Grandfather's Clock Solitaire
The most visually striking solitaire. Twelve cards are arranged in a clock-face layout — Ace at 1 o'clock, 2 at 2, all the way up to Queen at 12. Below sit eight tableau columns. Your job is to build each clock card up by suit until it reaches the rank matching its hour position. The Jack at 11 o'clock finishes on a Jack; the Queen at 12 finishes on a Queen. A winning game looks like a perfect clock with each hour's card showing its correct value.
How to Play Grandfather's Clock
- 12 cards form the clock foundation, dealt to positions 1 through 12 in specific suits.
- The other 40 cards are dealt into eight tableau columns of five cards each, all face-up.
- Build clock foundations up by suit until each ends on its hour rank (A→1, 2→2, …, J→11, Q→12). Ranks wrap if needed.
- In the tableau, build down by alternating colors, like Klondike.
- Move single cards or proper sequences.
- Empty columns accept any card.
- No stock. All 52 cards are visible from move one.
3 Strategy Tips
- Trace the cards each clock position needs. The 8-of-hearts position (at 8 o'clock) needs all hearts from its starting card up to 8. Plan where those cards are.
- Empty columns are gold. No stock means tableau flexibility is everything. Engineer an empty column early.
- Watch for impossible positions. If a foundation needs the 9 of clubs and that 9 is buried beneath only one playable card, but that card is also needed elsewhere — you have a problem to solve before you commit any other move.
FAQ
Is the clock layout just decorative?
It's both decorative and functional — the hour position tells you what rank the foundation must end on, removing the need for separate display logic.
What's the win rate?
Strong play wins around 60%. Because all cards are face-up and there's no stock luck, Grandfather's Clock is mostly a planning puzzle.