Play Red and Black Solitaire Online - The Alternating Color Challenge

Red and Black is a two-deck patience game with one elegant rule. Every build, on foundations and tableau alike, must alternate colors. The game belongs to the Napoleon at St. Helena family. It plays fast, looks striking, and rewards steady planning.

How to Play Red and Black Solitaire

Objective: Move all 104 cards to the eight foundations. Each foundation builds up in alternating colors from Ace to King.

Game Setup

• Two decks: 104 cards in total.
• Foundations: The eight Aces start on the foundations.
• Tableau: Eight piles of one card each, dealt below the foundations.
• Stock: The remaining 88 cards. Click to deal one card to the waste.
• Key rule: Every build alternates colors.

Basic Rules

• Foundations build up from Ace to King in alternating colors. Suits do not matter.
• Example: Ace, then 2, then 3, and so on up to the King.
• The tableau builds down in alternating colors.
• The top card of each pile and the top waste card are in play.
• Ordered runs may move together if they alternate colors.
• An empty pile takes any card or run in play.
• The stock deals one card at a time. One redeal is allowed, so you get two passes.

Understanding Alternating Colors

• Red cards: Hearts and Diamonds .
• Black cards: Clubs and Spades .
• Builds run red-black-red or black-red-black.
• Suits never matter - only color does. A red 6 can be Hearts or Diamonds.

Winning Strategy Tips

• Build foundations evenly. Keep all eight at similar heights.
• Create empty piles early. Empty spaces give you room to work.
• Remember the duplicates. Two decks mean two copies of every card.
• Move runs with purpose. A long run can free several buried cards at once.
• Do not rush to foundations. A card in the tableau still helps you build.
• Respect the single redeal. Play everything you can before you cycle the stock.

Advanced Techniques

Empty Pile Management

• Keep one or two empty piles free in the middle game.
• Use them to take apart runs that are stuck.
• Park single cards there while you dig for buried ones.

Waste and Redeal Timing

• Check every board move before you draw. Each draw buries the waste one card deeper.
• Skipped cards return in the same order on the redeal.
• On the second pass, take every legal play. There is no third pass.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Uneven foundations. This is the most common way to lose.
• Filling every space at once. Keep some working room.
• Wasting the redeal. Cycling early throws away your final pass.
• Sending cards up too fast. Tableau cards keep your options open.

History of Red and Black

Red and Black belongs to the Napoleon at St. Helena family of patience games. These games appeared in the 19th century. Legend links them to Napoleon in exile, though that is likely a myth. The name comes from the game's one big rule: every build alternates red and black.

The Napoleon Family

• Napoleon at St. Helena: The original and a harder variant.
• Forty Thieves: Builds by suit instead of color.
• Red and Black: Builds by alternating colors, which plays more smoothly.
• Limited: Adds extra restrictions.

Game Difficulty

• Easier than: Forty Thieves, since color building is looser than suit building.
• Harder than: Klondike, since two decks add complexity.
• Average game time: 15 to 25 minutes.
• Learning curve: Gentle. The color rule is easy to grasp.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do suits matter in Red and Black?

No. Only colors matter. Hearts and Diamonds are interchangeable, and so are Clubs and Spades. That makes the game more forgiving than Forty Thieves.

How do foundation builds work exactly?

All eight Aces start on the foundations. Each pile then builds up one rank at a time. Every new card must be the opposite color of the card below it. A finished pile holds 13 cards, from Ace to King.

Can I move sequences in the tableau?

Yes. A proper run alternates colors and descends one rank at a time. You may move the whole run onto a card that continues the pattern. This is a powerful way to expose buried cards.

How many times can I go through the stock?

Twice. The stock deals one card at a time to the waste. When it runs out, the waste turns over once to form a new stock. After that second pass there are no more redeals.

What should I do with empty tableau spaces?

Treat them as your best resource. Use them to store cards, split runs, or free buried cards. Try to keep at least one space open in the middle game.

Why do I keep losing?

The usual causes are uneven foundations, no working space, and hasty draws. Keep the eight piles balanced. Squeeze every play out of each pass through the stock.

Master the elegant challenge of Red and Black - where color alternation is everything!