Play Portuguese Solitaire Online for Free (No Signup Required)

Every card is dealt face-up in thirteen four-card piles, and only a king can ever fill an empty column. Can you out-think the deal instead of out-drawing it?

Portuguese Solitaire is a member of the Baker's Dozen family, played entirely in the open with no stock and no waste to fall back on. All fifty-two cards are dealt face-up across thirteen tableau piles of four cards each, so from the very first glance you can see everything the deal has handed you. It is a game of pure information, where success rests on the order in which you free your buried cards.

The twist that sets it apart from its close relative Spanish Patience is what may fill an empty column: only a king. Because building down ignores suit, cards flow together easily, but clearing an entire pile to make room for a king takes real foresight and can transform a stuck position into a winning one.

With no hidden cards and no fresh draws, every move is a decision made with full knowledge. That makes Portuguese a favourite among players who prefer to out-think a deal rather than out-draw it, and a satisfying puzzle to replay when a board proves stubborn.

If you enjoy Portuguese, try Spanish Solitaire or the classic Baker's Dozen Solitaire, two open one-deck games in the same tradition.

The variants above all trace back to one root: classic 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 Portuguese Solitaire

Layout:

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

13 tableau piles: Each pile is dealt four face-up cards. Build down regardless of suit. Only the top card of each pile is playable, and an empty column may be filled only by a king.

Foundation:

There are four foundation piles, all empty at the start.

An ace may be moved to a foundation to begin it. After that, a card can be added 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 diamonds is a two of diamonds. Each 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:

Thirteen tableau piles, dealt four cards each. Every card is dealt face-up, so nothing is hidden.

A card can be added to a tableau pile only if it's one rank lower than the pile's current top card, regardless of suit, so the only card that fits on an 8 is a 7 of any suit.

Cards on the tableau that are not covered by another card can be played onto the foundation or another tableau pile.

An empty tableau space may be filled only by a king. This makes emptying a column a valuable, deliberate play rather than a routine one.

Only one card may be moved at a time; sequences are not permitted. There is no stock and no waste, so plan carefully from the start.