King Albert

Royal Complexity • Total Visibility • Grandmaster Strategy
King Albert Solitaire

Named after King Albert I of Belgium, this solitaire game is legendary for its difficulty. As an "open" game, all cards are dealt face-up, removing luck and leaving only your tactical skill. With a unique 9-column tableau and only 7 reserve cards, King Albert is often considered the ultimate test for solitaire enthusiasts.

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How to Play

1

The Royal Tableau

Cards are dealt face-up into 9 columns. The first has 1 card, the second has 2, up to the ninth which has 9 cards. Unlike Raglan, Aces stay in the deck and must be played manually.

2

Use the Reserve

Seven cards are placed in a reserve area (the "Belgian Reserve"). These cards are available to be played to the tableau or foundations at any time to break a stalemate.

3

Build the Columns

Piles are built down in alternating colors (e.g., a Red 7 goes on a Black 8). Only the top card of any column or a card from the reserve can be moved.

4

Claim Victory

Build all four foundation piles up by suit from Ace through King. Because every card is visible, victory is entirely dependent on the order of your moves.

Solitaire Briefing

Is King Albert harder than Raglan?
Generally, yes. Because Aces start in the tableau and the reserve cards cannot be replaced, King Albert requires much tighter move sequencing.

Why is it called "Idiosyncratic"?
It earned this nickname due to its unusual deal (triangular tableau plus a reserve) and the fact that it feels more like a logical puzzle than a standard game of cards.