This game is named in honor of London’s most famous clock—the clock that towers proudly above Westminster and the River Thames. This game is challenging and moderately hard to win (odds say you’ll win 1 in 15 hands). The goal is to build and reverse-build cards to replicate an accurate clock face (chimes not included).
HOW TO DEAL Start with two fifty-two-card decks (104 cards total), and set aside the following: 2 of clubs, 3 of hearts, 4 of spades, 5 of diamonds, 6 of clubs, 7 of hearts, 8 of spades, 9 of diamonds, 10 of clubs, J of diamonds, Q of spades, K of diamonds. These are your foundations, also called the “inner circle.” Arrange these cards in a circle—meant to resemble a clock face—like so:
Next, deal twelve piles (three cards per pile) around the inner circle. These are your tableau piles, called the “outer circle”:
All other cards are set aside as the reserve.
WINNING The goal is to transform the inner circle of foundation cards into a replica clock face, with each foundation card reflecting its true posi tion on a clock dial. In this example, you need to build the 8 of spades foundation up to 3 of spades (it’s in the 3:00 position), the 9 of diamonds foundation up to 4 of diamonds (in the 4:00 position), etc., all the way up to a J of spades in the 11:00 position, Q of diamonds in the 12:00, and A of clubs in the 1:00 position.
HOW TO PLAY The goal is to build the inner circle of cards up by suit, in ascending rank, until the appropriate clock position is displayed. So, to build the 8 of spades foundation to 3 of spades (its clock position), simply build up in suit until 3 of spades is on top (8 of spades-9 of spades-10 of spades-J of spades-Q of spades-K of spades-A of spades-2 of spades-3 of spades).
In the outer circle, use the topmost tableau cards to build in the inner circle or to build on another tableau pile around the outer circle. Note that building on the outer circle is by suit in descending rank. Also note that, in order to build on it, an outer circle pile must contain a minimum of three cards. With fewer than three cards, it may not be built on.
Whenever a pile in the outer circle has fewer than three cards, it is said to have “gaps,” one gap for each card below three. For example, an outer circle pile is said to have one gap if it contains two cards, two gaps if it contains one card, three gaps if the pile is completely empty.
Your reserve cards are used to fill these “gaps” according to specific rules. First you must fill all gaps at the same time. In other words, gaps will develop around the outer circle as you build and play cards. These gaps will continue to build until you decide to fill all gaps at once. Second, when you decide to fill gaps, start with the 12:00 pile and move clockwise. Deal as many cards as required to fill all gaps in a pile before moving to the next pile. Finally, you are not allowed to play or build cards in either the outer or inner circles until all your gaps are filled.
The last rule of Big Ben? It’s an easy one. Deal a card from the reserve on the rare occasion that you cannot build, move, or fill any gaps. If the reserve card itself cannot be played, deal another. The game is over when the reserve pile is exhausted. There is no redeal.