Play Rank and File Solitaire Online for Free (Democrat Solitaire)
Rank and File is one of the most popular two-deck solitaire games in the Napoleon family. Three face-down rows per column combine with alternating-colour building and full sequence movement to create a rich, tactical game with a win rate around 50%. If you enjoy uncovering hidden cards while managing long sequences, this is the variant for you.
What is Rank and File Solitaire?
Rank and File Solitaire (also called Democrat Solitaire) uses two standard 52-card decks. Ten tableau columns each receive four cards: the bottom three rows are dealt face-down and only the top row is face-up. The remaining 64 cards form the stock. Eight foundations must be built from Ace up to King in suit. Tableau builds down in alternating colours and any correctly built alternating-colour sequence can be moved as a unit. Draw one card at a time from the stock; no redeals.
Rank and File Solitaire history
Rank and File appears in late nineteenth-century patience references under both its current name and "Democrat." The game belongs to the same Napoleon at St Helena family as Forty Thieves, Streets, and Deauville, but its combination of hidden cards and sequence movement makes it a genuinely strategic variant rather than a near-luck contest. It has remained popular in patience collections for over a century.
How to play Rank and File Solitaire
Rank and File Solitaire rules and objective
Move all 104 cards to the eight foundation piles, each built up from Ace to King in a single suit. A card or sequence may be placed on a tableau column if the bottom card of the moving piece is one rank lower and opposite in colour to the column's current top card. Face-down cards flip automatically when exposed. Empty columns accept any card or sequence. Draw one card at a time from the stock to the waste; the top waste card is always playable. No redeals.
Game setup
- Shuffle two standard 52-card decks together (104 cards).
- Deal four rows of ten. Rows one, two, and three go face-down; row four goes face-up.
- Reserve space above the tableau for eight foundation slots.
- Place the remaining 64 cards face-down as the stock.
Strategies to win Rank and File Solitaire
- Flip face-down cards aggressively. Three hidden rows mean many useful cards are buried, and each reveal opens up new sequence and foundation opportunities.
- Use sequence moves to shift blocking cards onto any compatible column, not just the most convenient one. The goal is to expose face-down cards, not to tidy sequences.
- Keep at least one or two empty columns available as staging areas. Rank and File gives you enough flexibility to create them if you plan moves a few steps ahead.
- Build toward foundations as Aces and 2s appear, but leave tableau sequences intact when they are still serving as organisers for other cards.
- Conserve stock. With three face-down rows to flip, early tableau play can sustain progress for many moves before you need to draw.
Rank and File vs similar games
| Game | Face-down rows | Build rule | Sequences move | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forty Thieves | 0 | Same suit down | No | ~10% |
| Deauville | 3 | Alt colour down | No | ~15% |
| Number Ten | 2 | Alt colour down | Yes | ~40% |
| Rank and File | 3 | Alt colour down | Yes | ~50% |
| Emperor | 3 | Alt colour down | Yes | ~60% |
| Josephine | 0 | Same suit down | Yes (same suit) | ~30% |
Rank and File Solitaire FAQ
Is Rank and File the same as Democrat Solitaire?
Yes. Rank and File and Democrat are alternative names for the same patience game. Both appear in nineteenth-century card game references and describe identical rules: two decks, three face-down rows, alternating-colour building, and sequence movement.
How many cards start face-down in Rank and File?
Three of the four rows per column start face-down, so 30 of the 40 tableau cards are initially hidden. Only the top card in each of the ten columns starts face-up. Each face-down card flips automatically when the card above it is moved away.
What is the difference between Rank and File and Emperor Solitaire?
The layout, build rule, and sequence movement are identical in both games. The only difference is the worry-back rule: in Emperor Solitaire, you may move the top card of any foundation pile back to the tableau if it fits. Rank and File does not allow this. That single extra option raises Emperor's win rate by around 10 percentage points.
Can you win Rank and File Solitaire consistently?
Yes. With good sequencing strategy and careful stock management, the roughly 50% win rate means a skilled player can expect to win about half of all deals. The game rewards systematic uncovering of face-down cards and disciplined use of empty columns, rather than lucky draws.