How to Play Agnes
Agnes is a quiet, thoughtful patience you can play alone. This guide walks you through the basics in a friendly way, and you can find more guides and tips at Playmore.
Quick facts
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Game | Agnes |
| Family | British/American patience |
| Players | 1 |
| Deck | One normal 52-card deck |
| Focus | Tableau-building with a variable foundation start and a staggered tableau deal |
What you are trying to do
Your big goal is to move all the cards onto the foundations. Each foundation starts from a particular card and is then built in a steady sequence by suit. The puzzle is to free and move cards from the tableau so they can go to the foundations. Exact foundation starting ranks and whether you build up or down can vary by version, so check the authoritative rules for the precise version you want to play.
What you need and how to set up
You need a single, standard 52-card deck. No special cards are required. The hallmark of Agnes is a tableau dealt in a staggered or stepped pattern and foundations that start from one or more specific cards rather than always from aces.
Common setup steps players use:
- Shuffle the 52 cards well.
- Deal the tableau into a series of columns in a staggered layout so many cards are face up but some are partly covered. The exact number of columns and the number of cards in each column varies by house or published version.
- Set aside foundation spaces — some versions place initial cards directly on foundations during the deal, others wait to flip them from the stock.
Because versions differ on the exact deal and which card starts each foundation, check the official or regional rules for the exact deal pattern you want to use.
How to play
- Look for any card that can be moved onto a foundation. Foundations are built by suit in a steady sequence (the starting rank and direction may vary by version).
- In the tableau you usually build by moving cards onto other tableau piles to expose new face-up cards. Whether you build by alternating color, same suit, or in a strict sequence depends on the version you play.
- You may move only the top card of a pile, or you may be allowed to move a sequence of cards together — this rule also varies by version.
- If the game has a stock or reserve, draw cards when you have no useful moves in the tableau. Use drawn cards to continue building foundations or to reorganize the tableau.
- When a tableau column becomes empty, place a card there according to your version’s rule (some versions only allow certain cards into empty spaces).
- Repeat: move cards to foundations whenever possible, rearrange tableau cards to free buried cards, and draw from the stock as allowed until no moves remain or you finish all foundations.
How a round or game ends
The usual win condition is to have every card on the foundations. If no legal moves remain and the stock (if any) is exhausted, the game is over and you haven’t won. Exact end conditions and redeal or rescue options differ between published rules. Check the authoritative rules for the version you’re following.
Beginner tips
- Expose buried cards early. Freeing face-down or covered cards creates new moves.
- Move to foundations when it won’t block an important card you need to continue building elsewhere.
- Keep an empty tableau column if your version rewards empties; they are powerful for re-organizing cards.
- When allowed, moving a sequence is stronger than moving a single card. Learn the sequence rule for your version.
- Work on making long runs to foundations rather than short local moves that don’t expose new cards.
- If you play on a computer or app, use undo to explore how different choices play out.
- Be patient. Agnes is a thinking solitaire; one careful move often opens many new ones.
FAQ
Do I need a special deck to play?
No. Agnes uses a single, standard 52-card deck. You can set it up from an ordinary deck you already own.
Can I move sequences between tableau piles?
That depends on the version you use. Some rules allow moving whole sequences, others only permit moving single top cards. Check the exact rule set for your chosen version.
What if I get stuck and can’t win?
If you get stuck, try undoing a recent move or restart and try different early choices. Some published versions allow redeals or other rescue options; follow the rules for the version you picked.