Classic Solitaire: La Grande Imperiale- Two Way

La Grande Imperiale - Two Way is a variation on on La Grande Imperiale that makes the game easier, and some would argue more interesting. It's still difficult though, and requires patience and planning.

Aim:

To build 4 same suit rows, going down in rank from King to 2.

How to Play:

The Aces are not used in this game.

The opening tableau ensures that all cards are visible at the start of play. The Aces are not used. The 48 cards are arranged into 4 rows. There will be 4 gaps.

Play proceeds by filling th gaps with cards from the tableau.

The rules for what card can be moved into a gap are:

1. If the gap is at the start of the row, then ANY of the Kings can be played into it.
2. Otherwise the card moved into the gap, must be the same suit, and one less than, the card to the left of the gap.
3. OR Must be the same suit, and one more than, the card to the right of the gap.

Strategy:

Try to plan moves ahead. When a gap opens in the first column, consider which King to use carefully. Some will not give you many moves, whilst other Kings will open up the tableau for you.

Example:

Suppose that the initial deal looks like this:

At this stage, there are 8 possibles moves...

• Move the Queen of Spades to the right of the King of Spades.
• Move the 8 of Diamonds to the right of the 9 of Diamonds.
• Move the 4 of Clubs to the right of the 5 of Clubs.
• Move the Queen of Diamonds to the right of the King of Diamonds.
• Move the Jack of Spades to the left of the 10 of spades
• Move the 6 of clubs to the left of the 7 of clubs
• Move the Jack of diamonds to the right of the 10 of diamonds
• Move the 3 of spades to the right of the 2 of spades

Suppose we move the Queen of Diamonds:

This opens up a new gap, where the Queen of Diamonds was before. So now the 2 of Hearts can be moved into that gap:

And now we might move the Jack of Diamonds, in front of the Queen of Diamonds:

More solitaire card game rules...