Play Raglan Solitaire Online for Free (No Signup Required)

Start with every card face-up and the four Aces already home, then out-maneuver a stingy six-card reserve. Still, only 15% of deals get won.

Raglan Solitaire is an open member of the King Albert family: every one of the fifty-two cards is visible from the very first move. Nine tableau piles form a lopsided triangle — seven cards in each of the first three columns, then six, five, four and so on down to a single card — while the four Aces are already waiting on the foundations and the six cards left over sit in a small reserve.

The game takes its name from Lord Raglan, the British field marshal of Crimean War fame, whose name also lives on in the raglan sleeve. Compared to King Albert you are given a head start — the Aces are pre-played — but the fuller tableau and a reserve that gives up only its top card make every open space precious.

That single deck and a reserve that surrenders only its top card make this a difficult game — just 15% of deals get won, and it's your reading of the board, not luck, that decides most of them.

Fans of King Albert Solitaire will recognize the bones here, and Somerset Solitaire is next in the same lineage.

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

Enjoy playing!

How to play Raglan Solitaire

Layout:

4 foundation piles: Build up in suit from Ace to King. The four Aces are dealt here at the start of the game.

9 tableau piles: Build down in alternating colors. Only one card may be moved at a time. Any card can fill a space. The first three piles are dealt seven cards each, then six, five, four, three, two, and one — all face up.

Reserve: The top card is playable to the tableau or the foundations. The six cards left over after the deal are placed here face up.

Foundation:

There are four foundation piles.

Each foundation pile is dealt an Ace at the start of the game.

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 a 5 of clubs is a 6 of clubs. A pile is complete when it reaches the King.

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

Reserve:

The six cards remaining after the deal form a single reserve pile, all face up.

No cards may be moved into the reserve. The top card of the reserve can be played to the tableau or the foundation.

Tableau:

There are nine tableau piles: seven cards in each of the first three piles, then six, five, four, three, two, and one. Every card is dealt face-up.

A card can be added to a tableau pile only if it's one rank lower and the opposite color of the pile's current top card, so the only cards that fit on the 4 of spades are the 3 of hearts and the 3 of diamonds.

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 slot in the tableau.

Only one card may be moved at a time; sequences are not permitted.