Play Fortress Solitaire Online for Free (No Signup Required)

Ten tableau piles build up and down in suit, not just down, yet that extra freedom still only wins you the game 11% of the time.

Fortress Solitaire is an ancestor of Beleaguered Castle Solitaire, built up and down in the tableau instead of just down. That extra flexibility opens up moves Beleaguered Castle never allows, though it doesn't make the game easy.

Fortress dates back to the 1870s. It's a tough game, with only an 11% chance of winning. It's played with a single deck, and your odds come down mostly to skill.

Close relatives include Chessboard Solitaire and Bastion Solitaire, along with Streets and Alleys, Citadel, Castles End, Lasker, and Fortress Moat.

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

Enjoy the game!

How to play Fortress Solitaire

Layout:

4 foundation piles: Build up from Ace to King in the same suit.

10 tableau piles: Build up or down by suit. Only the top card of each pile is playable, and any card can fill an empty column. At the start of the game, the first two piles get 6 cards each and the rest get 5, all dealt face-up.

Foundation:

There are four foundation piles.

A card can be added to a foundation pile only if it's one rank higher and the same suit as the pile's current top card, starting with the Ace, so the only card that fits on a 4 of diamonds is a 5 of diamonds.

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

Tableau:

Ten tableau piles, the first two dealt six cards each and the remaining eight dealt five cards each, all face-up.

A card can be added to a tableau pile only if it's one rank higher or lower and the same suit as the pile's current top card, so the only cards that fit on the Queen of clubs are the Jack or King of clubs.

Cards on the tableau that are not covered by another card are free to be played onto the foundation or any other tableau pile.

Any card can fill an empty tableau column.

Only one card moves at a time; sequences are not permitted.