How to Play Cruel
Welcome — this guide will help you start playing Cruel, a patient and thoughtful solitaire. If you like learning card tricks and improving with each try, you'll enjoy it. For more beginner guides, visit Playmore.
Quick facts
| Game | Family | Typical players | Deck | Beginner focus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cruel | European patience | 1 | Standard 52-card deck (no special deck required) | Re-deals tableau packets without shuffling; unlike Klondike's stock |
What you are trying to do
The general goal in Cruel is to move cards into the foundation piles so the whole deck is organized there. You will manipulate the tableau and use re-deals of tableau packets to create new chances. Exact build rules and the order for foundations can vary by version, so check the official or regional rules for the precise details your group uses.
What you need and how to set up
You need a normal 52-card deck. No special cards are required. Set up the game according to the version you are using. In all versions you will deal a tableau (several piles of cards) and set aside space for foundation piles. The distinctive mechanic in Cruel is that when play stalls you can re-deal tableau packets back onto the piles without shuffling. Because versions differ, look up the exact deal pattern and the number of foundations before you start.
How to play
- Deal the initial layout your chosen rule set calls for. Leave room for the foundation piles and keep the remaining tableau piles visible.
- Look for legal moves. You may move top cards from tableau piles to foundations or onto other tableau piles following the build rules of your version.
- Move any card that can safely go to a foundation. Moving to foundations early can free up buried cards, but check rules about when it’s allowed.
- Use tableau moves to uncover and free buried cards. If sequences are allowed in your version, move them as permitted to create better access to needed cards.
- If you run out of useful moves on the tableau, perform a re-deal of the tableau packets. In Cruel, re-deals are done without shuffling: you gather and redeal the packets back across the tableau to rearrange the top cards and create new possibilities.
- After a re-deal, repeat steps 2–5. Keep using re-deals as allowed by your version until you either finish or cannot progress further.
How a round or game ends
Rounds end when either all cards have been placed correctly in the foundations or no legal moves remain after the final permitted re-deal. The exact win condition and limits on re-deals are version-dependent. Check the official or regional rules for the precise ending conditions used in your variant.
Beginner tips
- Expose buried cards as your priority. New cards revealed usually create new options.
- Use re-deals thoughtfully. A redeal reshuffles the top cards without shuffling the deck—treat it like a fresh chance to reorder the tableau.
- Don’t rush moving cards to foundations. If taking a card locks useful moves behind it, wait until you’ve freed needed cards.
- Keep track of which piles you pick up when redealing. Building a small plan for the next few moves helps when the tableau is reorganized.
- If you’re playing digitally, use undo to experiment and learn how redeals affect the layout.
FAQ
Do I need a special deck?
No. Cruel uses a standard 52-card deck. You can play with the normal deck you already have.
How many redeals am I allowed?
That varies by version. Some play with a fixed number of redeals, others allow more flexible redeals. Check the official rules or the version you prefer.
Can I move sequences or only single cards?
That is also version-dependent. Some variants allow moving built sequences; others only allow single-card moves. Confirm the rule set before you start.