How Crescent works
An old two-deck game where the redeal, not luck, is the main tool.
- Layout. 104 cards from two decks. Sixteen piles of six cards, all face up. Eight foundations start with one Ace and one King of each suit.
- Foundations. Four build up in suit from the Ace to the King. Four build down in suit from the King to the Ace.
- Piles. Build up or down in the same suit: a 6 of clubs goes on a 5 or a 7 of clubs. A King can go on an Ace and an Ace on a King. One card at a time.
- Gaps. An empty pile cannot be refilled.
- Redeals. Three times, click the stock slot to move the bottom card of every pile to its top.
Tips for Crescent
- Play to the foundations first. Every card you send home is one fewer to place.
- Look at the bottoms. Before you redeal, check which cards will come to the top. A redeal is best when it brings out several useful cards.
- Build one way. A pile that goes both up and down can trap its own suit.
- Use Undo. It is unlimited, even after a redeal.
More games to try
Frequently asked questions
How do you play Crescent solitaire?
Sixteen piles of six cards are dealt face up. One Ace and one King of each suit start the eight foundations. Move the top card of a pile onto a foundation, or onto a pile card of the same suit that is one rank higher or lower. When you are stuck, redeal: the bottom card of every pile goes to the top.
How do you win Crescent?
Move all 104 cards to the foundations. The four that start on an Ace build up in suit to the King, and the four that start on a King build down in suit to the Ace.
What is a redeal in Crescent?
Click the stock slot and the bottom card of every pile moves to the top of that pile. Nothing else changes. You can do it three times, and it can free a card you had buried.
Does a King connect to an Ace?
In the piles, yes. A King can go on an Ace of the same suit and an Ace on a King. The foundations do not wrap round.
What goes into an empty pile?
Nothing. A pile that becomes empty stays empty, so each move that empties one costs you a place to put cards.
Is Crescent hard?
Yes. You move one card at a time and cannot refill gaps, so a plan matters. Try to see where the first card of each suit sits before you commit.