placed on the foundations, you can start building the tableau piles. The tableau piles are the seven piles of cards that are laid out in a row in front of you. To start building the tableau piles, deal three cards face down onto each pile. Then, deal one card face up on top of each pile.
The tableau piles are built by stacking cards of the same suit in descending order, with the King on the bottom and the Ace on the top. However, there is one exception to this rule: you can place a card on a tableau pile that is one rank lower than the card on the top of the pile, regardless of suit.
| Foundation Piles | Tableau Piles |
|---|---|
| 4 piles, one for each suit | 7 piles, 3 cards face down, 1 card face up |
| Built by stacking cards of the same suit in ascending order | Built by stacking cards of the same suit in descending order |
| Exception: you can place a card on a foundation pile that is one rank lower than the card on the top of the pile, regardless of suit |
Moving Cards to the Foundations
The foundations are the four piles located at the top of the tableau. They are built up in suit from Ace to King. Use these steps to move cards from the tableau to the foundations:
1. Identify Cards
Look for cards in the tableau that match the suit of the top card on any of the foundations. For example, if the top card on the foundation for hearts is a 4, you can move any heart cards from the tableau to that foundation.
2. Check for Empty Foundations
If an Ace is available in the tableau, place it on an empty foundation to start building that suit.
3. Move Cards In Sequence
Once a foundation has been started, you can move cards from the tableau in ascending sequence. For instance, if the top card on the heart foundation is a 4, you can move any 5, 6, or 7 of hearts from the tableau to the foundation.
4. Multiple Foundations
You can have multiple foundations going at once. If you have more than one Ace available, place them on different foundations to start building multiple suits. As you move cards to the foundations, it will create more spaces in the tableau, making it easier to move cards around and complete the game.
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | Identify cards that match the suit of the top card on any of the foundations. |
| 2 | Check for empty foundations and place Aces to start building those suits. |
| 3 | Move cards from the tableau in ascending sequence to the appropriate foundation. |
| 4 | Keep multiple foundations going at once if possible, as it creates more spaces in the tableau. |
Clearing the Tableau
Clearing the tableau in Clock Patience is crucial to winning the game. The tableau consists of 12 piles of cards, each containing 4 cards, except for the first pile, which has only 1 card. The goal is to move all of the cards to the foundation piles in ascending order by suit.
There are a few different strategies for clearing the tableau. One common strategy is to start by focusing on clearing the piles that have the most face-up cards. This will give you more options for moving cards and make it easier to find matches. Another strategy is to try to clear the piles in order, starting with the first pile. This can be helpful if you are having trouble finding matches in the other piles.
5. Building Sequences
Building sequences is another important part of clearing the tableau. A sequence is a group of cards that are in the same suit and in ascending order. You can build sequences by moving cards from the tableau to the foundation piles or by moving cards from one tableau pile to another. When you build a sequence, you will open up more spaces in the tableau, which will make it easier to move cards around.
| Example |
|---|
| You can build a sequence of hearts by moving the 2 of hearts from the tableau to the foundation pile. You can then move the 3 of hearts from the tableau to the 2 of hearts to create a sequence of 2-3 of hearts. |
Blocking Moves
Blocking moves are used to prevent the opponent from making progress by covering their pieces and cutting off their mobility. There are several types of blocking moves:
Single Block
A single block involves placing a single piece on a square adjacent to an opponent’s piece, preventing it from moving in that direction.
Double Block
A double block involves placing two pieces on squares adjacent to an opponent’s piece, effectively cutting off two of its possible escape routes.
Triangle Block
A triangle block involves placing three pieces in a triangle formation around an opponent’s piece, preventing it from moving in any direction.
Corner Block
A corner block involves placing a piece on a corner square adjacent to an opponent’s piece, preventing it from moving in three of the four directions.
Edge Block
An edge block involves placing a piece on an edge square adjacent to an opponent’s piece, preventing it from moving in two of the four directions.
King Block
A king block involves placing a king on a square adjacent to an opponent’s piece, preventing it from moving in any direction. This is the most effective blocking move as it completely immobilizes the opponent’s piece.
|
Blocking Type|
Description|
|
————–|
————-|
|
Single Block |
Prevents opponent’s piece from moving in one direction.|
|
Double Block |
Prevents opponent’s piece from moving in two directions.|
|
Triangle Block |
Prevents opponent’s piece from moving in three directions.|
|
Corner Block|
Prevents opponent’s piece from moving in three directions.|
|
Edge Block |
Prevents opponent’s piece from moving in two directions.|
|
King Block|
Prevents opponent’s piece from moving in any direction.|
Dealing from the Stockpile
After you have completed the initial layout, you will need to deal cards from the stockpile to the tableau piles. Here’s how to do it:
1. Determine the Number of Cards to Deal
The number of cards to deal depends on the number of foundations you have completed. Refer to the following table:
| Foundations Completed | Cards to Deal from Stockpile |
|---|---|
| 0 | 1 |
| 1 | 2 |
| 2 | 3 |
| 3 | 4 |
| 4 | 5 |
2. Selecting Cards from the Stockpile
Once you know how many cards to deal, select them from the top of the stockpile. Make sure to follow these rules:
- Kings cannot be placed on the tableau.
- Cards must be in descending order, alternating colors (e.g., red 10, black 9, red 8).
3. Placing Cards on Tableau Piles
Place the cards you selected from the stockpile on the tableau piles. If a card cannot be placed on any pile, place it face down at the bottom of the stockpile.
Using the Talon
Once the talon is empty, it’s time to use it! Here’s how:
1. Check the Remaining Cards
Count the remaining cards in the tableau and the stock pile. If there are a total of eight cards left, you can flip the talon over.
