What is The Plot?
The Plot is a two-deck patience game (104 cards) with eight foundations, a 13-card reserve, and a 12-pile tableau. Its defining feature is a two-phase structure: one foundation must be completed before the other seven can start. The reserve’s top card plays only to foundations — never to the tableau.
Setup and deal
From two shuffled decks: 13 cards go face-up to the reserve (visible but only the top is playable). One card starts Foundation 1 and sets the base rank for all eight foundations. Twelve cards fill the tableau (one per pile). The remaining 78 cards form the stock — there is no redeal.
Phase 1 — build Foundation 1
Only Foundation 1 accepts cards until it holds all 13. During this phase, empty tableau spaces may only be filled by cards matching the base rank (drawn from waste). Reserve cards go to Foundation 1 when the rank fits; otherwise, they wait.
Phase 2 — all eight foundations
Once Foundation 1 is complete, Foundations 2–8 open simultaneously. Any card matching the base rank can start them. Empty tableau spaces can now receive any card from the waste. All eight foundations build upward regardless of suit, round-the-corner, from the shared base rank.
Tableau rules
Tableau piles build downward, one card at a time, regardless of suit. Empty spaces can only be filled from the waste (never by moving a card from another tableau pile).
Read the full strategy guide →
Related two-deck games
- Canfield — single deck, same reserve-and-base-rank structure
- Variegated Demon — two-deck Canfield with 8 foundations, Aces pre-placed
- Napoleon at St Helena — two-deck, 8 foundations, 10-column tableau
- The Plot strategy guide