Portuguese Solitaire

Rules

Deal 52 cards face up into thirteen columns of four, moving Kings to the bottom of their columns first.

Move only a column’s top card. Build down by rank on any suit.

An empty column may be filled only by a King.

Build four suit foundations from Ace to King to win.

Tips

• Keep track of where the four Kings are buried.
• Clear a column when a King can use the space to expose more cards.
• Advance foundations to release cards that block an Ace or a low rank.

Read Portuguese Solitaire advice in the Baker’s Dozen guide →

Related games

Portuguese Solitaire is part of The Observatory · FreeCell & open packers and is a variant of Baker’s Dozen. An empty column can be filled by a King.

More FreeCell & open packers games

• Baker’s Dozen — Thirteen columns with kings sunk to bottom.
• Bisley — Build by suit in either direction toward eight foundations.
• Castles in Spain — Partly covered columns with alternating-color sequence moves.
• Good Measure — Ten columns of five with two Aces already on foundations.
• FreeCell — All cards visible. Use the four cells.
• Penguin — FreeCell-style play with seven flipper cells.

Also try

• Gaps (Grid & sequence puzzles) — Fill four rows of gaps to build 2–K suit runs. No aces, three passes.
• Klondike (Klondike family) — The patience everyone knows. Draw 1 or 3.
• Beleaguered Castle (Castle games) — Eight columns flanking four aces.

Learn

• Portuguese Solitaire advice in the Baker’s Dozen guide
• How FreeCell & open packers games work
• Terms: Empty column · Kings only · Building · Regardless of suit · Open deal
• Find another game