How to Play Fan
Fan is a calm, single-player patience that looks neat on the table and teaches careful planning. If you like quiet card puzzles, this guide from Playmore will get you started with the basics.
| Quick facts | |
|---|---|
| Game | Fan |
| Family | European patience |
| Players | 1 |
| Deck | Single standard 52-card deck |
| Setup type | Fan-shaped tableau with restricted movement |
| Difficulty | Easy–Medium (good for beginners) |
What you are trying to do
Your main goal is to expose and move cards so you can build the final stacks (foundations) that complete each suit. You will work from a fan-shaped tableau where only certain cards are playable. Exact building direction and allowed transfers vary by version, so check the authoritative rules for the precise version you want to play.
What you need and how to set up
Use one normal 52-card deck. Shuffle well. Deal the cards into a fan-shaped tableau. That means several small piles arranged like a hand-held fan so you can see and reach each pile easily.
How many piles and whether you deal all cards at once depends on the version you follow. In every case, you will generally expose the top card of each pile and leave lower cards covered. Keep spare space for foundation piles where you will collect completed suit stacks.
How to play
- Look at the top card of every fan pile. Any card that can legally go to a foundation or another pile is a candidate to move.
- Move playable top cards to the foundations when allowed. Foundations are usually built up by suit, but check your exact rules first.
- If your rules permit fan-to-fan transfers, move a single top card from one fan to another when it helps free a buried card. Many Fan rules restrict these moves, so only do what your version allows.
- After each move, reveal the new top card of that pile. That card may open new moves to foundations or other piles.
- Continue making legal moves until you cannot move any top card. Some versions allow redeals or passes; others do not. Follow the version you chose.
- If you get stuck and no moves remain under your version’s rules, the game ends and you tally success by how many foundation cards you built.
How a round or game ends
The round ends when you have no legal moves left under the rule set you are using. A complete win usually means all cards are built onto the foundations. Many rulesets differ on redeals, passes, and exact win conditions, so check the authoritative version for the exact end conditions your group prefers.
Beginner tips
- Keep your table tidy so you can spot every top card easily.
- Prioritize moves that free buried cards over cosmetic moves.
- When in doubt, move to a foundation rather than rearranging tableau piles—foundations are usually the long-term goal.
- If your group uses a house rule for redeals, test both with and without it to see which you like.
- Play slowly. Patience games reward careful planning and seeing a few moves ahead.
FAQ
How many players can play Fan?
Fan is a solo patience designed for one player.
Do I need a special deck?
No. Use a standard 52-card deck. No special cards or purchases are required.
Is Fan the same as La Belle Lucie?
No. They are related patience families, but Fan has its own fan-shaped tableau and specific movement limits. Rules vary between versions, so check the authoritative rules your group prefers for exact differences.