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Rainbow Solitaire

Rainbow is a closed game played with a single deck (52 cards). There are four tableaus that contain one cards each. The objective is to move all cards to the four foundations by building them up by the same suit.

Difficulty: Easy

Rules are easy to understand.

Odds of winning: Low

Win about 1 in 4 games (27%).

Duration: Moderate

5 to 10 minutes per game.

Skill Level: Balanced

Winning involves skill and luck equally.

How to Play Rainbow

Build foundations up by the same suit and wrap around on Kings. Fill empty foundations with the same rank dealt at the beginning of the game. Build tableaus down regardless of suit. Move sequences built down regardless of suit together. Empty tableaus automatically fill from the reserve then with valid sequences. Stock deals one to waste without redeals.

Game Objective

The goal of Rainbow is to move all fifty-two cards to the foundation piles. You achieve this by building sequences of cards up by the same suit that start with an Ace and end with a King. You win when the four foundations each contain a complete sequence of thirteen cards.

Foundation Rules

  • There are four foundations.
  • Initially containing one card face up in the first foundation.
  • The foundations build up by the same suit. Foundations may build around-the-corner (an Ace may move onto a King).
  • For example the 2♠ may move onto the A♠ and the 2♦ may move onto the A♦. Starting with the J♣ the following sequence may build on top Q♣ K♣ A♣ 2♣.
  • Empty foundation spaces may be filled with the same initial rank dealt to the first pile at the beginning of the game.

Tableau Rules

  • There are four tableaus.
  • Initially containing one card face up in each tableau.
  • The tableaus build down regardless of suit.
  • For example the 5♠ may move onto the 6♠, 6♥, 6♣ and 6♦. Starting with the 5♥ the following sequence may build on top 4♠ 3♠ 2♦ A♣.
  • Sequences of cards built down regardless of suit may move together as a group.
  • Empty spaces are automatically populated with a card from the reserve. When the reserve is empty any card or valid sequence of cards may move together to fill an empty tableau.

Reserve Rules

  • There is one reserve.
  • Initially containing twelve cards face down and one card face up in the reserve.
  • The top card is movable.
  • Once empty the reserve remains empty.

Stock Rules

  • The stock deals one card face up to the waste when tapped.
  • A single pass through the stock is permitted. Redeals are not possible. Once on the waste, cards remain until used in a valid move.

Waste Rules

  • There is one waste.
  • The waste is initially empty.
  • The top card is movable.
  • Once empty the waste remains empty until more cards move from the stock.

Similar Games

There are 2 games that have a similar play style to Rainbow:

  1. Kansas - There are three tableaus.
  2. Chameleon - There are three tableaus. Initially containing eleven cards face down and one card face up in the reserve.