Gaps

Spaces

For 1 Player - Level: Difficult

Layout: Deal all the cards in the pack - in four rows of 13 cards, each face up.

Then remove the Aces. This leaves gaps in the layout. These gaps must be filled by the card that is next higher in rank to the card on the left - and in the same suit. For example, suppose that the gap opens up to the right of a 3 of Hearts. It must be filled by a 4 of Hearts.

If the gap opens up in the first space at the left of a row, it may be filled with any deuce.

If the gap opens up after a King, it cannot be filled. Action is blocked.

When a King blocks the action in every row, the deal is over.

To win the game: Get each row into a sequence of cards from 2 to King, by suit.

Redeals: As many as you want. You need to gather up the cards in a special way for the redeal. Leave in place the deuces that appear at the left end of a row, and any cards that follow it in the correct sequence and suit. For example:

Then, gather up all the not-in-place cards, shuffle them, and deal them out as follows:

1. Leave one gap to the right of each sequence.
2. If the only card in place is a 2, leave a gap to the right of it.
3. If there is no 2 in the row, leave a gap at the start of the row, so that a 2 can be moved in.

From '101 Favourite Card Games for One'.
© 1992 Sheila Anne Barry.