Accordion Solitaire
Squeeze 52 cards into one pile by suit or rank.
How to play Accordion Solitaire
Accordion is an old patience game, also known as Idle Year, Tower of Babel or Methuselah. It uses one deck of 52 cards laid out in one long line. On screen the line wraps into several rows, but it is still one line read from left to right, like a book.
Goal
Squeeze the whole line together, like closing an accordion, until all 52 cards sit in a single pile.
Turn by turn
- Each card starts as a pile of its own. Only the top card of a pile counts.
- You may move a pile onto the pile directly to its left, or onto the pile three places to its left.
- The move is allowed only when the two top cards match in suit or in rank. A 7 of hearts can go on any heart or on any 7.
- The whole pile moves, so its top card becomes the new top of the pile it lands on.
- The gap closes up at once and every pile to the right shifts one place left. This can create new matches.
Playing on this site
In the old way of playing, cards are dealt one at a time. Here all 52 cards are dealt face up at the start, so you can see everything and plan ahead. Tap a pile to pick it up: the piles it can jump onto light up. Then tap one of them. Double-tap a pile to make its best jump right away, or drag the pile onto its target. A small number on a pile shows how many cards it holds. Hint tries many futures and suggests a strong move, and Undo has no limit.
End of the game
You win with one single pile. That is rare, so most players also count how few piles they finish with. Five piles or fewer is a fine result. The game ends when no pile can move, and your best result is saved in your browser.
Strategy tips
- Prefer jumps of three. A jump of three moves a pile further and often brings two new cards side by side. Many strong players make these first.
- Think about the top card. After a move, the moving card stays on top. Move cards whose suit or rank has many partners nearby.
- Work from the left. Moves near the start of the line change less of the line than moves far to the right, so the rest of your plan stays the same.
- Keep options open. If two moves look equal, pick the one that leaves more matches on the table afterwards.
- Use Undo to explore. Accordion rewards trying a line, looking where it leads and going back. Undo is free, so test ideas.
Accordion Solitaire FAQ
Can a pile move two places to the left?
No. A pile can only move onto its direct left neighbour or onto the pile exactly three places to the left. Gaps close up right away, so the counting always uses the current line.
Is Accordion Solitaire hard to win?
Yes, a full win with one pile is rare. With all cards visible and careful planning it is possible much more often, and finishing with only a few piles is already good.
What do the small numbers on the piles mean?
They show how many cards a pile holds. Only the top card matters for matching, but the number helps you see how far the line has shrunk.
Is my game saved if I close the page?
Yes. Your game is saved after every move, and your best result, the fewest piles left, is kept in your browser too.
