- OBJECTIVE OF TENS: removing pairs of cards that have a sum of Ten.
- NUMBER OF PLAYERS: 1
- MATERIALS: One standard deck of cards and a flat surface.
- TYPE OF GAME: Solitaire Game
- AUDIENCE: All Ages
Tens Solitaire, the quick card game, generally requires about two minutes. Playing the game is entirely dependent on luck. The prerequisite condition of this game is that the players should win about 12.5 percent of the time. ‘Take Ten Solitaire’ is the common name.
Besides, people around the globe are familiar that Tens is closely related to the Block Ten solitaire card game. Remove pairs or sets of cards that hold the sum of ten. Then remove them from the game and win the game if you have removed all the cards. However, it’s worth noting that there is the importance of luck.
Tens: Setup
Start the game by shuffling the deck. Deal 13 cards face up. Keep that in two rows of five cards each. Besides, also get one row of three cards. Make sure that all 13 cards are visible and accessible. It’s worth noting that some people prefer to make the game easier.
They do so by using 15 cards. That said, they go with dealing three rows of five cards each. Besides, set the remaining cards to the side. But, keep them face down to form the draw pile.
Tens: Gameplay
Playing Tens is easy by removing sets of cards where these cards come to the total sum of ten. The game goes on in the way that there’s a need to remove the cards from the tableau and place them in the foundation pile. Refill spaces are by the stock. The basis of the whole game is pretty simple.
These steps are repeated until you can no longer make valid plays. The condition goes the same when you remove all the cards into the foundations, in the case you win.
An additional rule for removing sets is there as well. In Tens, you can also take the strategy to remove full sets of kings, jacks, tens, and queens as a valid play.
Valid plays include Three-Seven, Ace-Nine, Two-Eight, Four-Six, Jack-Jack-Jack-Jack, Queen-Queen-Queen-Queen, Five-Five, Ten-Ten-Ten-Ten, and King-King-King-King.
You win the game when you can remove all cards from the foundation pile. In case it gives rise to any other outcome, it’s a loss.
Discard any two face-up cards adding up to 10. Also, you may discard any set of four matching face cards.
Replace discarded cards with the top cards.
When you have all 52 cards on the table, you win.
Remember, there is no involvement of the skill in playing Tens.
Tens: Variations
Block Ten shares similarity to the game of matching and removing pairs adding up to ten. But there’s a limit, and that is, you can’t remove the tens. Harder to win game Block Ten increases the chances of running out of moves faster. Based on luck rather than skill type of the game is tough to master.
Again, you can get the availability of the Simple Pairs, which is an easier matching game. What makes this game better is that you don’t have to do any addition. All you have to do is simply match pairs of the same value. Then, go ahead with the removal of them from the 9-card tableaux in the tens cards.
