How to Play Sir Tommy
Sir Tommy is a small, quiet patience game you can learn in minutes. If you like simple solo card puzzles, this guide will help — and you can find more beginner guides at Playmore.
Quick facts
| Game | Type | Players | Deck | Starter setup |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sir Tommy | British patience | 1 | Standard 52-card deck (no jokers) | Build four foundation piles directly from the stock; no tableau |
What you are trying to do
Your goal is to move cards from the stock to four foundation piles until those piles are complete under the rules your group follows. In most versions you build each foundation by suit in sequence, but exact starting ranks or order can vary. This guide gives a safe beginner loop. Check your group’s official or regional rules for the exact building order and any special redeal rules.
What you need and how to set up
All you need is one regular 52-card deck and a flat surface. Shuffle well. Place four empty spaces on the table for the foundations. There is no tableau (no rows of cards to rearrange). Keep a small area for a waste or discard pile if your version uses one.
How to play
- Start with the shuffled deck face down as the stock.
- Turn cards from the top of the stock one at a time. Each turned card is eligible to be placed on any foundation if it follows the building rule your group uses (often same suit and next rank).
- If the card can’t be placed on a foundation, put it in the waste pile or set it aside according to your chosen version’s procedure.
- Continue turning cards and placing any that fit. Work through the stock once or more, depending on your agreed rules about redeals or recycling the waste.
- If a move later becomes available from the waste, move that card to the foundation when allowed. Keep looking for opportunities as foundations grow.
- Repeat the turn-and-place loop until you either complete the foundations or no more legal moves remain under your chosen rule set.
How a round or game ends
A round usually ends when all cards are built onto the four foundations and those piles are complete — that’s a win. It can also end when you reach the end of the stock and waste and no more legal placements are possible. Some versions allow redeals or recycling the waste; others do not. Because those details change by region and source, check the authoritative rules your group prefers for the exact end conditions.
Beginner tips
- Keep the four foundation spaces tidy so you can see suits and top cards at a glance.
- When you turn a card that can go to more than one foundation, pause and think which choice will free more future moves.
- Watch the waste pile: cards there may become useful later. If your version allows recycling, plan for which cards you want to keep accessible.
- Play a few practice rounds just to learn the flow. The rules are short, and patience games are about spotting slow opportunities.
- Always confirm which exact building order and redeal rules your group uses before you start, since small rule changes change strategy.
FAQ
Do I need a special deck?
No. Sir Tommy uses a standard 52-card deck with no jokers. You don’t need to buy anything special.
What if I don’t know the starting rank for foundations?
Different sources start foundations at different ranks. If you’re unsure, ask your group which version to play or check the official rules your group prefers before starting.
Can I redeal or recycle the waste?
Some versions allow recycling the waste or multiple passes through the stock; others don’t. Decide on that rule before you play and follow the authoritative rules for your chosen variant.
Have fun practicing — Sir Tommy is quick to learn and good for short solo breaks. If you want more one-player card games, explore the other guides at Playmore.