How to Play Balcony Solitaire

An unusual solitaire where the foundation base rank is randomized each game instead of always being Ace, and a reserve of seven cards sits to the side for strategic play. You build foundations in alternating colors using the randomized starting rank, with cards wrapping around from King back to the starting rank.

Setup

1. Four foundation piles are created; one is dealt a random starting card that sets the base rank, and the other three must each be started later with a card of that same rank
2. Seven reserve cards sit together in a row, with only the top card playable
3. Seven tableau piles receive one card each face-up
4. The stock contains the remaining cards, dealt one at a time to the waste

How to play

• Build the foundations in ascending order by alternating colors (red on black, black on red)
• Foundation sequences wrap around—if the base is a 7, the sequence is 7-8-9-10-J-Q-K-A-2-3-4-5-6-7, and so on
• In the tableau, stack cards descending by alternating colors
• Only the top card from the reserve row can be played to foundations or tableau
• Click the stock to deal one card at a time to the waste pile (single pass, no redeal)
• Move only the top card from each tableau pile at a time
• Any card can fill an empty tableau pile, which is automatically refilled with the top stock card (or waste card when the stock is empty)
• Cards automatically move to the foundations once there are no more tableau moves available for them

How to win

Objective: Move all 52 cards to the foundations, building in alternating colors and wrapping around.

You win when all 52 cards are on the four foundation piles. You're stuck when no more moves are available and the stock is exhausted.

Tips

• Notice the base rank at the start—it changes the entire sequence strategy
• Reserve cards are limited, so plan carefully which ones you'll need to play
• Empty tableau piles can hold any card, giving you flexibility to clear the reserve

Play Balcony free on Windows

CardTray is a free solitaire app for Windows that includes Balcony 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 Canfield family:

• Blondes and Brunettes — A two-deck variant where a single dealt card determines the starting rank for all foundations, which then build up in opposite colors as you work through the waste and reserve piles.
• Demons and Thieves — A two-deck game with the tableau split in two: the left side builds down in opposite colors, the right side builds down in the same suit.
• Kansas — Start each game with a random base rank that sets the tone for your foundations.