How to Play Fair Maids Solitaire

Build descending sequences in the tableau one rank at a time in any suit, then move complete 13-card runs to the foundations. The goal: Arrange all 52 cards into descending-rank sequences on the tableau, one rank lower per card in any suit, and move complete runs to the foundations.

Setup

1. Seven tableau piles, each dealt four cards face down except the top card
2. Four foundation piles ready to accept complete 13-card runs
3. One stock pile that deals one card onto each non-empty tableau pile, a single pass with no redeal

How to play

• Build the tableau by placing a single card one rank lower than the card it covers - suit and color don't matter for a lone card
• To move several stacked cards together as a group, they must already form an alternating-color sequence (e.g., a black 7 on a red 8)
• Only the top card of each pile starts face up; moving cards away reveals the face-down cards beneath
• Empty tableau spaces accept any card
• When you run out of moves, click the stock to deal one card onto each non-empty pile (only one pass through the stock)
• Once a tableau pile holds a complete run of all 13 ranks from King down to Ace, move the whole run to a foundation together

How to win

Objective: Arrange all 52 cards into descending-rank sequences on the tableau, one rank lower per card in any suit, and move complete runs to the foundations.

You win when all four foundations contain complete runs (all 13 ranks). You lose if you run out of stock cards and no more moves exist.

Tips

• Focus on exposing buried cards by extending sequences one rank at a time, and keep runs alternating in color when you want to move several cards together
• Save empty tableau spaces for flexible card placement
• Plan carefully before dealing from the stock since you can only go through it once

Play Fair Maids free on Windows

CardTray is a free solitaire app for Windows that includes Fair Maids 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 Spider family:

• Fred's Spider — A two-deck Spider variant where every tableau card is dealt face up and cards may be sent to the foundations as they become ready, making it more forgiving than classic Spider.
• Gypsy — A two-deck game combining Spider and Klondike elements.
• Irmgard — Build in alternating colors across nine tableau piles while the stock feeds new cards.
• Lady Jane — An approachable two-deck game that blends Spider and Klondike mechanics.
• Applegate — Build complete 13-card same-suit runs in the tableau, then move each finished run to a foundation as a group.