Backbone is a unique and difficult

solitaire Solitaire is any tabletop game which one can play by oneself, usually with cards, but also with dominoes. The term "solitaire" is also used for single-player games of concentration and skill using a set layout tiles, pegs or stones. These game ...

game using two decks of playing cards. The object of this game is to move all cards to the

Foundations Foundation may refer to: * Foundation (nonprofit), a type of charitable organization ** Foundation (United States law), a type of charitable organization in the U.S. ** Private foundation, a charitable organization that, while serving a good cause ...

.Schaffer, L. "How to Play Backbone Solitaire." Hobby Hub 360. HELIUM, INC., n.d. Web. 25 Oct. 2013.

Rules

In the center are two

Reserve Reserve or reserves may refer to: Places * Reserve, Kansas, a US city * Reserve, Louisiana, a census-designated place in St. John the Baptist Parish * Reserve, Montana, a census-designated place in Sheridan County * Reserve, New Mexico, a US vi ...

Stacks to form the "Backbone". At the bottom of the "Backbone", there is a card that overlaps both

Stacks. This card must be played before the remaining "Backbone" cards can be played. On each side of the "Backbone" are four

Tableau Tableau (French for 'little table' literally, also used to mean 'picture'; tableaux or, rarely, tableaus) may refer to: Arts * ''Tableau'', a series of four paintings by Piet Mondrian titled ''Tableau I'' through to ''Tableau IV'' * ''Tableau viv ...

Stacks to form the "Ribs". The Deck is present towards the bottom right. File:Backbone (solitaire) Layout.jpg, Backbone Layout Backbone has eight

that build up from Ace to King in suit, e.g. A♣, 2♣, 3♣, 4♣... Cards in the "Backbone" can be moved to a

Foundation Foundation may refer to: * Foundation (nonprofit), a type of charitable organization ** Foundation (United States law), a type of charitable organization in the U.S. ** Private foundation, a charitable organization that, while serving a good cause ...

Stack. The card at the base of the "Backbone" (the

Coccyx The coccyx ( : coccyges or coccyxes), commonly referred to as the tailbone, is the final segment of the vertebral column in all apes, and analogous structures in certain other mammals such as horses. In tailless primates (e.g. humans and othe ...

or "tailbone" card) must be moved before the "Backbone" cards can be played. The

builds down in suit, e.g. 7♥, 6♥, 5♥... An emptied stack can be filled with any card from the "Backbone" or Deck. The stock is dealt one card at a time, and only two passes through the deck are allowed, making this a difficult game to win. The game is won after all the cards have been moved to the

Variations

In the Aisleriot (Linux app) version of the game, cards from the Backbone cannot be played onto an empty stack. They must be played onto another card in either the Tableau on the Foundation. Thus, a King in the Backbone can only be played onto a Queen on a Foundation stack. This makes the game not only tougher, but also more challenging in the use of strategy.

References

Bibliography

* Dalton, Basil. ''The Complete Patience Book'' * Parlett, David. ''The Penguin Book of Patience'' * Pritchard, D.B. ''Patience Games'' {{Patience Double-deck patience card games Mobile games Reserved packers

Rules

Variations

See also

References

Bibliography