How to Play Even and Odd Solitaire

Build two separate foundation groups where one foundation follows odd ranks (Ace, 3, 5, etc.) and the other follows even ranks (2, 4, 6, etc.). The goal: Move all 52 cards to the foundations by building ascending sequences based on whether each rank is even or odd.

Setup

1. Eight foundations split into two groups: odd-rank foundations start with an Ace and build by twos; even-rank foundations start with a Two and build by twos, each of the four piles in a group starting with a different suit
2. Nine tableau piles in the middle, each dealt one card face up
3. Three reserve piles on the left, each containing six cards with only the top card face up

How to play

• Move cards from the tableau, reserve, and waste piles to build the foundations
• Odd foundations accept Ace, 3, 5, 7, 9, J, K (in any suit) - seven cards complete a pile
• Even foundations accept 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, Q (in any suit) - six cards complete a pile
• Each tableau spot holds only one card; when you clear one, it refills automatically with the top card from the waste pile, or from the stock when the waste is empty
• Only the top card of a reserve pile can be moved; empty reserve spaces cannot be refilled
• Click the stock to deal one card at a time to the waste pile - you only get one pass through the stock, with no redeal

How to win

Objective: Move all 52 cards to the foundations by building ascending sequences based on whether each rank is even or odd.

You win when all 52 cards are built onto the foundations. You lose if you run out of moves and still have cards in the tableau, reserve, or waste pile.

Tips

• Make all visible moves before drawing from the stock—this is your only chance to work through the deck
• Reserve cards are precious because you can't refill empty spaces; use them strategically
• When a tableau spot opens up, immediately look for a card that will help both parity foundations

Play Even and Odd free on Windows

CardTray is a free solitaire app for Windows that includes Even and Odd 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 Foundations family:

• Racing Aces — A fast-paced game where four foundation types race in different directions—Aces up, Sixes down, Sevens up, and Kings down—while you feed them from a single-pass stock, a waste pile, and three long reserve piles.
• Royal Rendezvous — Two decks feed four different kinds of foundations at once: a full same-suit run, an odds-only ladder, an evens-only ladder, and four slots that each hold just a single King.
• Captive Queens — A quick, luck-focused game where three different foundation piles build from different ranks.
• Carousel — A complex two-deck game played with the Kings removed, so each suit runs Ace (low) through Queen.