Baker's Dozen Solitaire

All 52 cards dealt face-up — move cards by rank alone and build four foundations from Ace to King.

How to play

Baker's Dozen is a uniquely open solitaire variant where all 52 cards are dealt face-up from the start, giving you complete information at every moment. The challenge lies entirely in sequencing: only the top card of each column is moveable, moves are based solely on rank (suit is irrelevant), and empty columns cannot be refilled. Kings are automatically placed at the bottom of each column on the deal, preventing them from blocking play — but with 13 narrow columns and rigid movement rules, Baker's Dozen still demands careful planning.

The setup

52 cards are dealt face-up into 13 columns of 4 cards. Kings are automatically moved to the bottom of each column so they never block moves. Deals with two or more Kings in the same column are reshuffled for a fairer start.

Moving cards

Only the top card of each column can be moved. A card may be placed on any other column whose top card has a rank exactly one higher — suit does not matter. For example, a 7 of any suit can go on an 8 of any suit.

Empty columns

If a column becomes empty it stays that way — no card can be moved to an empty column. Every empty column is a lost slot, so plan carefully to avoid stranding yourself.

Foundations

Build four foundation piles up in suit from Ace (A→2→3…→K). Any top card that matches the next required rank and suit can go to a foundation. Double-click a top card to auto-send it to the foundation.

Winning

Move all 52 cards to the four foundation piles to win. Baker's Dozen has a high solvability rate — most deals are winnable with careful sequencing.

Strategy tips

Prioritise freeing Aces and 2s early so foundations can grow. Try to unblock lower-ranked cards buried under higher ones. Avoid filling columns with Kings since empty columns can't be used — and Kings can only move to the foundation.