How to play Agnes Bernauer
Goal - Move all the cards to the Foundation
Decks
- A standard deck (52 cards)
Redeals
- No
Foundation
- A card will be the starter card of the foundation. The three other cards of the same rank are placed next to it during play as they become available.
- An Ace can be placed on the King
- The top card of each pile is available for move
Tableau
- Build tableau piles down by the alternating color
- The top card of each pile is available for move
- Group of cards in the proper sequence can be moved
- Empty tableaus can be filled with any single card or group of cards in proper sequence
Stock
- The stock pile contains the remaining cards.
- Press to deal one card to each Reserve pile
Reserve
- The top card of each pile is available for move
- Building upon cards is not allowed.
Strategy & tips
- Play aces and twos to the foundation immediately, but think twice before sending higher cards - you may need them in the tableau.
- Empty columns are gold. Plan moves that free a column so you can park a king there.
- Turn 1 favours patient deduction; Turn 3 is faster but more limiting. Pick the variant that suits your mood.
Origin & history
Named after Agnes Bernauer (~1410–1435), the bathhouse-keeper's daughter who secretly married Albert III of Bavaria and was drowned in the Danube on his father's orders.