Solitaire connoisseurs will appreciate Russian Bank. The game follows a rough Solitaire framework, using tableau and reserve piles to build a set of foundation cards up by suit and rank. The twist here, of course, is that Russian Bank is highly competitive.
HOW TO DEAL Each player starts with their own fifty-two-card deck (choose decks with different backings to tell them apart), and deals twelve cards, face down, as her stock, plus four face-up cards in the tableau, leaving room for two center columns, as shown below (F = foundations). Place the remaining cards face down in your reserve pile.
SCORING The goal is to play all your cards (your stock, reserve, and waste piles) to your tableau or foundation piles. You also may load your cards onto your opponent’s stock or waste piles (see “How To Play” below). The first player to rid himself of cards earns 30 points, plus 2 points for each card left in his opponent’s stock, and 1 point for each card left in his opponent’s reserve and waste piles.
HOW TO PLAY The game starts with player one moving any aces from his tableau to the foundations. Once a foundation has been seeded with an ace, you may then build on it by suit in ascending rank up to the king.
Next, player one turns up a stock card. If the card may be played to the foundations, it must be played to the foundations. Otherwise, use the card to build on your tableau in descending rank and in alternating color.
Thereafter, each turn follows the same rules of priority:
Move cards in the tableau one at a time, not in groups. Fill tableau vacancies with any available card (following the rules of priority above), including the top card from another tableau pile.
During your turn, you also may load cards from your own stock, reserve, or tableau onto your opponent’s stock or waste piles, by building up or down in rank and by suit. So if your opponent has 5 of diamonds face-up in her stock, you may build 6 of diamonds, then 7 of diamonds, then 6 of diamonds on her stock, forcing her to play these extra cards. And yes, it is OK to change directions mid-build.
Unlike most Solitaire games, you may not use any cards from your own waste pile. Instead, once your reserve is exhausted, turn the waste pile over (do not shuffle) to create a new reserve.
IRREGULARITIES & DISPUTES If either player builds incorrectly or does not follow the rules of priority, the error must be corrected only if it’s noticed. Once the turn shifts, any errors stand.