Gaps Solitaire is a classic single-player card game with a unique twist that makes it perfect for casual gamers. It’s easy to learn but offers a fun puzzle-like challenge that will keep you engaged. The game gets its name from the empty “gaps” that appear when you remove all four Aces from the deck at the start of play. In Gaps Solitaire, you’ll be rearranging cards into ordered sequences by suit, filling in those gaps as you go. This blend of simplicity and strategy gives Gaps Solitaire great appeal for casual players – it’s quick to pick up, yet challenging enough to be rewarding. Best of all, you can even play Gaps Solitaire online for free at solitaireX.io anytime, no downloads needed, making it an accessible and enjoyable choice for a quick gaming break.
Screenshot of a Gaps Solitaire game in progress. All cards are dealt in four rows, and the Aces have been removed, leaving empty “gaps” on the tableau. Each row is partially filled with sequences of cards; the goal is to organize each row from 2 up to King in the same suit by filling in the gaps with the appropriate cards.
Rules and Objective of Gaps Solitaire
Gaps Solitaire Goal: The objective is to arrange all the cards into four rows (one row per suit) in ascending order from 2 through King, with each row ending in a King. By the end of the game, you will have four complete sequences (one in each suit) and four “gaps” at the far right – one after each King.
Deck and Setup: Gaps Solitaire uses a standard 52-card deck. To begin, shuffle the cards and deal out 4 rows of 13 cards face-up. Then remove all four Aces from the layout and set them aside (they won’t be used during play). Removing the Aces creates four empty spaces, or “gaps,” in the card layout. (These gaps are what give the game its name!) At this point, there will be 48 cards on the table and 4 gaps – one gap in each row where an Ace was.
Filling the Gaps (Moves): You can only fill a gap with a card that follows the card to the left of that gap in sequence and suit. In other words, a gap acts like a placeholder for the next card in ascending order of the same suit as its left neighbor. For example, if you have a gap immediately to the right of a 10♠, you can move the J♠ (Jack of Spades) into that gap. When you fill a gap with a card, you create a new gap in the card’s previous position – effectively, the gap “moves” as you rearrange cards.
Special Gap Rules: If a gap is at the left end of a row (meaning there is no card to its left), it can only be filled by a Two. You may choose any 2 (of a suit that hasn’t been started in another row yet) to begin a new sequence in that empty row. Once you place a 2 in a leftmost gap, that row is dedicated to that suit, and you’ll build it up in order (2, 3, 4, … up to K) for the rest of the game. Gaps to the right of a King cannot be filled – these are considered “dead” gaps because a King is the highest card in the sequence. If you ever end up with a gap immediately after a King, no moves can be made in that spot until maybe a shuffle repositions the King behind its proper Queen. Essentially, you want your Kings to eventually occupy the rightmost end of each row (with a gap after them as the final layout).
Gameplay Flow: Using the rules above, you move cards one at a time into the gaps if they fit. This will gradually sort parts of the rows into the correct sequence. In the early game, there are usually several possible moves available once the Aces are removed. You keep filling gaps with the appropriate next card wherever possible, gradually forming sequences in each row. If multiple moves are available, you can choose the order – but be strategic (we’ll cover tips later).
Reshuffling (When Stuck): Eventually, you might reach a point where no valid moves remain. A common stuck situation is when all gaps are “dead” (i.e. all current gaps are to the right of Kings), blocking further play. When you’re stuck, Gaps Solitaire allows a reshuffle (redeal) to give you another chance. To reshuffle: gather all the cards that are not yet in the correct sequence (i.e. cards that are not already placed in order from a 2 in their row) and collect them with the Aces that were set aside. Shuffle all these cards together and deal them out again into the rows, filling the gaps and restoring the layout to four full rows of 13 cards. (Make sure to remove the Aces again as before, which creates four new gaps for continued play.) Important – any cards that were already in a correct sequence should remain in place during the redeal. In practical terms, some versions of the game will leave those sequences on the table and only shuffle the remaining cards around them. Typically, you are allowed up to two reshuffles in Gaps Solitaire (which means you have the initial deal plus two more deals, for a total of three tries to arrange the cards). Some versions of the game or variations (like “Addiction Solitaire”) may allow a third reshuffle or more, but the classic rules usually limit it to two reshuffles. Use them wisely!
Winning the Game: You win Gaps Solitaire when all four rows are arranged in ascending order by suit from 2 through King, with each King at the far right end of its row and an empty gap immediately after each King. In total, all 48 non-Ace cards will be neatly organized into the four suited sequences. At this point, the game is solved and you’ve achieved victory! 🎉 If you cannot achieve this by the time you’ve used all your allowed reshuffles (for example, after the final redeal you still have cards out of order and no moves left), then the game is lost – but don’t worry, you can always reshuffle and try again with a new deal. Even when you don’t win, the fun is in the challenge and improving your strategy with each play.
