Frog (also known as Toad) is an old French patience or

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 ...

card game which is played with two decks of

playing card A playing card is a piece of specially prepared card stock, heavy paper, thin cardboard, plastic-coated paper, cotton-paper blend, or thin plastic that is marked with distinguishing motifs. Often the front (face) and back of each card has a fi ...

s. It belongs to the same family of solitaire games as

Strategy Strategy (from Greek στρατηγία ''stratēgia'', "art of troop leader; office of general, command, generalship") is a general plan to achieve one or more long-term or overall goals under conditions of uncertainty. In the sense of the "art ...

, Sir Tommy,

Calculation A calculation is a deliberate mathematical process that transforms one or more inputs into one or more outputs or ''results''. The term is used in a variety of senses, from the very definite arithmetical calculation of using an algorithm, to th ...

, and

Puss in the Corner Puss in the Corner, also called Puss in Corner is a patience or solitaire card game that is played with a single pack of 52 playing cards. It is of the half-open, planner type and is a "thinly disguised variant of Sir Tommy," but with modificatio ...

. Game-play is like Sir Tommy, but with two decks, a fifth waste pile, and a Canfield-like reserve (referred to as the 'Frog'). In its native France it is known as ''Le Crapaud'' ("The Toad"). It is one of the few solitaire games that relies almost entirely on skill."Frog" (p.90) in ''The Little Book of Solitaire'', Running Press, 2002.

Rules

Thirteen cards are dealt face up to become the reserve, also known as the "Frog." Any aces that are about to be dealt are separated and placed in the foundations; they are not counted in the reserve count. Once the reserve is formed, it is then squared up (i. e. arranged to become one neat pile) and placed on the tableau face up. The aces that are separated in making the reserve are placed next to the reserve. In case there is no ace segregated in making the reserve, an ace is removed from the stock to become the first foundation. The foundations are built up regardless of suit up to kings. The aces already in the foundations can be built immediately while any ace that becomes available in the game is placed in the foundations. The cards are dealt one at a time onto one of five wastepiles. It is the player's discretion where each pile is placed as long as it is placed in one of only five wastepiles. The top cards of each wastepile is available for play to the foundations. The same goes for the top card of the reserve. However, once a card is in a wastepile, it stays there until it can be built on the foundations. Also, there is no redeal. The game ends long after the stock runs out. The game is won when all cards are built in the foundations. As in the other games mentioned above, it is a good idea to reserve a wastepile for both kings and queens and to build downwards whenever possible in order to win.

Variations

Fly is a solitaire card game which is played the same way as Frog. The difference is that the Aces are removed and placed in the foundations before the game begins. In this game, the reserve is called the "Fly."

Rules

Variations

References

See also