Grand Napoleon

Grand Napoleon is a difficult patience where all 104 cards are already laid out and which requires precise planning.

# Layout

In Grand Napoleon, some cards are already played up during layout, so that rows of different lengths are created. First, a row of eleven cards is laid out. Then it is checked whether there are already Aces or Kings in this row. One each of Ace, Ace, Ace and Ace as well as one King, King, King and King may be played up as foundation cards. The already matching subsequent cards as well.

Then the remaining cards are placed one after another in the eleven rows overlapping. After each row, only the far left and far right rows are checked to see if a foundation card or subsequent card is there. These may be played up. This continues until all cards are laid out.

# Objective

Four Aces are followed by ascending same-suit building and four Kings are followed by descending same-suit building.

# Gameplay

In this patience, moving is only permitted in the same suit, but both ascending and descending! Sequences may not be moved, so you should try to clear an empty row if possible. Through ascending and descending moving, sequences can often be reversed and placed elsewhere. Forward-looking planning is important here. You should not place certain cards somewhere or play them up too early; often another possibility presents itself.

When all possibilities are exhausted, you can push together the tableau in a certain order and lay it out again. The played-up cards remain untouched! Starting from the far right, push together all cards of a vertical row and turn them over. Do this with each row and place them one after another face-down on the card pile. This creates a new stock, which is laid out again unshuffled.

As described in the layout, during the second layout the cards of the first horizontal row can be played up again. Likewise, the cards of the following rows from the far left and far right again. After that, proceed as before with precise planning and moving until nothing works anymore or the patience has already succeeded. Otherwise, proceed a third time in the same way and should have completed the patience by then.

# Summary

• Lay out all 104 cards in eleven rows
• Foundation cards and subsequent cards of the first horizontal row may be played up
• After that, only cards from the far left and far right rows may be played up during layout
• Moving is only permitted in the same suit, but both ascending and descending
• Empty rows may be filled with any cards
• You may push together the tableau twice and lay it out again, starting with the right row and not reshuffling the stock
• Objective: ascending same-suit building on four Aces and descending same-suit building on four Kings

# Similar patience games

• Prince Bismarck