Osmosis Solitaire 🎉🃏

Welcome to Osmosis Solitaire – a playful patience card game with a name as unique as its gameplay! Unlike classic solitaires, Osmosis (also known as Treasure Trove) asks you to build foundations by suit without regard to card order. Cards of the same rank “slowly filter” down through the foundations – hence the fun name. Your goal is simple: move all 52 cards to the four foundation piles by suit. Ready for a fresh challenge? Play Osmosis Solitaire for free on SolitaireX with no downloads required – just fire up your browser and shuffle those cards! 🌟

How to Play Osmosis Solitaire

1. Deal the Layout: Start with one deck (52 cards). Deal 4 reserve piles on the left, each with 4 cards. All cards are face-down except the top card of each reserve, which is face-up. In the center/right place 4 empty foundations (vertical piles). Turn one card from the deck face-up onto the top (first) foundation – this sets the starting rank and suit.

2. Begin the Foundations: The first foundation can start with any card. All cards added to that pile must match its suit. The remaining three foundations must start with cards of the same rank as the first foundation’s starting card. For example, if the first card was the 8♥, the other three foundations must begin with the three other 8s (one for each suit).

3. Play from the Reserves: On each turn, try moving reserve cards (top cards only) to the foundations. You can place a card onto a foundation only if it’s the same suit and the foundation immediately above already has a card of that card’s rank. In other words, you can only move, say, an 8♠ into the second foundation if an 8 (of any suit) is already in the first foundation. This rank-matching rule is the core “osmosis” mechanic – cards of a rank become playable only after their mates appear above.

4. Use the Stock and Waste: If no moves are possible from the reserves, draw from the stock pile (the remaining face-down deck). Flip one card at a time into the waste pile. The top waste card is then eligible to play to a foundation (under the same suit-and-rank rule). When the stock runs out, you may pick up the waste and redeal it – redeals are unlimited, so you can keep cycling through to find needed cards.

5. Winning the Game: Continue moving cards according to these rules until all cards have been moved to the foundations. When every card is in a foundation pile (by suit), you’ve won Osmosis Solitaire!

Rules of Osmosis Solitaire

• Objective: Move all 52 cards to the four foundation piles, built up by suit.
• Foundations: 4 piles built by suit. The first foundation starts with any card; the other three must start with cards of the same rank as that first card. You may add any card of the same suit, but only if the foundation above already has that card’s rank (this is the “osmosis” step).
• Reserve (Tableau): 4 piles of 4 cards each to the left. Only the top card of each reserve is available for play. When a card is moved off a reserve, flip the next card face-up and continue using it.
• Stock and Waste: Remaining cards form the stock (face-down). Flip one card at a time from the stock onto the waste pile. Only the top waste card is playable (subject to the same foundation rule). When the stock is empty, you may reshuffle the waste back into the stock and continue (unlimited passes).
• Moves: You may only move the top card of a reserve pile or the top waste card. You cannot move cards between reserve piles or onto the tableau. Every move is to a foundation.
• Winning: The game is won when all cards are built into the foundations by suit.

Origin & History

Osmosis isn’t a new computer invention – it’s an old patience game that’s become popular online. In card game literature it’s sometimes called “Treasure Trove”. Its exact inventor isn’t well-documented, but it has appeared in classic solitaire collections. For instance, in the 1990s programmer Randy Rasa created a DOS solitaire suite (shareware) that included Osmosis (then subtitled “Treasure Trove”). Today Osmosis is enjoyed on many free game sites like SolitaireX, continuing the legacy of these classic one-player card games.

Tips & Tricks

• Clear the Reserves: Each time you play a card from a reserve, you expose a new one. Success often depends on freeing reserve cards quickly. Always scan all four reserves for playable cards – moving any card that becomes available can unlock new plays.
• Deal One at a Time: When drawing from the stock, dealing 1 card at a time (instead of 3) generally makes the game easier. It maximizes your options each pass. If you’re aiming for a quick win, flip one card per draw (some versions let you choose this).
• Watch the Rank Chain: Remember that after the starting card (say 8♥) appears, each foundation pile must begin with the other 8s. Keep an eye out for those same-rank cards to start new piles. Planning moves around this “same rank” requirement can prevent you from blocking important cards.
• Use All Redeals: There’s no penalty for cycling the stock repeatedly. If you can’t move any reserve cards, go through the waste and start over – eventually the right card will appear. Patience is key!
• Be Patient: Osmosis has an element of luck – some deals are harder. But stay observant: every revealed card might open a big chain of moves. Sometimes you’ll feel a winning sequence once enough cards align.

Why Play on SolitaireX?

SolitaireX is the perfect home for Osmosis and other solitaire games. It’s 100% free and browser-based – no downloads or installs needed. We give you powerful tools to enhance your play:

• 🎁 Free to Play, No Downloads: Enjoy Osmosis (and all our games) at no cost, instantly in any browser.
• 📊 Player Statistics & Leaderboards: Track your wins, games played, streaks and more. Compare your Osmosis mastery on the global leaderboard and see detailed stats.
• 💡 Hint Button: Get unstuck instantly! The hint button will highlight a valid move when you need guidance.
• 🤖 Autoplay Function: When only “obvious” moves remain, Autoplay will automatically send cards to the foundations for you. This speeds up the endgame and makes play smooth.
• 🔄 Unlimited Undo: Change your mind? Undo any move (or a series of moves) to try a different strategy. No risk in experimenting!
• 📱 Mobile-Friendly: SolitaireX works on phones, tablets, and desktops. The interface adapts so you can tap or click cards easily on any device.

SolitaireX’s features ensure Osmosis Solitaire is as fun and convenient as possible. You focus on the cards, and we take care of the rest!

More Free Solitaire Games 🎮

Love Osmosis? Check out all the other free solitaire games on SolitaireX! From Klondike and Spider to Pyramid, Golf, Yukon and dozens more, our Free Games collection has something for every patience gamer. Browse the Free Games page to discover new favorites and classic challenges alike. Each game is free, mobile-friendly, and packed with the same hints, stats, and leaderboards you enjoy in Osmosis. Happy shuffling and good luck!

Sources: Official rules and background on Osmosis (Treasure Trove) solitaire; SolitaireX platform features and game info.