Rules for Agnes

Family: Klondike
Categories: Rewarding
Variants:
Also Known As:

Agnes is sort of a cross between Klondike, Canfield (because of the circular building), and King Albert (because of the reserve). It goes quickly, and it’s not unusual to win one game in five; some say one in three is possible.

Layout

Shuffle the deck and lay out seven tableau piles, fanned down. The first tableau has one card, the second two, the third three and so on, up to the seventh tableau which has seven cards. Lay seven cards face up in a row below the tableaus to form the reserve. (On the screen you will also see two empty spaces to one side, which are used when the final two cards are dealt.) Finally deal one card face up to start the first of the four foundations leaving the rest empty. Set the remainder of the deck aside for dealing.

Play

The foundations build up, following suit. The rank of the first card played onto any empty foundation pile must match the rank of the card placed on the first foundation in the initial layout. (For example, if the first card placed on a foundation pile is an eight, then eights must also be played onto the other empty foundations.) Building is circular, with Ace following King. The top cards of all other piles are available for building onto the foundations.

The tableaus build down, alternating red and black. Again building is circular, with King following Ace. The top card of each reserve pile, and full builds from the tableaus, may be built onto the tableaus. Empty tableaus may be filled only by a card (or a build starting with a card) whose rank is one less than the first foundation card. For example, if the first foundation card is an eight, then only sevens and builds beginning with sevens can be played onto an empty foundation.

No cards may be played onto the reserves, except by dealing.

Dealing

Whenever you wish, deal one card face up onto each reserve pile without regard for suit or rank. After the second time that you deal, there will be only two cards left in the deck; these also are turned face up and made available for play.

Goal

The goal is to move all the cards onto the foundations.

Tips

It’s usually best to reveal face-down cards in the tableau whenever possible. But keep an eye on your reserves: they can get as much as three cards deep after the second deal, and those cards can be difficult to clear out. So try also to play cards from the reserve when you can, so that subsequent deals won’t bury reserve cards that you may need soon.

Build the foundations evenly, unless you need to dig into the tableau and the foundation is the only place to put the displaced cards.