How to Play Citadel
Citadel is a quiet, thoughtful patience from the British family of solitaire games. If you like arranging cards and solving little puzzles, this guide will get you started—visit Playmore for more beginner guides and tips.
Quick facts
| Game | Type | Players | Deck | Goal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Citadel | British patience (solitaire) | 1 | One normal 52-card deck | Build four foundations up by suit; build tableau down in alternating colors |
What you are trying to do
Your main aim is to move all cards onto four foundation piles. Each foundation is built upward by suit from a starting value. The tableau is where you rearrange cards. There you build piles down in alternating colors to free cards and make moves. Movement rules are restricted in Citadel, so you must plan carefully.
What you need and how to set up
All you need is one standard 52-card deck. Shuffle well. Different sources show slightly different layouts for Citadel. Generally you deal a number of tableau piles and leave space for four foundation piles. Any remaining cards form a stock or reserve, depending on the version you use. Because versions vary, check the authoritative rules for the exact initial layout and any special reserves before you start.
How to play
- Turn over the appropriate cards for the tableau as your chosen layout requires. Leave four empty foundation spaces where foundations will grow upward by suit.
- Look for cards that can move to foundations. Foundations are built up by suit. Move cards there when allowed and when it doesn’t block useful future plays.
- Build tableau piles down in alternating colors. You may only move permitted cards or permitted sequences; the exact limits on moving groups depend on the version you’re playing.
- If you can’t move, use the stock or reserve according to your version’s rules. That may mean dealing from the stock to a waste pile or turning over reserve cards to the tableau.
- When you clear a tableau space, follow the rule for filling it in your chosen version. Some versions limit which cards may fill empty piles; others are more flexible.
- Repeat moving between tableau and foundations, and using the stock or reserve, until no legal moves remain or you have placed all cards on the foundations.
How a round or game ends
A successful game ends when every card is on the four foundations, each built up by suit. If no legal moves remain before all cards reach the foundations, the round ends in a loss. Some rule sets allow redeals or special moves; those are version-dependent. Check the official rules for the exact win conditions and any scoring details.
Beginner tips
- Expose hidden tableau cards as soon as you can. The more face-up cards, the more options you have.
- Use the foundations wisely. Moving a card there can be permanent and might block useful tableau moves.
- Plan a few moves ahead. Because movement is restricted, one wrong move can cut off an entire stack.
- Be cautious about filling empty tableau spaces. Different versions allow different cards to fill gaps, so check your rules before committing.
- Practice different layouts if you like. Citadel has several regional versions, and short experiments teach which ones you prefer.
FAQ
Do I need a special deck?
No. Citadel uses one normal 52-card deck. You don’t need any special cards or equipment.
Can I move stacks of cards or only single cards?
That depends on the version. Many Citadel rules restrict moving sequences, while some allow moving built-down sequences. Check the authoritative rules for the exact movement limits for the version you play.
How do I know which layout to use?
Layouts vary by source. If you want the exact, traditional layout used by a specific rule set, consult the official rules for that version. Otherwise, try a common tableau-and-foundation layout and adjust as you learn what feels fun.