Clock Patience is a single-player card game that is a great way to exercise your brain and pass the time. The goal of the game is to arrange all of the cards in a circle in ascending order, with the aces in the center and the kings on the outside. It may sound simple, but it can be quite challenging, especially if you’re not used to playing card games. However, with a little practice, you’ll be able to master Clock Patience in no time.
To play Clock Patience, you will need a standard deck of 52 playing cards. Shuffle the deck thoroughly and then deal out 13 cards face up in a circle. The remaining cards form the stock pile. The object of the game is to move all of the cards from the stock pile to the circle, in ascending order, starting with the aces.
To move a card, you must first find a space that is one rank higher or lower than the card you want to move. For example, if you want to move a 6, you must find a space that is either a 5 or a 7. Once you have found a space, you can click on the card you want to move and then click on the space you want to move it to. If the move is valid, the card will be moved to the new space. However, if the move is not valid, the card will remain in its original space.
Understanding the Basics
Clock Patience is a classic solitaire game of strategy and luck that has captivated card enthusiasts for centuries. It is played with a standard 52-card deck and primarily aims to arrange all the cards in a clockwise sequence from Ace to King.
The game’s layout resembles a clock, with 12 piles representing the hours and a center pile representing the “face” of the clock. Each pile starts with a single card, and the remaining cards are dealt into the tableau, which consists of several columns of cards arranged in a random order.
The goal of Clock Patience is to move all the cards from the tableau and piles into the clock piles in a clockwise sequence. To do this, players must carefully consider the placement of each card, as they can only move cards that are one higher or one lower in rank and of the opposite color.
For example, an Ace of Spades can be played on a Two of any color, and a Three of Diamonds can be played on a Four of any suit.
Once a card is placed in a clock pile, it cannot be moved again. As the game progresses, players must carefully manage the sequence of cards to create opportunities to move cards from the tableau to the clock piles.
| Column | Number of Cards |
|---|---|
| First | 1 |
| Second | 2 |
| Third | 3 |
| Fourth | 4 |
| Fifth | 5 |
| Sixth | 6 |
| Seventh | 7 |
Setting Up the Game
Clock Patience is a solitaire card game played with a standard deck of 52 cards. The goal of the game is to correctly arrange all the cards in ascending order, from Ace to King, in four different suits. To set up the game, follow these steps:
1. Create the Tableau
Start by dealing 12 piles of four cards each, face down, in a circle around the center of the playing surface. Flip the last card in each pile face up.
2. Place the Center Cards
Place the remaining four piles of four cards in the center of the circle. These cards will serve as the center cards.
| Pile 1 | Pile 2 | Pile 3 | Pile 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ace of Hearts | Ace of Diamonds | Ace of Clubs | Ace of Spades |
3. Form the Stock
Take the remaining 16 cards and place them face down in a pile next to the center cards. This pile is known as the stock.
Objective of Clock Patience
The objective of Clock Patience is to sort all the cards in ascending order from Ace to King, and arrange them into two piles: one for red suits and one for black suits. Each pile should have 13 cards, representing the 12 hours of the clock and the "joker" card.
Step 3: Creating the Clock Piles
The next step is to create four piles, known as "clock piles," which will represent the 12 hours of the clock. To do this, follow these steps:
- Remove the Ace of Spades from the tableau and place it face up in the top left corner of the playing area. This represents the 12 o’clock position.
- Continue placing Aces face up in descending order (Ace of Hearts, Ace of Diamonds, Ace of Clubs) to the right of the Ace of Spades, representing the 11 o’clock, 10 o’clock, and 9 o’clock positions, respectively.
- Now, take the 2 of Spades and place it face up on top of the Ace of Spades.
- Continue placing 2s face up on top of the remaining Aces in descending order (2 of Hearts, 2 of Diamonds, 2 of Clubs).
- Repeat this process for the remaining cards from 3 to King, placing each card face up on the corresponding Ace or 2 pile.
This creates the foundation for the clock piles. As you continue to play, you will aim to move the cards from the tableau to these clock piles in ascending order, starting with Aces and working your way up to Kings.
Gameplay Mechanics
Random Selection of Cards
In Clock Patience, the game begins by randomly distributing the deck of cards among the 13 spots representing the hours on the virtual clock face. The sequence of cards is predetermined, so each game will have the same initial card layout.
