Solitaire
A genre of card games focused on arranging or pairing cards.
Solitaire, also known as patience or card solitaire, is a genre of card games whose common feature is that the aim is to arrange the cards in some systematic order or, in a few cases, to pair them off in order to discard them. Most are intended for play by a single player, but there are varieties for two or more players. The earliest recorded name for this type of card game is 'patience', deriving from the games being seen as an exercise in patience, while 'solitaire' became common in North America during the 20th century.
- earliest_known_source
- Das neue Königliche L'Hombre-Spiel (Germany)
- common_card_size
- about 67 x 42 mm
Lore & Background
Solitaire is probably of German or Scandinavian origin, with the earliest records appearing there in the late 1700s and early 1800s. The game became popular in France in the early 19th century, reaching Britain and America in the latter half. Before this, there were no literary mentions of such games in large game compendia such as Charles Cotton's The Compleat Gamester (1674) and Abbé Bellecour's Academie des Jeux (1674).
Reader's Guide
The genre encompasses three main objectives: building sequences, pairing cards, or totalling values. While most solitaires are designed for a single player, some accommodate two or more players, and they are games of skill, chance, or a combination. The terminology varies by region: 'patience' is the older term in British and American sources, while 'solitaire' became dominant in North America during the 20th century, though it can also refer to peg or marble games. Notable early authors include Lady Adelaide Cadogan, whose Illustrated Games of Patience (c. Solitaire's legacy includes its adaptation into digital formats and its enduring popularity as a pastime worldwide.
Did You Know?
- The name 'patience' derives from the games being seen as an exercise in patience.
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