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Interchange Solitaire is a double-deck Napoleon family game that combines alternating-colour building with sequence movement. Ten columns of four cards each, with the bottom row face-down, create a puzzle where uncovering hidden cards and moving ordered runs drives every decision.
What is Interchange Solitaire?
Interchange uses two standard 52-card decks (104 cards). Ten tableau columns are each dealt four cards: the bottom card face-down and the top three face-up, placing 40 cards on the tableau and leaving 64 in the stock. Eight foundation piles must be built from Ace up to King in suit. Tableau columns build down in alternating colours. Ordered sequences of cards in alternating colours may be moved as a group. One card is drawn at a time from the stock; no redeals.
How Interchange relates to Number Ten and Rank and File
Interchange, Number Ten, and Rank and File form a trio of increasingly hidden-card variants. All three use ten columns, alternating-colour building, and sequence moves. Number Ten has two face-down rows, Interchange has one, and Rank and File has three. Fewer hidden cards makes Interchange the most transparent member of the trio.
How to play Interchange Solitaire
Rules and objective
Move all 104 cards to the eight foundation piles, each built from Ace to King in a single suit. A card may be placed on a tableau column if it is one rank lower and of the opposite colour to the current top card. Properly ordered sequences in alternating colours may be moved as a unit. Empty columns accept any card or sequence. Draw one card at a time from the stock; no redeals.
Game setup
- Shuffle two standard 52-card decks together (104 cards total).
- Deal four rows of ten into ten columns: the first row face-down, the remaining three face-up.
- Reserve space above for eight foundation slots.
- Place the remaining 64 cards face-down as the stock.
Strategies to win Interchange Solitaire
- Prioritize uncovering face-down cards. Each column has one hidden card at the bottom. Exposing it early gives you full information about that column and often reveals useful cards for foundations or tableau sequences.
- Build long alternating-colour runs. Sequence movement is allowed, so a well-ordered run of six or seven cards can be relocated as a single unit. This is far more powerful than single-card games and should be exploited aggressively.
- Claim empty columns for reorganization. Moving sequences requires a destination with a matching top card or an empty column. Keeping at least one column open at all times gives you a temporary workspace for rearranging.
- Send Aces and low cards to foundations early. With sequence moves available, you rarely need low cards for tableau maneuvers. Clearing them to foundations simplifies the board significantly.
Interchange vs the Number Ten family
| Game | Face-down rows | Build rule | Sequences move | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interchange | 1 | Alt colour | Yes | ~40% |
| Number Ten | 2 | Alt colour | Yes | ~35% |
| Rank and File | 3 | Alt colour | Yes | ~30% |
| Emperor | 3 | Alt colour | Yes | ~35% (worry-back) |
Interchange Solitaire FAQ
How many face-down cards are there in Interchange?
Ten. Each of the ten columns has exactly one face-down card at the bottom. The remaining three cards in each column are face-up. This makes Interchange one of the most visible-start games in the Napoleon family.
Is Interchange easier than Number Ten?
Generally yes. Interchange has only one face-down row compared to Number Ten's two. More visible information means fewer guessing situations, raising the win rate from roughly 35% to around 40%.
Can I move partial sequences in Interchange?
Yes. Any substring of a properly ordered alternating-colour sequence starting from the top of a column can be moved as a unit. You are not required to move the entire sequence.
What goes in an empty column in Interchange?
Any single card or any valid alternating-colour sequence may be placed in an empty column. There is no King-only restriction.
Does Interchange allow taking cards back from foundations?
No. Unlike Emperor, which has a worry-back rule, Interchange does not permit retrieving cards from the foundations once placed.