Frog Solitaire, also known as Patience Frog or La Grenouille, is a captivating patience card game played with a single standard 52-card deck. The primary goal of the game is to move all cards from the tableau, reserve, and stock to the four foundation piles.
How to Set Up Frog Solitaire
Setting up Frog Solitaire involves arranging the cards into distinct piles:
- Foundations: Identify the four aces from the deck. These aces are immediately placed separately to form the base of your four foundation piles. Each foundation will be built up in ascending order by suit (Ace, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, Jack, Queen, King).
- The Frog (Reserve): Thirteen cards are dealt face up to become the reserve, also known as the "Frog." It's important to note that any aces that are encountered during this dealing process are separated and placed directly into the foundations; they are not counted towards the 13 cards for the reserve. Once the thirteen non-ace cards are dealt to form the Frog, this pile is then squared up and placed face up. The top card of this pile is always available for play.
- Tableau: Seven tableau piles are created. Similar to Klondike Solitaire, cards are dealt in an increasing manner, with the first pile receiving one card, the second two, and so on, until the seventh pile has seven cards. Only the top card of each tableau pile is dealt face up, with the cards beneath it remaining face down.
- Stock and Waste: The remaining cards form the stock pile, placed face down. During gameplay, cards are drawn from the stock to form a waste pile, where the top card is available for play.
Playing Frog Solitaire: Rules and Mechanics
The gameplay revolves around strategically moving cards between the various piles to eventually build up the foundations.
Table: Frog Solitaire Pile Overview
| Pile Type | Description | Building Rules |
|---|---|---|
| Foundations | Four piles, starting with an Ace of each suit. | Built up in ascending order (A to K) by suit. |
| The Frog | A reserve pile of 13 face-up cards. Aces encountered during dealing are moved to foundations. The top card is always available. | The top card can be moved to foundations or the tableau. The pile is not refilled. |
| Tableau | Seven piles, with the top card face up. | Built down in descending order, typically by alternating colors (e.g., a Red 8 on a Black 9). Only the top card or a sequence of cards can be moved. |
| Stock | The remaining face-down deck. | Cards are drawn from the stock to the waste pile, usually one or three at a time. |
| Waste | Cards drawn from the stock. | The top card is available for play to the foundations or tableau. |
Here's how cards can be moved:
- To Foundations:
- Cards can be moved from the tableau, the Frog, or the waste pile to the foundations if they follow the ascending suit sequence (e.g., a 4 of Hearts can be placed on a 3 of Hearts).
- Within the Tableau:
- Cards can be moved from one tableau pile to another to create descending sequences of alternating colors (e.g., a Red 7 can be placed on a Black 8).
- You can move single cards or complete sequences of face-up cards as a unit.
- If a face-down card is exposed in a tableau pile, it is immediately flipped face up.
- An empty tableau pile can only be filled with a King or a sequence of cards starting with a King.
- From the Frog (Reserve):
- The top card of the Frog pile is always available to be moved to either a foundation pile or a tableau pile.
- Once a card is moved from the Frog, the space it occupied is not refilled. This pile depletes as cards are used.
- From Stock to Waste:
- You can draw cards from the stock pile to the waste pile. Depending on the variant, you might draw one card at a time or three cards at a time. Only the top card of the waste pile is available for play.
- Once the stock is exhausted, you may often cycle through the waste pile (flipping it over to form a new stock) a limited number of times, or sometimes infinitely, depending on the specific rules of the variant.
Winning the Game
You win Frog Solitaire by successfully moving all 52 cards from the tableau, the Frog, and the waste/stock piles to the four foundation piles, with each foundation built up sequentially from Ace to King in its respective suit.
Tips for Playing Frog Solitaire
- Prioritize uncovering hidden cards: Always aim to expose face-down cards in the tableau, as this increases your options.
- Utilize the Frog: Don't forget about the Frog pile. Its top card is often a crucial move.
- Think ahead: Before making a move, consider its implications for future plays. Can moving a card unlock other opportunities or trap you?
- Empty tableau columns wisely: An empty tableau column is valuable because it can only be filled with a King (or a sequence starting with a King), which can help untangle difficult situations.
- Move cards to foundations whenever possible: Unless a card is strategically needed to unlock other cards in the tableau, move it to a foundation to clear up space and advance towards winning.
By understanding these rules and employing strategic thinking, you can enjoy the engaging challenge of Frog Solitaire. For more details on patience games, you can explore resources like Wikipedia's page on Solitaire or specialized card game websites.