Now that we’ve covered the basic rules and objective, let’s walk through the gameplay step by step.
How to Play Gaps Solitaire (Step-by-Step Guide)
Learning how to play Gaps Solitaire is straightforward. Follow these steps and you’ll be filling in those gaps and arranging cards like a pro in no time:
Deal the Cards and Remove Aces: Start by shuffling a standard 52-card deck. Deal out 4 rows of 13 cards face-up on the table (or on your screen if you’re playing digitally). Look through the dealt cards and take out all four Aces. Set the Aces aside – they won’t be used in the play area. You’ll now see four empty slots where the Aces were; these empty spaces are the “gaps” that give the game its name. Your initial layout is now ready: 4 rows of cards with 4 gaps scattered among them. (If you’re playing on a computer or mobile device, this initial deal and Ace removal usually happen automatically.)
Choose a Gap and Fill It with the Next Card: Examine the layout for any gaps. For each gap, identify the card immediately to the left of that gap (the last card before the empty space in that row). Your task is to fill the gap with the card that comes next in sequence in the same suit as that left-hand card. For example, if you see a gap to the right of a 3♥ (3 of Hearts), you need to find the 4♥ and move it into that gap. When you move the 4♥ into the gap, you’ll create a new gap in the position where the 4♥ was previously sitting. Always remember: a card can only move into a gap if it continues the sequence of the same suit from the card on the left. If there is no card to the left (gap is at the row’s start), then it’s a special case – see the next step.
Start New Sequences in Leftmost Gaps: If a gap is at the far left end of a row (meaning that row currently has no starting card), the rule above doesn’t apply because there’s no “left neighbor” card. In this case, the only card that can fill a leftmost gap is a Two. You can choose any available 2 from the deck to place in a leftmost gap. Placing a 2 in the first position of a row effectively starts a new sequence in that suit. Once a 2 is in place at the beginning of a row, the rest of that row should ideally be built up with the 3, 4, 5, and so on of the same suit. It’s up to you to decide which 2 goes into which row – often, a good strategy is to pick a 2 that will free up the most moves or that belongs to a suit where you’ve already got some subsequent cards ready to follow. After you place a 2 in an empty row, look for any new gaps that might have opened up elsewhere (from moving the 2) and continue filling gaps with the appropriate next cards as in the previous step.
Rearrange and Continue Playing: Keep moving cards into gaps following the rules, and continue rearranging the cards to build sequences. You’ll find that as you place one card, another gap opens, which might allow you to move yet another card, and so on. Progress will typically happen in spurts – sometimes a single move will cascade into a series of moves. For instance, placing a 2 may allow you to place a 3 next, then a 4, etc., extending that sequence. Aim to create ordered runs of cards in each row. Whenever a gap opens, check what card is to its left and move the next sequential card of that suit into the gap if possible. If a gap is at the left end, remember to fill it with a 2 (if any remain to be placed). Throughout this process, keep an eye out for “dead” gaps (gaps to the right of a King) – if a gap sits immediately after a King, you won’t be able to fill that one until perhaps a reshuffle. It’s usually best to leave those alone and focus on other moves. Continue this way until you either complete the sequences in all rows (winning the game) or get stuck with no valid moves left.
Reshuffle if You Get Stuck: Don’t worry if you reach a point where no more cards can be moved – this happens frequently, especially when you have gaps behind Kings or just an unlucky arrangement. When you’re stuck, it’s time to use a reshuffle (also called a redeal). Gather up all the cards that are not already in perfect sequence and shuffle them together with the Aces that were set aside. (Any rows that have been completed or any cards that are already in consecutive order from a 2 can be left in place or noted, depending on whether you’re playing physically or the software handles it.) Now deal out the cards again into four rows of 13, and remove the Aces to create four gaps as you did in the beginning. The game now continues with the new layout. Hopefully, the shuffle has placed some cards more favorably so you can make new moves. Important: In classic Gaps Solitaire rules, you typically get two reshuffles per game (some versions allow three). This means you have the initial layout plus two more attempts to shuffle and continue. Use each reshuffle wisely – try to maximize the ordered sequences before shuffling so that you’re reshuffling fewer disordered cards (this increases your chances of success on the next deal). After reshuffling, go back to step 2 and continue filling gaps with the new arrangement of cards.
