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Game Rules Index

Seahaven Towers Solitaire

Alternate name: Sea Towers

1 deck. Average. No redeal.

Seahaven Towers Solitaire

Seahaven Towers Solitaire
Click to enlarge

Seahaven Towers Solitaire uses 52 cards (1 deck). 50 cards are dealt into 10 tableau piles. Four cells (reserves) are placed above the tableau piles. At the start of the game one card is dealt to each of the left 2 cells. Four foundation piles are placed to the right of tableaus.

Aces are moved to the foundations as they become available.

The object of the game
To build the foundations up in suit to kings.

The rules
The top cards of tableau piles and cards from reserve piles are available to play. You may build tableau piles down in suit. Only one card at a time can be moved.

When any of reserve piles are empty you can fill the space with any card. Each reserve pile may contain only one card.

You can fill empty tableau piles with a King.

There is no redeal.

Strategy tips

  1. Prioritize Finding and Freeing Aces:
    • At the start, scan the tableau for Aces. Focus on freeing the Ace closest to the bottom of a column first, as it’s likely covered by more cards. Move covering cards to reserve cells or other tableau piles to access it.
  2. Build Tableau Sequences by Suit:
    • Since tableau piles must be built down in suit, prioritize creating long, in-suit sequences (e.g., 9♠, 8♠, 7♠). This allows you to move multiple cards at once, provided you have enough empty reserve cells. For example, with 2 empty cells, you can move a sequence of up to 3 cards.
    • Avoid trapping low cards (e.g., 2s or 3s) under long sequences. For instance, if a 2♥ is under an 8♥, building 8♥ to 3♥ traps the 2♥, as you may lack enough reserve cells to move the entire sequence. Plan moves to avoid such blockages.
  3. Use Reserve Cells Sparingly:
    • With only 4 reserve cells (2 starting occupied), space is limited. Empty the initial two occupied cells early by moving their cards to the tableau or foundations to maximize flexibility.
    • Reserve cells are best used for cards blocking critical moves, like those covering Aces or low cards needed for foundations. Avoid filling them with cards that don’t immediately help, as this restricts your ability to move sequences.
  4. Plan for Empty Tableau Columns:
    • Emptying a tableau column is valuable, as it can only be filled with a King or a King-led sequence. Work to free Kings by clearing columns strategically, prioritizing those with Kings near the top.
    • Use empty columns to reorganize sequences or free trapped cards, but avoid filling them with non-King cards unless necessary, as this limits future moves.
  5. Leverage Sequence Moves
    • You can move a sequence of cards if it’s correctly ordered (down in suit) and you have enough empty reserve cells. For example, with 3 empty cells, you can move a sequence of 4 cards. This is a shortcut to reposition large groups efficiently, reducing the number of moves needed.
    • Before moving a sequence, ensure it won’t trap key cards or block access to others needed soon.
  6. Avoid Unwinnable Situations
    • Be cautious of moves that fill all reserve cells without freeing key cards, or that bury low cards under sequences too long to move. Use the undo feature (if available) to backtrack from potential traps.
  7. Look Ahead and Plan
    • Before making any move, evaluate the tableau and reserve cells. Identify which cards are needed for foundations and how to access them. Plan several moves ahead to avoid blocking critical paths.
    • For example, if a 2♣ is under a 5♣, check if you can move the 5♣ to a 6♣ or a reserve cell without disrupting other key moves.
  8. Reject Unpromising Deals
    • If the initial deal buries multiple Aces or low cards deep in columns with few empty cells, consider restarting. Some deals are harder, though many are solvable with skill.

Seahaven Towers requires balancing immediate needs (freeing Aces and low cards) with long-term planning (building sequences and managing reserve cells). Its suit-based building and King-only empty columns make it trickier than FreeCell, but the game rewards careful strategy. Practice these tips, and you’ll find most games are winnable with patience and foresight.

Comment
The rules state that you can move only one card at a time. But as a shortcut, BVS Solitaire will allow you to move a full or partial build if there are enough empty reserve piles, because you would have been able to get the same result by temporarily moving the extra cards into the empty tableaus.

This game was invented by Art Cabral.

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