Accordion Solitaire
Compress a row of cards by matching suit or rank one or three spaces left.
Setup
Deal cards face-up in a row, one at a time.
How to Play
- A card may move onto the card immediately left, or three cards left, if rank or suit matches.
- After a move, close the gap.
- Continue dealing and compressing.
How to Win
Best result is compressing the deck into one pile.
Check the three-left move before the one-left move; it often creates better chains.
Is Accordion Solitaire Right for You?
Accordion deals cards in a single long row and lets you collapse a card onto its left neighbor (or third-to-left) when they share a suit or rank, aiming to squeeze everything into one pile. Reach for it when you want a compact one-row puzzle that fits in a tight space.
Maybe skip it if: If you want a generous, forgiving game, Accordion is notoriously hard to finish.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Making the first available move automatically instead of looking ahead at the consequences.
- Collapsing a card one space when jumping it three spaces would have set up a longer chain.
Strategy Tips
- Always weigh the two-space jump against the one-space move; the longer jump often unlocks more.
- Look several moves ahead, because the wrong early collapse can strand the row permanently.
- Favor moves that bring matchable ranks or suits adjacent for future collapses.
Popular Variations
Royal Marriage
A related single-row game with the goal of bringing a particular Queen and King together.
Methuselah
Another name some sources use for the same one-pile collapsing patience.
Our Take
We respect Accordion as a genuinely brainy patience, but we will not pretend it is easy; even good players go out only rarely. It is a fine pick when you want a real challenge in the space of a single row of cards.
Frequently Asked Questions
When can you move a card in Accordion?
When it matches the card immediately to its left, or the card three places to its left, in either suit or rank.
How do you win Accordion?
You win by collapsing the entire deck into a single pile, which is uncommon even with careful, forward-looking play.