Streets and Alleys
Overview
Streets and Alleys is a classic open-tableau solitaire closely related to Beleaguered Castle (Laying Siege). All 52 cards are dealt face-up into eight side rows (the streets). The four central foundation piles (the alleys) start empty — Aces begin in the streets and must be freed before you can build.
Setup
•
Deck: One standard 52-card deck (no jokers)
•
Foundations (alleys): Four empty piles in the center
•
Tableau (streets): All 52 cards dealt face-up into eight rows — typically four rows of seven and four of six (28 + 24 = 52), four rows on each side of the foundations
•
Aces start in the streets, not on the foundations (unlike Beleaguered Castle)
Objective
Move all 52 cards to the four foundation alleys, building each up in ascending order by suit from Ace to King.
Turn Structure
On your turn, you may:
1.
Move to Foundation: Move the outermost card of any street onto its matching alley if it is exactly one rank higher and the same suit. An empty alley accepts only the Ace of that suit.
2.
Move between Streets: Move the outermost card of any row onto the end of another row if it is exactly one rank lower than that row's outermost card (suit and color do not matter).
3.
Move to Empty Street: If a row is completely empty, move any available outermost card into that space.
Key Rules
•
Only one card may be moved at a time — never move groups of cards
•
Foundations (alleys) build up by suit (Ace → 2 → 3 → ... → King)
•
Streets build down regardless of suit (any card one rank lower)
•
Empty streets can accept any available outermost card
•
Only the outermost card of each row (farthest from the center) may be moved
Winning and Losing
•
Win: All 52 cards have been built onto the four foundation alleys, capped by the four Kings.
•
Lose / stuck: If no legal move remains before the alleys are complete, the game ends as a loss — including a deal that offers no move at all from the start. Start a new deal (concede is always available).
Strategy Tips
•
Free the Aces: Because alleys start empty, locating and uncovering Aces is the first priority
•
Value empty streets: Empty rows are your main tool for maneuvering — don't fill them without a plan
•
Plan ahead: Every card is visible; work out how to expose buried low cards before moving casually to foundations