Rangoon Solitaire

Rules of the Game

Last updated, 10 March 1996

Introduction

The cards are laid down face-up in four rows of thirteen cards each, and an empty spot in front. The object is to rearrange the cards by using the gaps, such that each row contains one complete family.

The rules are interpreted in numereous ways. Likewise the game is known under a number of names, like "Station", "BlueMoon", "Gaps" and "Montana Aces". For each of these games the sections below will give the typical -or else, usual- rules, though in practice even rules and names are mixed.

The description is the result of the little information I have gathered over a period of years, and is bound to be far from complete. Therefore remarks or enhancements on the above are greatly appreciated, and can be send to Rudy.Muller@net.HCC.nl

Ranking of the cards

The completed family may either be ordered top down, or bottom up. As for most solitaires the ace usually is treated as a "1"; the usual top-down ranking is K-Q-J-10...3-2-A, and the bottom-up ranking A-2-3...10-J-Q-K. The ranking schemes A-K-Q-J...4-3-2 and 2-3-4...J-Q-K-A are less common.
[ Montana Aces ] : The aces are not part of the completed family. The bottom-up ranking 2-3-4...10-J-Q-K is more often used as the top-down ranking K-Q-J-10...4-3-2.

note: In the sections below the descriptions are based on the top-down ranking K-Q-J-10...3-2-A; in which the King is the highest card in ranking, and the Ace is the lowest one.

The Initial Tableau

After thoroughly shuffling the deck the cards are laid down face-up, without overlapping in four rows of thirteen cards each, while leaving an empty spot in front of each row.
[ Rangoon ] : Subsequently the four kings are moved to the empty spots in front of the rows. The kings are moved in a fixed order: the king of spades is located on the upper row, the king of hearts on the second row, the king of diamonds on the third, and the king of clubs on the bottom row.
[ Montana Aces ] : There are no empty spots in front of the rows; the four empty spots are created by removing the four aces after laying out the tableau.
[ other ] : After laying out the tableau the four kings are moved to the empty spots in front of the rows. The kings are moved in the order of appearance in the tableau, the first king is moved to the upper row, the second king to the second row, the third king to the third row, and the last king to the bottom row.

Moving a Card

A card can be moved to a gap, provided the card is of the same suit and one lower rank than the card in front of the gap. So the eight of clubs can be moved to the gap behind the nine of clubs. By moving a card to a gap another gap is created, at the position which was occupied by the just moved card. That gap can be used to move another card, and so on.
The game is ceased as soon as no more moves are possible, because all four gaps are behind an ace, or behind another gap.
[ Gaps ] : A king, being the card with highest rank, can be moved to one of the gaps which are present in front of each row after laying out the tableau.
[ Montana ] : A king, being the card with highest rank, can be moved to a gap located at the head of a row.
[ other ] : Some variants allow to move a card either behind its predecessor or in front of its successor. This rule may well be a formalised cheat.

note: When a bottom up ranking is used, a card can be moved to a gap, provided the card is of the same suit and one higher rank than the card in front of the gap. So the jack of diamonds can be moved behind the ten of diamonds.

Game Over / Reshuffle

When the game is ceased (no more moves are possible, because all four gaps are behind an ace, or behind another gap) the unordered cards are dealt again. Usually the game is over when it is ceased for the third time, or when the hand is won by completing all families.
In some variants however there is just one deal allowed.
[ Rangoon ] : All unordered cards along with the last ordered card of each row are picked up. After a thorough shuffle the cards are put down again leaving one gap behind each of the remaining rows; finally the last-ranked cards (which were included in the shuffle) are moved up, thereby (a) restoring the ranking-situation from just before the shuffle, and (b) creating four new gaps at a random position to continue the play.
[ Gaps ] : All unordered cards are picked up and put down again after a thorough shuffle leaving one gap behind each of the remaining rows.
[ Montana ] : All unordered cards of each row are picked up, and shuffled thouroughly with the Aces. The cards are put down again behind each of the remaining rows; subsequently the Aces are removed again to create four new gaps.
[ other ] : Sometimes one is allowed even more than three deals, in the latter case the object of the game is to finish a hand in as less deals as possible.
[ other ] : Sometimes it is allowed to deal the unordered cards before the game is ceased. In this case the object of the game is to finish a hand in as less moves as possible.

For the game in it's most difficult form (no extra deals allowed) one needs both skill and luck to win a hand. You may consider yourself a skilled player when you are successful in one out of hundred games. Though the two extra deals do not make the game that much easier, the odds to win a hand are much better. For an experienced player the chance to win a hand are over 25 %. Though the differences are marginal, the odds to win are the best for Gaps and the worst for Rangoon.
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