Movement of Cards
The primary objective of Clock Patience is to move the cards around the clock face, following specific rules. Each move involves selecting a card and moving it to a neighboring spot, either clockwise or counterclockwise. The rules govern which cards can be moved and where they can be placed.
Sequential Movement and Suits
The cards can only be moved in sequential order, starting with the Ace. For example, after moving the Ace, you can only move the Two, and so on. Additionally, cards can only be placed on spots that have the same suit as the previous card. For instance, if the previous card was a red card (hearts or diamonds), the next card must also be red.
Suits and Movement
Hearts and Diamonds (Red Suits)
Red suit cards can only move clockwise around the clock face. They can be placed on any open spot with a red suit, but they cannot be moved onto black suits (clubs or spades).
Clubs and Spades (Black Suits)
Black suit cards can only move counterclockwise around the clock face. They can be placed on any open spot with a black suit, but they cannot be moved onto red suits.
Managing the Stock and Tableau
Tableau and Foundations
In Clock Patience, the tableau is made up of ten piles of cards, labeled A to J. The first pile has only the Ace, the second has the Ace and Two, and so on.
The foundations are four piles, one for each suit. The foundations start with the Aces, and are built upwards by suit.
Stock
The stock is the pile of cards that is used to deal the Tableau and the foundations. The top card of the stock is always face up, and the player can click on the stock to add cards to the Tableau or foundations.
Waste
The waste is a pile of cards that is made up of the cards that are dealt but not used. The top card of the waste is always face up, and the player can click on the waste to add cards to the Tableau or foundations. The waste can only be turned over once per game.
Building on the Tableau
Cards can be built on the Tableau by suit, in descending order. For example, a Three can be placed on a Four, a Four on a Five, and so on. Only the top card of each Tableau pile is available to be moved.
| Tableau Pile | Cards |
|---|---|
| A | Ace |
| B | Ace, Two |
| C | Ace, Two, Three |
Cards can also be moved from the Tableau to the foundations. When a card is moved to a foundation, the next card in the Tableau pile becomes available to be moved.
Building Sequences and Foundations
Clock Patience is a card game for one player. The goal of the game is to build four sequences of cards in suit from Ace to King, and four foundations of cards in suit from Deuce to Ace.
Building Sequences
To build a sequence, you must have at least two cards of the same suit in consecutive order. You can build a sequence on an empty space on the tableau, or on top of an existing card that is one rank higher than the card you are placing on it. For example, you can place a 4 of Hearts on a 3 of Hearts, or a 5 of Spades on an empty space.
Foundations
To build a foundation, you must have at least one card of a suit. You can build a foundation on an empty space on the tableau, or on top of an existing card that is one rank lower than the card you are placing on it. For example, you can place an Ace of Hearts on an empty space, or a 2 of Spades on a 3 of Spades.
Moving Cards
You can move cards around the tableau and between the tableau and the foundations. To move a card, click on it and then drag it to its new location. You can only move cards one at a time.
Winning the Game
You win the game when you have built all four sequences and all four foundations.
Tips for Winning
- Try to build sequences as early as possible. This will give you more options for moving cards around later in the game.
- Don’t be afraid to move cards back and forth between the tableau and the foundations. This can help you get the cards you need to build sequences and foundations.
- Be patient. Clock Patience can be a challenging game, but it is also very rewarding. With a little practice, you’ll be able to win the game more often than not.
| Player | Score |
|---|---|
| Alice | 100 |
| Bob | 75 |
Moving and Manipulating Cards
The gameplay of Clock Patience involves moving and manipulating cards to form specific sequences and sets.
Moving Cards
To move a card, simply click on it and drag it to its desired location. You can move cards between the tableau piles, the foundation piles, and the stock pile.
Building Sequences
The goal of the game is to build sequences of cards in ascending order, starting with an Ace and ending with a King.
Manipulating Aces
Aces are special cards that can be placed on any empty tableau pile. They can also be used to start new sequences.
Building Sets
Sets are groups of four cards of the same rank but different suits. For example, a set of four Aces would consist of the Ace of Spades, Hearts, Diamonds, and Clubs.
