Solitaire
Card game genre of arranging or pairing cards, often for one player.
Solitaire, patience, or card solitaire is a genre of card games defined by the goal of arranging cards into a systematic order or, in fewer cases, pairing them off to discard. While most are designed for a single player, some variants accommodate two or more players. The earliest known name for this type of game is "patience," a term that appeared in both British and American sources and reflects the view of the games as an exercise in patience. During the 20th century, "solitaire" became the common name in North America, though British games scholar David Parlett argues for "patience" because it refers specifically to card games, whereas "solitaire" can also describe games played with dominoes or peg-and-board sets. American authors Wood and Goddard note that patience involves arranging cards in systematic order and that many such games are for one player, though excellent versions exist for two or more. In practice, North Americans often use "solitaire" to refer to single-player card games, while elsewhere "solitaire" may denote one-player board games like peg solitaire. Globally, "solitaire" frequently refers specifically to the game Klondike. The earliest records of solitaire appear in Germany and Scandinavia in the late 1700s and early 1800s. The first known description, from a 1783 German game anthology, calls the game "Patience" and describes a two-player version. The game reached France in the early 19th century and later Britain and America. The first English-language collection is often credited to Lady Adelaide Cadogan around 1870, though an earlier lost book titled *Patience* by "Perseverance" (William Henry Cremer) was published in London in 1860. The earliest American treatise was by Ednah Dow Littlehale Cheney in 1869. The most prolific author was Mary Whitmore Jones, whose works from 1888 to 1911 contained around 250 different games. Solitaires are games of skill, chance, or both. They are typically grouped into three classes by objective: building sequences, usually by suit, from a shuffled pack dealt into a prescribed layout. Cards are moved to arrange them in ascending or descending order, with the starting card known as the foundation card.
- earliest_recorded_name
- Patience
- common_card_size
- 67 x 42 mm
- primary_aims
- Building sequences, pairing, totalling
Lore & Background
Solitaire, also known as patience or card solitaire, encompasses a genre of card games where the primary objective is to arrange cards into a systematic order, or in some cases, to pair them off for discard. While most variations are designed for a single player, there are also versions for two or more participants. The term "patience" is the earliest recorded name for these games in both British and American sources, deriving from the perception of the games as an exercise in patience. In North America, "solitaire" became common during the 20th century, though it can also refer to games played with dominoes or peg-and-board games, whereas "patience" specifically denotes card games. The layout of a game, such as the one known as Crazy Quilt, typically involves dealing a shuffled pack of cards into a prescribed arrangement on a tabletop. The defining characteristic of most solitaires is building sequences, usually by suit, with the goal of arranging cards in ascending or descending order. The card that begins the required sequence is called the foundation or base card. These games are a mix of skill and chance. The earliest known description of a solitaire game appeared in a 1783 German game anthology, where it was called Patience and described a two-player game played alternately. The first collection of solitaires in English is often attributed to Lady Adelaide Cadogan’s *Illustrated Games of Patience* from around 1870, though a lost book titled *Patience* by "Perseverance" was published in London in 1860. The earliest American treatise was published in 1869 by Ednah Dow Littlehale Cheney. By the late 19th and early 20th centuries, many books on solitaire were written, with Mary Whitmore Jones being the most prolific author, whose works contained around 250 different games.
Reader's Guide
Solitaire holds significance as a genre of card games that has evolved over centuries, with its earliest recorded name being 'patience'. The term 'solitaire' became dominant in North America during the 20th century, though British scholar David Parlett argues for preferring 'patience' because it refers specifically to card games, while 'solitaire' may also refer to domino or peg games. The genre includes games of skill, chance, or a combination, with three main aims: building sequences, pairing cards, or totalling values. Most solitaires are for a single player, but some accommodate two or more. Solitaire's legacy includes its connection to cartomancy and its widespread cultural presence, notably the game Klondike, which is often simply called 'solitaire' worldwide.
Did You Know?
- The name 'patience' derives from the games being seen as an exercise in patience.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Solitaire as a card-game genre?
Solitaire refers to a family of card games in which a player arranges or pairs cards in a set order to clear the table, most often played alone. Hundreds of distinct variants exist, though a few are designed for two or more players.
Why do some people call it 'Patience' instead of 'Solitaire'?
'Patience' is the older name, rooted in the idea that the games were a test of a player's patience. 'Solitaire' (French for 'alone') overtook it in North America during the twentieth century, but the older term still shows up in British and European usage.
What size cards do solitaire games use?
Nearly all solitaire variants are built around the standard 67 × 42 mm playing-card size, the same dimensions you find in poker and bridge decks. That means any ordinary deck you already own will work without modification.
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