Opening Play Mistakes

Mistake 1Don’t make the first available move without examining all ten tableau piles

Look at how the cards work together

• Which Aces are available?
• Which 2s and 3s can reach the foundations?
• Which piles can be emptied?
• Which cards can be built downward in the same suit?
• Which same-suit sequences can be moved together?
• Which move will uncover the most useful card?
• Which suit has the strongest available sequence?
• Are there duplicate cards that give you two possible moves?
• Will a foundation move remove a card that is still needed in the tableau?
• Can one move create several additional moves?

The complete opening tableau is visible. Use this information before moving anything.

Choosing between two available moves

Example

Both 7s can be moved onto their matching 8s, and both sequences can be placed beneath the matching 9. However, moving the club sequence uncovers the Ace of diamonds. Moving the spade sequence uncovers the King of hearts. The club move is stronger because the Ace can immediately begin a foundation.

Mistake 2Don’t automatically move every available card to a foundation

Check the card before moving it

• Aces should normally be moved immediately.
• 2s should usually be moved as soon as their Aces are available.
• Low cards are normally safe to move early.
• Higher cards may still be needed to support tableau sequences.
• A card should remain in the tableau if removing it blocks an important move.
• Foundation moves are normally permanent.

Moving a 6 to the foundation

Example

The 6 of hearts can be moved to the foundation. However, moving it onto the 7 of hearts may be better if it uncovers the 5 of clubs or helps empty Pile B.

Moving a 3 to the foundation

Example

Move the 3 of spades to the foundation. A low card like the 3 is unlikely to be more valuable as a tableau support than as a foundation card.

Moving a Jack to the foundation

Example

The Jack of diamonds can move to the foundation, but it can also move onto the Queen of diamonds and uncover the 4 of clubs. If the 4 of clubs can be played immediately and the move helps clear Pile B, keep the Jack in the tableau for now.

Mistake 3Don’t rush the stock just because the waste card looks unplayable

Before turning over the next stock card, check every tableau pile again. A short sequence of moves may create a place for the waste card.

When not to turn the next stock card

Example

Move the 4 of hearts to its foundation. The 8 of clubs becomes available. Move the 8♣ onto the 9♣, then move the 7♣ from the waste onto the 8♣.

If you turn over the next stock card first, the 7 of clubs will be covered. A covered waste card only returns to play once every card above it has been legally removed, which with a single stock pass you cannot count on.

Mistake 4Don’t rule out keeping a playable card in the tableau

Keeping a foundation-ready card in the tableau is often a very profitable play in Josephine Solitaire.

Benefits of delaying a foundation move

• The card may support a lower card of the same suit.
• Keeping the card may help form a movable sequence.
• The sequence may be used to clear another tableau pile.
• The card may provide a destination for an important waste card.
• Delaying the move may keep both copies of a suit balanced.
• The card can still be moved to the foundation later.

Keeping an 8 in the tableau

Example

The 8 of clubs can be moved to the foundation. However, placing it on the 9 of clubs allows the 7 of clubs to move from the waste onto the 8. The new sequence is 9♣-8♣-7♣.

You have saved the waste card and created a movable same-suit sequence.

Mistake 5Don’t move an Ace before checking what the move uncovers

An available Ace should almost always go to a foundation. But first check the card above it and the complete order of moves. Playing in the wrong order can cause you to miss a chance to clear a pile.

Reading the order before you touch the Ace

Example

The Ace of clubs sits at the bottom of Pile A, so it is the available card and it goes to the empty club foundation first. That uncovers the 6♦-5♦ sequence, which then moves onto the 7♦. Pile A is now empty.

If you bank the Ace and immediately turn to another part of the tableau, you may overlook the sequence move and fail to recognise that the entire pile can be cleared.

Mistake 6Don’t forget that you can see every card in the tableau

Josephine Solitaire does not deal tableau cards face down. Although covered cards cannot be moved, you can see which cards will become available after each move. Use that information to plan two, three or four moves ahead.

Reading the card beneath a sequence

Example

You know the Ace of hearts is beneath the 10-9-8 sequence. Move the complete spade sequence onto the Jack of spades. The Ace of hearts is then available for its foundation, Pile A is empty and Pile C is still empty.

Mistake 7Don’t fill an empty pile with a card that has no useful next move

Spending an empty pile well

Example

The King of spades can legally move into the empty pile, but the move uncovers nothing and there are no lower spades ready to follow it. Moving the diamond sequence may expose a useful card or help connect it to the 9 of diamonds later.

Use the empty pile for the move that creates the greatest number of future options.

Mistake 8Don’t divide a complete sequence without a clear reason

Leaving a King stranded

Example

You can move the Q-J-10-9 sequence into the empty pile, but this leaves the King by itself and creates no immediate advantage. Keep the sequence together unless separating it uncovers an important card, empties another pile or allows part of the sequence to reach a foundation.

A long same-suit sequence is one of the strongest tools in Josephine Solitaire because it can be moved as a single group.

Mistake 9Adjust your play once tableau piles start to empty

With no empty piles, your moves are restricted by the cards available at the bottom of the tableau. With one empty pile, you can temporarily store any card or legal sequence. With two empty piles, you can perform much larger rearrangements.

Combining three short runs

Example

Use one empty pile to hold the 8-7 sequence. Move the 10-9 sequence onto the Jack. Then move the 8-7 sequence onto the 9. The completed sequence is Q♣-J♣-10♣-9♣-8♣-7♣.

Every pile you borrowed comes back empty, so you finish the manoeuvre with more freedom than you started with.