
Browser game · Puzzles
The game is played with 2 decks of cards.
4.3The game is played with 2 decks of cards. At first, a card is dealt face up as an "indicator". 4 foundation piles are to be built up from cards of the same suit, starting from cards one rank above the indicator, wrapping from A to K as necessary. Similarly, 4 other foundation piles are to be built down from cards of the same suit starting from cards one rank below the indicator and wrapping from K to A as necessary. The stock cards are dealt one by one to the waste pile. When a card with the same rank as the indicator shows up, you can directly move it to the indicator pile. You can move the top card in a waste pile to the foundations or one of the 4 tableau piles. The tableau piles are built up or down with cards of the same suit, each time you can move only one card from the tableau piles. When the stock cards are all dealt, you can collect the waste cards as the stock cards and have one more go. You can also move cards between foundation piles, this gives you slightly better chance in winning this difficult game. The more cards you move to the foundation piles, the higher your rank.
A typical puzzle session starts slow. You look at the board, work out what the rules actually are, and make a tentative first move. Then the pattern clicks and the next few stages go quickly, until one stops you cold. That rhythm, easy then stuck then easy again, is the whole appeal. Most sessions last ten to twenty minutes before you reach a natural stopping point.
Above and Below Solitaire rewards patience more than reflexes. Nothing punishes you for taking a minute to think, and the moment a hard stage finally gives way is worth the wait. It runs free in your browser with no download, so it is easy to pick up for a short break and leave again.
People who like to think rather than react, anyone killing time on a commute, and players who want something quiet to do with one hand on a phone. Younger children may need help with the trickier stages.