Win by Completing All Four Rows: Continue the cycle of filling gaps and reshuffling as needed (up to your limit of reshuffles). You win the game once you have all four rows in order from 2 through King by suit. At that point, every card from 2 to K will be in the right place, and each row will end in a King (with a gap after each King indicating the end of the sequence). Congratulations – you’ve mastered Gaps Solitaire! If you used up all allowed reshuffles and still have some cards out of place, that round is over without a win. But don’t be discouraged – Gaps Solitaire can be challenging, and not every deal is winnable. Just shuffle the cards and give it another try. Even experienced players win only a fraction of the games they play, so the challenge is part of the fun. Each game will sharpen your skills and strategy.
Now that you know how to play, let’s take a step back and look at where Gaps Solitaire comes from and why it’s known by so many different names.
A Brief History of Gaps Solitaire
Gaps Solitaire has an interesting background as part of the long tradition of “Patience” card games (another name for solitaire in Europe). Solitaire games have been played for centuries – many originated in the 18th and 19th centuries in Europe as solo card puzzles to pass the time. Gaps Solitaire itself emerged as a distinct variant sometime in the mid-20th century as solitaire games evolved and new versions were invented. In fact, Gaps is considered a member of the Montana family of solitaire games, which share similar mechanics. Over the years, Gaps Solitaire picked up many alternate names – you might also know it as “Montana”, “Addiction Solitaire”, “Spaces”, “Blue Moon”, “Clown Solitaire”, or “Vacancies,” among others. Don’t be confused by the different names: they all refer to essentially the same game (or very slight rule variations of it). For example, Montana and Addiction Solitaire are just other popular names for Gaps, used in various card game collections and computer versions.
The name “Gaps” is very literal – it highlights the defining feature of the game: the empty spaces (gaps) that you strategically fill in as you play. This concept made Gaps Solitaire stand out as a fun, puzzle-like twist on the standard solitaire formula. The game was enjoyed for decades with physical cards among solitaire enthusiasts who appreciated the balance of luck and skill it offered.
With the rise of personal computers and the internet, Gaps Solitaire found new popularity in digital form. A notable moment in its modern history was the release of Addiction Solitaire on Yahoo! Games, developed by GameHouse in the early 2000s. This online version introduced the game to a wide audience of casual players globally and solidified “Addiction Solitaire” as a common name for Gaps. Since then, Gaps/Addition has been included in many software solitaire collections, mobile apps, and websites. Today, you can find Gaps Solitaire on numerous gaming platforms (like SolitaireX.io!) where it continues to entertain players. Its enduring appeal comes from that satisfying feeling of “solving” the shuffled layout by shuffling and strategizing. Gaps Solitaire is now a true classic in the solitaire world – a game that has smoothly transitioned from an old-fashioned card-table pastime to a digital favorite for players looking for a quick and brain-teasing solo challenge.
Tips and Tricks to Win at Gaps Solitaire
While Gaps Solitaire does involve some luck of the draw, it’s also a game of strategy. With practice, you can improve your winning chances by playing smart. Here are some useful tips and tricks for Gaps Solitaire that will help casual players win more often:
Avoid Creating “Dead” Gaps Behind Kings: One of the golden rules is to avoid empty gaps immediately to the right of a King as much as possible. If a gap sits after a King, you can’t fill it with anything (since no card ranks higher than a King). This situation will stall your progress. How do these dead gaps happen? Often, it’s when you move a card that was to the right of a King, or if you move a King into a gap that isn’t at the far right end. Tip: Try not to move any card that is directly to the right of a King unless you have to – moving that card will leave a King at a row’s end with a gap after it. Similarly, don’t rush to move a King into a gap unless that gap is where the King belongs (i.e. right behind its Queen in sequence). Ideally, you want each King to end up at the far right of its row (completion of a sequence). If you minimize gaps behind Kings during play, you won’t be forced into an early reshuffle. Save those moves for last when possible.
Plan Moves Ahead (Work Backward from Your Target): Gaps Solitaire is like a puzzle – sometimes you need to plan a sequence of moves to free a specific card or gap. A helpful strategy is to identify a card you want to move, then work backwards to figure out what needs to move before it. For example, suppose you really need to move the 5♦ into a gap, but the 5♦ is buried somewhere. Ask yourself: what card is currently blocking the 5♦, and what move would free that card? This reverse thinking (often called backtracking) will help you set up the board for the moves you want. Focus on creating a gap in the spot you need – start with the target gap, then find the card that should go there, then see what’s stopping that card from moving, and so on. By following the chain of dependencies, you’ll eventually make the critical move that sets off a cascade. This kind of planning becomes more intuitive with practice. Don’t worry if it feels complex at first; each game you play will train your brain to spot the patterns and sequences more easily.
