Calculation
A mathematical patience game with foundations built by different intervals.
Setup
Place ace, two, three, and four as foundation starters. Deal cards one at a time to waste piles.
How to Play
- Build foundations by +1, +2, +3, and +4 rank cycles respectively.
- Place unusable cards into a small number of waste piles.
- Only top waste cards are playable.
How to Win
Move all cards to the four foundations.
Plan waste piles by future foundation timing, not by suit.
Is Calculation Right for You?
Calculation is a single-player patience game built entirely on a clever building sequence, where four foundations are built up in different numeric steps. Reach for it when you want a solitaire that is almost pure planning, with no hidden cards and every decision in your control.
Maybe skip it if: Players who want the visual cascade and luck of Klondike will find this dry and abstract.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Forgetting each foundation builds in its own interval: by ones, twos, threes, and fours, wrapping around past the King.
- Treating the four waste piles as random dumps rather than carefully ordered reserves to feed the foundations later.
Strategy Tips
- Keep one waste pile reserved for high cards you cannot yet place, so it does not block easy future plays.
- Plan a few cards ahead: every card you bury in a waste pile must come off in a usable order.
Popular Variations
Hopscotch / Broken Intervals
A named relative using similar skip-counting foundations, sometimes cited as another title for the same idea.
Strict No-Reshuffle
The standard challenge forbids reshuffling the stock, making your waste-pile ordering the whole game.
Our Take
We rate Calculation as one of the most skill-driven solitaires, with the winning rate genuinely tied to how well you plan your waste piles. It is our pick for a solo player who wants to think rather than just flip cards.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do the foundations build in Calculation?
The four foundations start with an Ace, 2, 3, and 4, and build up by ones, twos, threes, and fours respectively, wrapping past the King back to low cards.
Can you always win Calculation?
No, but it is far more winnable than luck-based solitaires; skillful management of the four waste piles is what separates a win from a loss.