How to Play Simple Simon
Simple Simon is a solo patience that’s fun to learn and really satisfying when you clear the table. If you like sorting and planning, this guide will get you started — and you can find more beginner help at Playmore.
Quick facts
| Game | Type | Players | Deck | Goal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Simple Simon | British patience | 1 | One 52-card French-suited deck (standard) | Move same-suit descending sequences and complete four suit foundations |
What you are trying to do
Your main job is to build long descending runs of cards in the same suit and then move completed suit runs into the foundations. You’ll expose hidden cards as you clear piles. The round finishes when the four full suit foundations are complete or when no legal moves remain.
What you need and how to set up
You only need a single, normal 52-card French-suited deck. No special cards are required. Typical play uses a number of tableau piles with some cards face-down and others face-up so you can work to reveal them.
Exact setup (how many piles and which cards start face-down) varies between rule sources. For a safe beginner start, deal several tableau columns with at least one face-up card each so you can immediately find moves. Check the authoritative or regional rules for the exact official layout before playing a specific version.
How to play
- Look at the face-up cards across the tableau. You can place a card onto another card that continues a descending sequence in the same suit (for example, placing the 9 of hearts onto the 10 of hearts). Move single cards or whole same-suit sequences when the rules allow.
- If you can create a longer same-suit run by moving a sequence onto another compatible card, do so. Long runs are powerful because they free more cards underneath.
- When you clear the cards covering a face-down card, flip that card face-up right away. Revealing hidden cards is key to finding new moves.
- Empty tableau spaces are important. Use them to rearrange runs or to temporarily store cards while you break up blocks. How empty spaces may be filled can be version-dependent; check the rules you’re following.
- When you complete a full descending run of a suit (from its highest card down to its lowest, according to the version you play), move that run to a foundation. The aim is to build four foundations, one per suit.
- Keep repeating these moves: build same-suit sequences, move them to free cards, expose hidden cards, and transfer completed suit runs to the foundations until you finish or get stuck.
How a round or game ends
A successful round ends when all four foundations are complete (each suit collected in the required sequence). If you reach a point where no legal moves remain and the foundations aren’t complete, the game ends in an unsuccessful finish. Exact definitions of a complete run or allowed moves can vary by source, so confirm the version you want to play.
Beginner tips
- Work to expose face-down cards quickly; new cards create new possibilities.
- Prefer making long same-suit runs rather than many short mixed moves.
- Use empty spaces carefully — they let you reorganize the tableau.
- Think a few moves ahead before breaking a long run; sometimes a sacrifice uncovers many cards.
- If you’re learning, play slowly and try different rearrangements when stuck to see what opens up.
FAQ
Do I need a special deck?
No. Simple Simon uses one standard 52-card French-suited deck. You don’t need any custom cards or jokers.
Can I move mixed-suit sequences?
The beginner focus of Simple Simon is moving same-suit descending sequences. Some rule sets allow shifting parts of mixed stacks under certain conditions; others do not. Check the official or regional rules for the exact allowances your group is using.
What should I do if I get stuck?
If no legal moves remain before the foundations are complete, the round ends. When practicing, try undoing a few recent moves or restarting and choosing different early plays. You can also use house rules while learning, but consult the authoritative rules for formal play.