Play Napoleon's Quadrilateral Solitaire Online for Free (No Signup Required)
Watch cards fly to eight foundations before you even move, then rebuild twelve short-handed piles with strict same-suit, single-card discipline.
Napoleon's Quadrilateral Solitaire is the older, sterner ancestor of Napoleon's Square. As in that game the eight aces are placed on the foundations before you begin, but the deal itself is where the difficulty bites: as each of the twelve tableau piles is dealt four cards deep, any card that happens to fit a foundation is whisked straight there instead of landing in its pile. Those piles are left short, and there is no card to replace what flew away.
The result is an uneven opening layout that you must untangle with strict same-suit building and single-card moves. It is played with two decks, and only a king may be dropped into an empty column, so recovering an emptied pile is a genuine achievement rather than a formality.
Patience and forward planning pay off here more than in most two-deck games. Because there is a single pass through the stock, every card you send to the waste is a small commitment, and reading the board a move or two ahead is the difference between a smooth finish and an early dead end.
If you enjoy Napoleon's Quadrilateral, try Napoleon's Square Solitaire, the celebrated Forty Thieves Solitaire, or the original Solitaire.
If you run into anything odd or have an idea that would make the game better, please contact me.
Enjoy playing!
How to play Napoleon's Quadrilateral Solitaire
Layout:
8 foundation piles: An ace is placed on each of the eight foundations before play. Build each pile up in the same suit from Ace to King.
12 tableau piles: Dealt four cards deep, though any dealt card that fits a foundation is played there during the deal, leaving that pile short. Build down in the same suit. Only the top card of each pile is playable.
Stock: Click to deal cards one at a time to the waste. There is only one pass through the stock.
Waste: The top card of the waste is available for play.
Foundation:
There are eight foundation piles, each already holding an ace at the start.
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, so the only card that fits on an ace of clubs is a two of clubs. During the deal, cards that fit a foundation are sent there automatically. A pile is complete once it reaches the King.
The top card of each foundation can be moved back into play if another pile will accept it.
Tableau:
Twelve tableau piles, dealt up to four face-up cards each in an overlapping cascade. Some piles begin shorter because cards that matched a foundation flew there as the board was dealt.
A card can be added to a tableau pile only if it's one rank lower and the same suit as the pile's current top card, so the only card that fits on an 8 of spades is a 7 of spades.
Cards on the tableau that are not covered by another card can be played onto the foundation or a matching tableau pile.
An empty tableau space may only be filled by a king. Cards from the waste or another pile may take a vacant column only if they are kings.
Only one card may be moved at a time; sequences are not permitted.
Stock and waste:
The remaining cards after the deal make up the stock, with one waste pile beside it.
When you click on the stock, one card is dealt to the waste. There is only one pass through the stock, so there are no redeals.
The top card of the waste can be played to a matching tableau pile or foundation.