2. Flip the Talon
If there are eight cards left, flip the talon over to reveal the remaining cards. Place them face up beside the talon pile, creating a new stack.
3. Deal the Talon
Deal the cards from the new talon stack onto the tableau, following the same rules as the initial deal. This will continue until the talon is empty again.
4. Continue the Game
Once the talon is empty a second time, the game continues as before. Players build sequences and move cards between the tableau and foundation piles.
Tip:
If the talon is flipped over but there are not eight cards left, leave the talon face up and continue playing. You’ll be able to access it again once enough cards have been removed from the tableau and stock pile.
Table: Summary of Talon Usage
| Number of Cards Remaining | Action |
|---|---|
| 8 | Flip the talon over and deal the cards onto the tableau |
| Less than 8 | Leave the talon face up and continue playing |
Winning the Game
The goal of Clock Patience is to move all the cards to the four foundation piles in ascending order, from Ace to King. Once all the cards are in the foundation piles, you have won the game.
There are a few different ways to win Clock Patience. One way is to move the cards one at a time, starting with the Aces and working your way up to the Kings. Another way is to use the “build” feature to move multiple cards at once. To build, simply click and drag a card onto another card of the same suit that is one rank higher. You can continue building until you reach a King, at which point you must move the entire stack to the foundation pile.
If you get stuck, you can use the “hint” feature to get a suggestion for a move. You can also use the “undo” feature to undo your last move.
Here are some tips for winning Clock Patience:
- Start with the Aces and work your way up to the Kings.
- Use the “build” feature to move multiple cards at once.
- Use the “hint” feature to get suggestions for moves.
- Use the “undo” feature to undo your last move.
- Don’t be afraid to start over if you get stuck.
| Rank | Number of Cards |
|---|---|
| Ace | 4 |
| 2 | 4 |
| 3 | 4 |
| 4 | 4 |
| 5 | 4 |
| 6 | 4 |
| 7 | 4 |
| 8 | 4 |
| 9 | 4 |
| 10 | 4 |
| Jack | 4 |
| Queen | 4 |
| King | 4 |
Variations of Clock Patience
There are numerous variations of Clock Patience, each with its own unique rules and challenges. Here are a few popular variations:
Play in a Circle
Instead of playing on a linear path, this variation is played in a circular pattern. Players start at the 12 o’clock card and move clockwise or counterclockwise around the clock.
Use Two Decks
This variation increases the difficulty by using two decks of cards. Aces are counted as 1 and can be built on each other, but they cannot be moved between decks.
One-Handed Clock Patience
This variation is a challenge for the skilled. Players can only use one hand to move cards and build the piles. This requires dexterity and careful planning.
Aces Down Clock Patience
Instead of starting with the aces in the center, this variation begins with them on the tableau piles. The goal is to move the aces down to the center pile and build sequences on top of them.
Palindromic Clock Patience
This variation is played backwards from the traditional game. Players start with the ace on the 6 o’clock card and build sequences going up and down the clock.
Peg Clock Patience
This variation uses small pegs instead of cards. Players insert pegs into the holes around the clock and move them to build sequences. This version is often played with children.
Royal Clock Patience
In this variation, only face cards are used. Players can build sequences on the kings and move cards between the piles to create the correct order.
Randomized Clock Patience
This variation starts with the cards shuffled and placed randomly around the clock. Players must then sort the cards into the correct sequences.
Clock Solitaire with Jokers
Jokers are added to the deck in this variation. They can be used as wild cards to represent any card or to fill in gaps in sequences.
| Variation | Description |
|---|---|
| Play in a Circle | Played in a circular pattern instead of a linear path. |
| Use Two Decks | Uses two decks of cards, increasing difficulty. |
| One-Handed Clock Patience | Played using only one hand, requiring dexterity and planning. |
| Aces Down Clock Patience | Aces start on the tableau piles and must be moved down to the center. |
| Palindromic Clock Patience | Played backwards from the traditional game, starting with the ace at 6 o’clock. |
| Peg Clock Patience | Uses pegs instead of cards, suitable for children. |
| Royal Clock Patience | Uses only face cards, with sequences built on kings. |
| Randomized Clock Patience | Starts with cards shuffled and placed randomly around the clock. |
| Clock Solitaire with Jokers | Jokers are added as wild cards to fill in gaps or represent any card. |
Clock Patience How To Play
Clock Patience is a fun and challenging card game that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. The goal of the game is to move all of the cards from the tableau to the foundations in ascending order, suit by suit. The game is played with a standard deck of 52 cards.
To set up the game, first shuffle the deck and deal 12 cards face up to form the tableau. The remaining cards form the stock.
The game is played by moving cards from the tableau to the foundations or to each other. Cards can only be moved to the foundations if they are the same suit and one rank higher than the card that is already there. Cards can only be moved to each other if they are the same suit and one rank lower than the card that is already there.
If there are no moves that can be made, the player can draw three cards from the stock. If the player can make a move with one of the cards, they can do so. If not, the cards are placed at the bottom of the stock.
The game is won when all of the cards have been moved from the tableau to the foundations.
People Also Ask About Clock Patience How To Play
How do you win Clock Patience?
You win Clock Patience by moving all of the cards from the tableau to the foundations in ascending order, suit by suit.
What is the point of Clock Patience?
The point of Clock Patience is to test your patience and skill. The game can be challenging, but it is also very rewarding when you finally win.
How long does it take to play Clock Patience?
The length of time it takes to play Clock Patience varies depending on how well you are at the game. A beginner can expect to take around 30 minutes to play a game, while a more experienced player can finish in as little as 15 minutes.
