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Solitare

Moby ID: 4249

DOS version

More addictive than you would initially imagine.

The Good
Solitare (sic) is truly the programmer's version of Klondike solitaire. I say this for two reasons:

  1. Input is done completely with the keys using the absolute minimum number of keystrokes
  2. You can play against the computer using the same deck/shuffle/order of cards

Because you and the computer (or all players) are using the same deck of cards, it is possible to compete against each other. Yes, competition solitaire!

On a slow machine, you can watch the computer make decisions and devise a strategy that may not win overall, but beat him.

Learning the method of controlling the game with keys takes a couple of minutes to get familiar with, but after the learning period is over you will find yourself playing Klondike faster than with any other program in the world. It's like VI for solitaire.

The Bad
The only main thing to dislike about the game is that it doesn't save high scores to disk. This is a real pity, as I would've liked to have a running competition against the computer for years and years.

Actually, now that I think of it, the real big flaw is that you can't split a stack; you can only move a stack by it's topmost card. Then again, I don't know if that is actually allowed in the rules of Klondike.

As written in 1985, there is no speed throttling in the game. You don't need it to play, but you can't watch the computer making decisions unless you're on a 4.77MHz machine.

The Bottom Line
It's the very best "programmer's" Klondike out there. It's freeware. Grab it. And if you ever track down Bill Franklin, tell him to get in contact with me.

by Trixter (8952) on February 24, 2010

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