Glossary
GlossaryAuthor's note: These definitions are meant as a guideline only. See individual game rules as any game has the right to redefine or modify the rules to make it fun.
The first card dealt into a foundation pile. Other foundations usually have to start with a card of this rank. See: FOUNDATION
Building by placing a card on to another card of the opposite color is permitted. Example: Placing a Diamond on a Spade is good, but placing a Diamond on a Heart is not.
Building by placing a card on to another card of any suit but the suit of the original card is permitted. Example: Placing a Diamond on a Heart is good, but placing a Heart on a Heart is not.
Building by placing a card on to another card of the same color is permitted. Example: Placing a Diamond on a Heart is good, but Placing a Diamond on a Club is not.
BUILD DOWN or UP ignoring color and suit.
See BUILD BY RANK.
Building by placing a card on to another card of the same suit is permitted. Example: Placing a Spade on a Spade is good, but placing a Spade on a Club is not.
Building by placing a card of a lower rank on to a card of a higher rank is permitted. Usually implies a difference of only one ranking between the two cards. Example: Placing a 10 on a Jack is good, but placing a 10 on a 9 is not.
Building by placing a card of a lower rank on to a card of a higher rank by * is permitted. Example: If * is 2, placing a 10 on a Queen is good, but placing a 10 on a Jack is not.
Building by placing a card of a higher rank on to a card of a lower rank is permitted. Usually implies a difference of only one ranking between the two cards. Example: Placing a Queen on a Jack is good, but placing a Queen on a King is not.
Building by placing a card of a higher rank on to a card of a lower rank by * is permitted. Example: If * is 2, placing a 10 on an 8 is good, but placing a 10 on a 9 is not.
Building by placing a card on to a card of one higher or one lower rank is permitted. Example: Placing a Jack on a Queen or a 10 is good, but placing a 10 on a Queen is not.
The ability to place a card (or group of cards) on another card. In regards to rank, you can BUILD UP, BUILD DOWN, or BUILD UP/DOWN BY *. In regards to suit/color, you can BUILD BY SUIT, BUILD BY COLOR, BUILD BY ALTERNATE COLOR, BUILD BY ANY SUIT BUT OWN, or BUILD REGARDLESS OF SUIT. Note that all games that build will follow two of these rules, one from each list.
The set of cards used. Most games use a STANDARD DECK, but games that use a DOUBLE DECK, a JOKER DECK, or a STRIPPED DECK are not uncommon.
A deck of cards consisting of two STANDARD DECKS making a total of 104 cards.
If a game has a foundation, the game is usually won by placing all the cards in the foundation pile(s).
A deck of cards consisting of a STANDARD DECK and two jokers making a total of 54 cards.
A designated area where cards can exist.
The value of the card. Numbered cards usually have the rank of the associated number. Aces can either be high or low. If high, aces are ranked 1. If low, aces are ranked as 14. J, Q, and K are usually ranked 11, 12, and 13 respectively. However, some games may rank these cards as 10. In such a case, a high ace might be ranked as 11.
Cards in the reserve are usually available to play anywhere. Usually cannot be built on.
See PILE.
A 52 card deck. There are four suits of thirteen cards each. Each suit contains an Ace, 2 through 10, Jack, Queen, and King. These suits are usually Clubs, Spades, Hearts and Diamonds. These suits can be grouped into two colors, usually black and red. The Clubs and the Spaces are black while the Hearts and the Diamonds are red. PySol allows the possibility of using different decks. In this case, the new colors and/or suits are substituted into this paradigm.
A 32 card deck. There are four suits of eight cards each. Each suit contains an Ace, 7 through 10, Jack, Queen, and King.
See TALON.
Four different kinds in a STANDARD DECK. Usually Clubs, Spades, Hearts, and Diamonds.
The playing field, where the main action occurs. Usually allows building.
The remainder of the deck after all the original cards have been dealt and are usually kept faced down.
See RANK.
A stack of cards face up, usually next to the TALON. Top card usually in play.
In some games card sequences may wrap around. When BUILDING UP this means you can place an Ace on a King. When BUILDING DOWN this means you can place a King on an Ace.