Baker’s Game Solitaire 🎉

Welcome, card game fans! Looking for a new solitaire challenge? Baker’s Game is a lively and fun card game that will keep you entertained for hours. It was invented by mathematician C. L. Baker and is very similar to FreeCell. The twist? In Baker’s Game you must build sequences by suit (e.g. place 7♥ on 8♥), not just by alternating colors. This makes Baker’s Game a bit tougher (and more exciting!) than classic FreeCell. Let’s dive into how to play and win this delightful puzzle!

How to Play Baker’s Game

Figure: Baker’s Game layout with 4 free cells (top left), 4 foundations (top right), and 8 tableau columns. All 52 cards are dealt face-up across the eight columns. Baker’s Game starts by dealing all 52 cards face-up into eight tableau columns: four columns have 7 cards and four have 6 cards. The top-left area has 4 empty "free cells" and the top-right has 4 empty foundation piles, ready to be filled. In the image above, you can see the four empty free cells and four empty foundation spots labeled. Each tableau column holds a stack of cards (here a total of 52). The rules below explain how you can move cards around to fill the foundation piles and win the game.

• Cards & Layout: Use one standard 52-card deck. Deal all cards face-up into eight tableau piles (4 piles of 7 cards and 4 piles of 6 cards). Leave the 4 free cells at the top left empty and the 4 foundation slots at the top right empty.
• Building on the Tableau: Build down by suit on the tableau. That means you can place a card only on another card of the same suit that is one rank higher (for example, 5♣ on 6♣). You cannot build by alternating colors here. Only one card at a time can be moved (though clever use of empty cells lets you reposition multiple cards indirectly).
• Free Cells: The four free cells (also called reserves) each hold exactly one card. Use these as temporary storage. For example, you might move a card to a free cell to uncover a hidden card underneath. You can later move that card out of the free cell back onto the tableau or onto a foundation whenever it fits.
• Moving Cards: Any exposed card (the bottom card of a tableau pile) or any card in a free cell can be moved. You may move such a card to another tableau column (if it continues the suit sequence), to an empty free cell, or to its foundation pile. An empty tableau column is also available: you can move any card (or a correctly ordered stack via the cells) into an empty tableau column to free up space. Use empty cells and empty columns strategically to shuffle cards around. In essence, you can only move one card at a time, but with enough empty spots you can effectively relocate groups of cards by stages.
• Objective: The goal is to move all cards to the four foundation piles. Build each foundation up by suit from Ace through King (for example, A♠, 2♠, 3♠, …, K♠ in the spade foundation). Once every card is on a foundation in ascending order by suit, you win the game!

With these rules in mind, Baker’s Game is all about careful planning: try to create empty columns and use your free cells wisely so you can reorganize the tableau. Filling Aces early can help unblock sequences. If you get stuck, use the Undo button (if playing online) and experiment – after all, it’s a puzzle meant to be solved at your own pace! 😃

Try These Related Games!

If you enjoyed Baker’s Game, check out these fun solitaire variants too:

• 🃏 FreeCell: The classic one-deck version of this style of game. In FreeCell you build cards by alternating colors (not by suit), which gives a different challenge. Give FreeCell a spin to see how the rules change the strategy!
• 🃏 FreeCell Two Decks: Twice the cards, twice the fun! This FreeCell variant uses two decks (104 cards) and extends the game area. Try FreeCell Two Decks for an extra-large puzzle that will test your skills.
• 🃏 Eight Off: An older solitaire cousin of Baker’s Game. It also uses free cells and builds by suit, but with slightly different initial setup. Give Eight Off a try to experience one of Baker’s Game’s ancestors – it’s a classic puzzle in its own right!

Happy shuffling! Whether you stick with Baker’s Game or explore these other games, you’re sure to have a great time playing these engaging solitaire challenges. 😄

Sources: Baker’s Game rules and history. (Click the game links above to play for free!)