How to play Calculation Solitaire
Calculation gives each of the four foundations its own arithmetic sequence. Foundation 1 (starting on Ace) adds 1 each step; Foundation 2 (starting on 2) adds 2; Foundation 3 adds 3; Foundation 4 adds 4. All sequences wrap around at King back to Ace. Suit is irrelevant — only the rank and the step count matter.
The rules in short
- Four foundations start with A, 2, 3, and 4 (one heart, one diamond, one club, one spade). Four waste piles start empty. 48 cards are in the stock.
- Draw one card from the stock. Place it on any foundation if its rank is next in that foundation's sequence, or park it on any waste pile.
- Foundation sequences (wrap K→A): F1: A 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 J Q K. F2: 2 4 6 8 10 Q A 3 5 7 9 J K. F3: 3 6 9 Q 2 5 8 J A 4 7 10 K. F4: 4 8 Q 3 7 J 2 6 10 A 5 9 K.
- Move the top of any waste pile to a foundation if it fits. You cannot move waste cards to other waste piles.
- The stock is gone through once. You win when all 52 cards are on the foundations.
Tips
- Plan which waste pile to use for each rank group. Use one pile for low ranks destined for F1, another for the F2 skip-2 cards, and so on.
- Waste piles are stacks — you can only reach the top card. Avoid burying a card you need soon under cards you need later.
- Know the sequences by heart. Being surprised by what rank comes next on a foundation wastes draws.
Questions
Does suit matter at all in Calculation?
No. Only the rank matters. Any card of the right rank goes to any foundation regardless of suit.
Can I go through the stock more than once?
No. The stock deals out once. Waste management is everything.
Can I move a waste card to another waste pile?
No. Waste tops can only move to a foundation, not to another waste pile.