Using the Stock
The stock pile is a reserve of cards that you can draw from when you run out of moves. You can draw three cards at a time, but you can only use one of them.
Dealing New Cards
If you run out of cards in the tableau, you can deal new cards from the stock pile. However, you can only deal new cards once per turn.
Moving Cards to the Foundation
Once you have completed a sequence or set, you can move it to the foundation. Foundation piles are located above the tableau piles and are used to store completed sequences and sets.
Discarding and Reusing Cards
Discarding Cards
When you can’t match any cards on the tableau, you must discard one card from your hand. Place the discarded card face up in the “waste pile” to the right of the tableau.
Reusing the Waste Pile
You can reuse the cards in the waste pile if you can’t find any matches on the tableau. To do this, turn over the top three cards in the waste pile one at a time. If you can match any of these cards, place them on the tableau. If not, return them to the waste pile.
Reshuffling the Waste Pile
Once you have gone through the entire waste pile, you can reshuffle it. To do this, turn all of the cards in the waste pile face down and shuffle them. Then, place the shuffled cards face down in the “stock pile” above the waste pile.
Number 8
When there are 8 cards left in the deck, you can check to see if you have any 4-of-a-kind sets. If you do, you can remove the entire set from the game and place it in a separate pile.
| Card | Count |
|---|---|
| Ace | 1 |
| 2 | 2 |
| 3 | 3 |
| 4 | 4 |
Tips and Strategies
1. Play with a relatively new deck of cards.
Older decks become more difficult to handle, making it more challenging to play the game.
2. Sort the deck into suits before dealing.
This will save time and effort during the game.
3. Keep track of the cards that have been played.
This will help you to make better decisions about what cards to play next.
4. Don’t be afraid to ask for help from a more experienced player.
They can provide you with valuable tips and advice.
5. Practice regularly.
The more you practice, the better you will become at the game.
6. Be patient and don’t give up.
Clock Patience can be a challenging game, but it is also very rewarding.
7. Play with a partner.
This can make the game more enjoyable and can also help you to learn from each other.
8. Use a card shuffler.
This will save you time and effort, and will also help to ensure that the deck is well-shuffled.
9. Play in a comfortable and well-lit environment.
This will help you to focus on the game and avoid making mistakes.
10. Remember that there is more than one way to win.
Don’t be afraid to experiment with different strategies to find the one that works best for you. The following table provides additional tips and strategies for playing Clock Patience:
| Tip | Description |
|---|---|
| Play with a clock | This will help you to keep track of time and make sure that you are making progress. |
| Use a timer | This can help you to stay focused and avoid getting distracted. |
| Take breaks | It is important to take breaks from the game to avoid getting tired and making mistakes. |
| Have fun | Clock Patience is a game, so make sure to have fun while you are playing. |
Clock Patience How To Play
Clock Patience is a single-player card game that uses a standard deck of 52 cards. The goal of the game is to arrange all of the cards in a clockwise order around the face of a clock, with the Ace of Spades at 12 o’clock and the King of Spades at 6 o’clock.
To start the game, shuffle the deck and deal 12 cards face down in a circle, with one card at each hour. The remaining cards form the stock pile.
To play, you can either draw a card from the stock pile or flip over a card that is already face down. If you draw a card from the stock pile, you can place it on any empty space on the clock face. If you flip over a card that is already face down, you can place it on the clock face if it is the next card in sequence (for example, you can place a 3 of Hearts on top of a 2 of Hearts).
The game continues until all of the cards have been arranged in a clockwise order around the clock face. If you get stuck, you can reshuffle the stock pile and start over.
People Also Ask About Clock Patience How To Play
What is the goal of Clock Patience?
The goal of Clock Patience is to arrange all of the cards in a clockwise order around the face of a clock, with the Ace of Spades at 12 o’clock and the King of Spades at 6 o’clock.
How many players can play Clock Patience?
Clock Patience is a single-player game.
What is the best strategy for playing Clock Patience?
There is no one best strategy for playing Clock Patience, but some tips include:
- Try to keep all of the cards face up so that you can see what you have.
- If you get stuck, try reshuffling the stock pile and starting over.
- Don’t be afraid to experiment with different strategies to see what works best for you.
