How to Play Cat's Cradle Solitaire

Cats cradle solitaire is a difficult solitaire game where you have to deplete the stock to win.

Cat's Cradle Solitaire Rules

| Players: 1 | Type: Solitaire | Supplies: 1 Deck |

Objective

The objective of cat's cradle solitaire is to empty the stockpile by building tableau piles down in sequence and alternating color.

Setup

Deal out 16 face up cards in a 4x4 grid, to form the 16 tableau piles. Place the remaining deck face down to form the stock.

Game Play

Tableau piles may be built down in sequence and alternating color. To add a card to another tableau pile, it must be one rank lower and of the opposite color than the top card of the tableau pile it is being placed on.

Only the top card of each tableau piles is available for play. You may only move a card from one tableau pile to another if both piles are on the same vertical, horizontal, or diagonal line. For example, the seven of clubs may be placed on top of any other tableau pile that lines up with it vertically, horizontally, or diagonally.

Cat's Cradle move example — Cat's Cradle Solitaire card layout set up picture

When there are no more moves, deal out a card from the stock, face up, to each empty tableau space.

To Win

To win cat's cradle, all cards from the stock must be played into the tableau.