How to Play Agnes Bernauer Solitaire

Each game chooses a random base rank for all four foundations, which then build upward in suit from that rank, wrapping around. The seven tableau piles use alternating colors (opposite suit colors), and a seven-card reserve adds flexibility.

Setup

1. Four foundations (base rank determined randomly at game start, showing on the first card dealt)
2. A reserve with seven piles of one card each
3. Seven tableau piles dealt in pyramid fashion (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 cards)
4. A stock pile

How to play

• The base rank is random: whichever rank appears on the first card dealt becomes the rank every foundation starts with and builds upward from, wrapping King back to Ace
• Click the stock to deal one card onto each reserve pile; the top card of a reserve pile can then be played to the tableau or foundations
• Build tableau piles downward in alternating colors (e.g., red 6 on black 7)
• Move a run of cards together when each card is one rank lower and the opposite color of the card it covers
• Empty a tableau pile only with a card one rank below the base rank
• Cards automatically move to the foundation when they can't be built on any other cards—you can change this behavior in Settings
• Work through the stock once—no redeal

How to win

Objective: Build all 52 cards onto four foundations, each starting with the random base rank and climbing in suit.

You win when all 52 cards are on the foundations. You're stuck when cards remain and no legal moves exist.

Tips

• Identify the base rank early—it controls which cards fill empty tableau spaces
• Alternating colors in the tableau give you more flexibility than strict suit sequences
• Use reserve cards strategically to expose cards beneath them

Play Agnes Bernauer free on Windows

CardTray is a free solitaire app for Windows that includes Agnes Bernauer alongside 300+ other games. It saves every move as you play, so you can close the window and pick the game up later, replay any deal, and take on a new Daily Challenge deal every day. Browse every game in the Game Gallery.

Related games

More games from the Klondike family:

• Batsford — This two-card-deck Klondike variant only gives you one trip through the stock, so every move counts, and a small reserve lets you tuck away kings that are blocking your tableau.
• Double Minerva — This two-deck game adds a 13-card reserve alongside a tableau dealt in an alternating face-down, face-up pattern.
• Haystack — A single-deck game with a small 8-card reserve pile and a unique diamond-shaped tableau.
• Imperial Guards — A two-deck solitaire where you build tableau piles downward by alternating color and move all cards to foundations.
• Milligan Cell — Build eight foundations using two decks while managing eight tableau piles and four temporary storage cells.