Clear useful tops before a new row covers them.
Baroness has five tableau columns. Available tops pair to 13, and Kings leave alone. A deal adds one card to each column while at least five stock cards remain. The last two stock cards become separate grace cards, available for pairing beside the columns.
Last updated: September 2026
Compare the card a pair uncovers
Only each column top and occupied grace slot is available. If several pairs are legal, prefer a line that exposes another useful top when the board supports it. Pairing a Queen with an Ace can reveal the card beneath both; pairing the Queen with a different Ace may reveal a different rank. The rule does not force a King to leave immediately: you may keep it visible while evaluating other pairs.
Suppose a column Queen can pair with either of two exposed Aces. One Ace covers a Jack and the other covers a Four. If a Two is already exposed, choosing the Ace over Jack can reveal a Jack–Two pair. That is an immediate continuation; the alternative may be better for other cards later.
Time a row and the grace cards
You may deal a row even when a pair is available. New row cards cover the previous column tops, so inspect current pairs before dealing. When exactly two stock cards remain and both grace slots are empty, the deal places those cards in grace rather than across the columns. Grace cards can pair with column tops or each other.
The win condition requires all 52 cards in the discard. Good Thirteen also pairs to 13, but its open cells refill from stock after each removal; Baroness uses player-chosen row deals that change which older cards are accessible.