Above and Below Solitaire

About Above and Below Solitaire

Above and Below Solitaire is a two-deck card puzzle where one face-up indicator card sets the plan. Build four foundations upward from the rank above it and four downward from the rank below it, wrapping around the deck, while feeding cards from stock, waste, and tableau piles.

This solitaire variant uses 2 decks and opens by dealing one card face up as the indicator. That card creates two foundation directions: four piles build up by suit from one rank above the indicator, and four build down by suit from one rank below it, with A-to-K and K-to-A wrapping. Stock cards are dealt one by one to a waste pile, and the top waste card can move to a foundation or one of four tableau piles. Tableau piles also build up or down in the same suit, but only one card may be moved from them at a time.

Your goal

Your objective is to move as many cards as possible onto the eight foundation piles. Match suits while building upward on one set and downward on the other, use the indicator pile when the same rank appears, and recycle the waste once after the stock is dealt to keep the difficult game going for a higher rank.

How to play Above and Below Solitaire

1. Start from the face-up indicator card: four foundations build up by suit from one rank above it, and four build down by suit from one rank below it.

2. Deal stock cards one by one into the waste pile, then move the top waste card to a foundation or to one of the four tableau piles.

3. Build tableau piles up or down in the same suit, and move only one card from the tableau piles at a time.

4. When a card matching the indicator rank appears, move it directly to the indicator pile.

5. After the stock is fully dealt, collect the waste cards as the stock for one more pass; you may also move cards between foundation piles.

Controls and device support

• Controls: See in-game controls
• Device support: Browser
• Game frame: 600 x 400

Rules to keep in mind

• Eight foundations are split into two directions: four same-suit piles rise from one rank above the indicator, and four same-suit piles fall from one rank below it, wrapping A-K or K-A.
• The stock deals one card at a time to the waste; only the top waste card may move to a foundation or one of four tableau piles.
• Tableau piles build up or down in the same suit, and each move from a tableau pile transfers only one card.
• When the stock is exhausted, gather the waste as a new stock for one more go; cards can also be moved between foundation piles.

What makes the challenge interesting

The challenge is sequencing rather than speed: every waste card can either advance a foundation immediately or wait on a tableau pile that builds in the same suit. Because tableau moves are limited to one card, parking the wrong card can block later options. The indicator rank is a special release valve, and the single waste recycle plus foundation-to-foundation moves give a narrow way to recover in a difficult layout. The core skill is reading two foundation directions at once before committing each card.

Tips for Above and Below Solitaire

• Before moving a waste card, check both foundation directions; a card that does not fit upward may still help a downward same-suit pile.
• Use tableau piles as temporary same-suit storage, but avoid burying useful ranks because only one tableau card can be moved at a time.
• Watch for cards matching the indicator rank and send them to the indicator pile immediately, clearing space without disturbing foundation order.
• Save the waste recycle for a planned second pass, and use foundation-to-foundation moves late to open ranks that were previously stuck.

The skills behind the game

Within Puzzles and the Card, Solitaire tags, this is a patience-style sorting game rather than a matching or action puzzle. The familiar solitaire frame becomes more demanding because the indicator card creates two opposite foundation directions, so success depends on planning same-suit sequences across stock, waste, tableau, and foundations in one layout.

Who will enjoy this game

For players browsing phrases such as above and below solitaire, above and below solitaire game, solitaire game online, or puzzle game online, the useful distinction is mechanical: an indicator card, eight foundations, four tableau piles, and one waste recycle define the challenge. Those terms fit a deliberate card-sorting puzzle experience.

Games with a similar feel

Microsoft Solitaire Collection: Microsoft Solitaire Collection shares the broad solitaire idea of arranging cards under variant rules, but it is a collection of multiple solitaire modes. Above and Below Solitaire is a single two-deck variant driven by one indicator card and opposite up/down foundation directions.

Frequently asked questions

What is the goal in Above and Below Solitaire? Build eight same-suit foundations: four upward from one rank above the indicator and four downward from one rank below it, wrapping A to K or K to A. Moving more cards to foundations raises your rank.

How does the waste pile work? Stock cards are dealt one by one to the waste. The top waste card may move to a foundation or one of four tableau piles; after the stock is dealt, collect the waste once for another pass.

Can I move cards between piles? Yes. Tableau piles build up or down in the same suit but release only one card at a time, and the rules also allow moving cards between foundation piles to improve a difficult position.