Play Alexander the Great Solitaire Online for Free (No Signup Required)

Twelve four-card fans, foundations climbing from Aces and counting down from Kings: an easier spin on Clover Leaf with a 15% win rate.

Clover Leaf Solitaire, also by Thomas Warfield, is the tougher sibling of this game. Alexander the Great Solitaire eases things up with fewer fans that each hold more cards. It's medium in difficulty, with a 15% chance of winning, and skill matters more than luck.

This game and plain Solitaire both build their foundations up from the Ace, so the classic will feel familiar.

If you run into anything odd or have an idea that would make the game better, please contact me.

Have a good time playing!

How to play Alexander the Great Solitaire

Layout:

4 foundation piles: The Aces build up in suit to King, and the Kings build down in suit to Ace. Two aces of one color and two kings of the other color are dealt onto the foundations at the start of the game.

12 fans: Build up or down by suit. The top card of a fan can be played to a foundation or another fan. Only one card moves at a time. Only an Ace or a King may fill an empty fan. Each fan starts with four cards.

Foundation:

Foundation piles come in two types.

Red Foundation

The red foundation has two piles, each dealt an ace to start. A card can be added to a red foundation pile if it's one rank higher than the pile's current top card and the same suit, so the only card that fits on a J of diamonds is a Q of diamonds.

Black Foundation

The black foundation also has two piles, each dealt a black king to start. A card can be added to a black foundation pile if it's one rank lower than the pile's current top card and the same suit, so the only card that fits on a 10 of clubs is a 9 of clubs.

The top card of any foundation can be moved back into play if another pile will accept it.

Fan:

The twelve fan piles hold four cards each, all dealt face-up.

A card can be added to a fan pile if it's one rank higher or lower than the pile's current top card and the same suit, so the cards that fit on a 4 of diamonds are a 3 of diamonds or a 5 of diamonds.

Any fan card not covered by another card is free to move to a foundation or another fan pile.

Only an Ace or a King can fill an empty fan.

Only one card moves at a time; sequences aren't allowed.