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Crescent Solitaire Online
Crescent uses two decks. Four Aces start the ascending foundations, four Kings start the descending foundations, and the remaining 96 cards form sixteen piles of six. This version displays the tableau as columns; only each pile’s exposed end card can move.
Crescent rules: two foundation directions and three rotations
- Ascending foundations: follow each Ace with the 2, 3, and so on to King in that suit.
- Descending foundations: follow each King with the Queen, Jack, and so on to Ace in that suit.
- Tableau: move one exposed card onto a card one rank higher or lower in the same suit. Ranks do not wrap between Ace and King.
- Empty piles: cannot be refilled. They do not become temporary storage spaces.
- Rotate: up to three times, move the buried bottom card of every pile to its exposed end. There is no stock draw.
Choose a foundation direction and plan your rotations
These simplified positions illustrate decisions in this game; they are not your current deal.
1. Rotate changes the exposed card without shuffling
One press rotates every pile with at least two cards. Empty piles and single-card piles stay as they are. The button shows how many of your three rotations remain, and Undo can reverse a rotation.
2. The next card can decide which foundation to use
Sending the 6 to the ascending foundation is legal too, but it does not create an immediate foundation place for that second 5: the ascending pile would then need 7, and the descending pile would still need 6. This compares the next foundation move, not every possible tableau alternative.
3. Three rotations do not expose every card in a six-card pile
Read this unchanged six-card pile from its buried end to its exposed end: 2 of Spades, 8 of Hearts, Jack of Diamonds, 4 of Clubs, 9 of Diamonds, 7 of Spades. If you rotate without removing any of those cards, its exposed card changes as follows:
| Point in the game | Exposed card |
|---|---|
| Before rotating | 7 of Spades |
| After rotation 1 | 2 of Spades |
| After rotation 2 | 8 of Hearts |
| After rotation 3 | Jack of Diamonds |
The 4 of Clubs and 9 of Diamonds have not become exposed through those rotations alone. Removing cards changes what you can reach, so inspect the buried ends and the available moves across all piles before spending a rotation. Rotating is a fixed change of order, not a random new chance.
Look at the next card in both directions
Check both foundation directions. An exposed 6 of Hearts can fit an ascending Heart foundation ending at 5 or a descending Heart foundation ending at 7. Compare which choice helps the next exposed cards, remembering there are two copies of each card.
Try useful foundation and tableau moves before rotating. A move that exposes a needed card may save a rotation. Also remember that clearing a pile removes a future landing place: Crescent does not let you refill that empty pile.
Common questions
Why can I not move a card into a cleared pile?
Empty tableau piles stay empty in this version. You need an occupied pile whose exposed card matches the suit and is one rank away, or a foundation ready for that card. Rotate changes access to the remaining piles; it does not refill gaps.
Can a tableau card move upward as well as downward?
Yes. An exposed 9 of Clubs can receive either an 8 or a 10 of Clubs. Another suit does not fit, and Ace–King wrapping is not allowed. Only one exposed card moves at a time.
Does Rotate shuffle the cards or start another deal?
No. It moves each pile’s buried bottom card to its exposed end, preserving the relative order of the other cards. It affects all piles at once and uses one of the three available rotations. Undo can restore the preceding arrangement and rotation count.
Read the foundation arrows and the Rotate count
The foundation markers show upward building from Aces or downward building from Kings. Choose the exact foundation you intend when a card fits both directions. The Rotate piles button shows how many rotations remain; reaching zero disables further rotations, while legal card moves can continue.
- Click or tap an exposed card, then its destination. Only one card moves at a time. Select it again to cancel. The message below the board explains the current selection or move.
- Undo reverses your last action. Hint highlights a legal action and describes it below the board; it does not calculate a complete winning route.
- New starts a fresh shuffle. Daily starts this game's dated challenge. Both replace the current board.
- Full Screen gives the board more room. On a narrow screen, scroll sideways inside the board to reach all its piles.
Compare related games
Canfield also changes familiar foundation rules, using a base rank and rank wrapping. Forty Thieves uses two decks and single-card moves but allows empty-column storage. Double Klondike offers eight ascending foundations.