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Download on Google Play- Deal 7 cards to each player.
- Place remaining deck as stock in the center.
- Deal 4 cards face-up in a cross pattern around the stock.
- Draw one card from the stock to start your turn.
- Play cards in descending order with alternating colors.
- Place Kings only in the corner positions to start new piles.
- Move entire piles onto other piles if the bottom card fits.
- First to empty their hand wins.
- If stock runs out, fewest remaining cards wins.
Rules
Kings in the Corner is a multiplayer solitaire-style game where players build on shared foundation piles in descending order with alternating colors. It feels like group Klondike, with Kings earning their special place in the corners.
Objective
Be the first player to get rid of all cards from your hand by playing them onto shared layout piles.
Setup
- Players: 2 to 4 players.
- Deck: Standard 52-card deck.
- Deal: Each player receives 7 cards. Place the remaining deck in the center as the stock.
- Layout: Deal 4 cards face-up from the stock, placing them in a cross pattern (north, south, east, west) around the stock pile.
Gameplay
- Drawing: Begin each turn by drawing one card from the stock.
- Building: Play cards from your hand onto the layout piles in descending order with alternating colors (like solitaire). For example, a black 8 goes on a red 9.
- Kings: Kings may only be placed in the corner positions (diagonally between the four main piles). Once placed, they start new piles that are built upon normally.
- Moving Piles: You may move an entire layout pile onto another if the bottom card of the moved pile fits onto the top card of the destination pile. The vacated spot can be filled with any card from your hand.
- Passing: If you cannot or choose not to play further, your turn ends.
Winning
The first player to empty their hand wins. If the stock runs out before anyone goes out, the player with the fewest remaining cards wins.
Tips and Strategies
- Play Kings to corners as soon as possible to open new building opportunities.
- Try to empty a layout spot so you can fill it with a card from your hand.
- Hold back cards that might benefit opponents if played to the layout.
Tips & Strategy
Emptying a layout pile gives you a free spot to dump any card from your hand. This is often more valuable than simply building on existing piles.
The game has more strategy than it first appears. Moving entire piles to create empty spots is the key advanced technique.
Trivia & Fun Facts
Despite being played by multiple people, Kings in the Corner maintains the satisfying cascade-building feel of solo Klondike solitaire.
In Kings in the Corner, what is special about where King cards can be placed?
History & Culture
Kings in the Corner has been a popular family card game since the mid-20th century, valued for its accessibility and resemblance to solitaire.
Kings in the Corner is a popular family and classroom game, often used to teach younger players concepts like sequencing and color alternation.
Variations & House Rules
Some versions include a scoring system where cards remaining in hand at the end count as penalty points, with Kings worth 10 and other cards their face value.
For a longer game, deal 10 cards per player instead of 7. For added strategy, allow players to skip their draw if they choose.