Place Twos Strategically: In Gaps Solitaire, Twos are the foundation of your four sequences. When you open up a leftmost gap, think carefully about which 2 to place there. Not all Twos are equal in a given situation. A good rule of thumb is to choose a Two that unlocks the most potential moves. For instance, if you notice that you already have the 3♥ and 4♥ out on the board, then placing the 2♥ in an empty row will immediately allow you to move the 3♥, then 4♥ into place behind it, and so on. That’s probably a strong choice. On the other hand, if a Two’s suit has very few of its next cards available yet, it might not be as immediately helpful. Often, the best Two to play first is the one that frees up or leads to ordering the longest sequence of cards next. Also, if one of the Twos is currently tucked behind a King or in a tough spot, starting with a different Two might be smarter so you don’t waste moves trying to free it early. In short: use Twos to jump-start the suits that will give you momentum.
Try to Keep All Rows Moving (Don’t Isolate One Row Too Early): It’s satisfying to complete a full 2-to-King sequence, but be careful not to finish one row too far ahead of the others. If you completely finish a row early, that row’s final gap (after the King) becomes permanently unusable and just sits there. That effectively reduces the number of gaps you have to maneuver with, making the rest of the game harder. It can happen that you nearly complete a sequence by chance – if so, that’s fine, but don’t neglect the other rows. Ideally, try to build all four sequences somewhat in parallel, advancing each a little at a time. That way, you keep most gaps “active” and usable until close to the endgame. Having three or four workable gaps (as opposed to one row totally done and only three gaps left to juggle) gives you more flexibility to rearrange cards. So, spread the progress across the rows when you can, and avoid a scenario where one suit is done and others are barely started.
Use Reshuffles Wisely: Reshuffling is your safety net in Gaps Solitaire, but you get only a limited number of them. To make the most of a reshuffle, try to exhaust all possible moves first before hitting that shuffle button. Really double-check the layout to ensure there truly are no moves left (sometimes a move is easy to miss). When you do reshuffle, remember that any cards already in order will stay in place (in many versions), which is good – it means you’re partially through the puzzle. To improve your odds after a shuffle, aim to have as much of the layout sorted as possible beforehand. For example, if you can manage to get one or two rows mostly in order, those will remain and you’ll only shuffle the rest, potentially placing them in better positions. Also, consider holding off on using a reshuffle until you’ve tried different move sequences. Because the early moves in Gaps can sometimes be done in various orders, one order might lead to a dead end while another order might yield a longer sequence of moves. Experiment a bit before you give up and reshuffle. Once you do reshuffle, you get a fresh chance – just remember you might only get two reshuffles (in standard rules) or three in some versions, so each one is precious. Finally, after reshuffling, take stock of the new layout and adjust your strategy accordingly (and don’t forget the tips above start anew for the new layout!).
By using these tips – avoiding dead gaps, planning ahead, smart placement of 2s, balancing your sequences, and careful reshuffling – you’ll significantly improve your performance in Gaps Solitaire. Like any solitaire, practice makes perfect. You’ll start recognizing common patterns and setups, and your decision-making will get faster and better. Soon you might find yourself winning games that used to stump you. And even if luck isn’t on your side in a particular deal, you’ll know you gave it your best strategic shot!
Play Gaps Solitaire Online at SolitaireX.io
Now that you’re equipped with the rules and some winning strategies, why not try a game of Gaps Solitaire for yourself? 🙂 It’s one thing to read about it, but the real fun is in playing! A great way to play is to head over to solitaireX.io and start a game instantly. On SolitaireX, you can enjoy Gaps Solitaire online for free with no download or registration required – just open the site and play right in your web browser. Whether you’re on a computer at home or on your phone during a break, SolitaireX.io’s Gaps Solitaire game is ready to go. Simply tap or click on the cards to move them into the gaps and watch the sequences form. The interface is user-friendly, so it’s perfect for casual players.
SolitaireX.io provides a smooth and relaxing experience for playing Gaps Solitaire. The game features handy options like undo and hint buttons, so if you get stuck or want to check for a possible move, help is just a click away. You can play unlimited rounds and there are no annoying ads interrupting your game – just pure solitaire fun. Plus, if you enjoy Gaps Solitaire, SolitaireX has a whole collection of other solitaire and card games you might love, all free to play. Feel free to explore their site and discover other classics like Klondike, Spider, FreeCell, or other unique card puzzles.
Ready to fill those gaps and test your skills? 😉 Give Gaps Solitaire a try on solitaireX.io and see if you can arrange all four suits in order. It’s a wonderfully satisfying feeling to win, and even when you don’t, each game is a quick, enjoyable challenge that keeps you coming back for more. So shuffle the cards, start filling in those gaps, and most importantly – have fun! Good luck, and enjoy your Gaps Solitaire games!
Happy gaming, and see you on the leaderboard at SolitaireX.io! 🎉