The Gathering of the Clans (Double Deck Solitaire Game)

Two Entire Packs of Cards

Rules

1. Only the bottom card of the Assembly is available, until by Its removal the next one is released, the principle being that only one card in the Assembly can be available at one time.
   Note.—By the "bottom" card is meant that card which is represented by the ten of spades in the pattern tableau. By playing this card the nine of clubs becomes released, and next the ten of hearts, and so on.
   All cards in the Columns are available.
2. The foundations must follow suit.

Play

Deal twenty-two cards and arrange them, one by one, as represented in the pattern tableau. This group of cards is called the Assembly.

Next deal off twelve cards and arrange them in two perpendicular columns of six cards each, as shown in the pattern tableau.

The card laying diagonally at top of either column is called the head, and the card similarly at the bottom is called the base.

The cards composing the Assembly must not contain any two cards of the same denomination and suit; there may be two aces, or two kings, or even more of those, or any other denomination, but they must not be of the same suit.

When the Assembly and Columns have been dealt out, the next card in the pack is then turned to determine the denomination of the foundation cards, and this card must immediately be played in one of the eight spaces reserved for the foundations.

The foundations must ascend in sequence, if for example—the denomination of the foundation cards is five, they must be built up, in sequence, to the king, then ace, deuce, three, and four, which completes the packets.

After the denomination of the foundations has been determined, examine the Columns and Assembly, and if any of the foundation cards appear in the former or are available in the latter, play them in the spaces reserved, as also any other suitable card subject to Rule 1, taking, however, in preference cards from the Assembly and the head and base of the Columns, as the vacancies so made are most important.

When a vacancy occurs in the head or base of a Column its place must immediately be re-filled by placing the available card of the Assembly in the vacant space.

Note.—As only one card at a time can be released from the Assembly, it is, therefore, important to play as many as possible from that group of cards. Playing a card from the head or base of a Column is, of course, equivalent to playing from the Assembly.

When a vacancy occurs by playing either of the four intermediate cards between the head and base of a Column its place must be supplied by a card taken from the talon, or when there is no talon, from the pack.

When there are no more suitable cards in the Columns or Assembly, proceed to deal out the remainder of the pack, turning the cards one by one, and playing all suitable ones on the foundations. The cards that cannot be so employed are laid aside in one packet forming the talon.

Whenever a card is played from the pack on any of the foundations, carefully examine the Columns and Assembly to ascertain whether they contain any suitable cards, and if they do, employ them to the best advantage, re-filling the vacant spaces as already directed.

It is not obligatory to use any of the intermediate cards in the Columns when the player thinks a card of the same suit and value, enclosed in the Assembly, can be better employed to accomplish the Patience. For example—if a seven of spades is required, and a card of that'suit and value is among the intermediate cards in a Column, and a similar card is enclosed in the Assembly, but likely to be soon released, the player may elect whether he will immediately use the card in the Column, or wait for the similar card in the Assembly to be released.

Two re-deals are permitted, but the cards must not be re-shuffled.

(From Dick's games of patience: or, Solitaire with cards, by William Brisbane Dick [1884].)