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Download on Google Play- Deal all 52 cards face up in 17 fans of 3 cards and 1 fan of 1 card.
- Leave space for four foundations.
- Move top card of a fan to a foundation (ascending, same suit).
- Move top card onto another fan's top card (same suit, one rank higher).
- When stuck, redeal remaining cards into fans of 3 (2 redeals allowed).
- Win by placing all 52 cards on foundations.
Rules
La Belle Lucie is an elegant solitaire game where all cards are dealt face up into fans of three cards each, plus one extra fan of one card. Players build four foundation piles by suit from Ace to King, with the restriction that only the top card of each fan is available for play. The game allows two redeals where all tableau cards are gathered, shuffled, and redealt into fans, giving players three total attempts to solve the layout.
Objective
Build four foundation piles in ascending order by suit from Ace to King.
Setup
- Players: 1
- Deck: Standard 52-card deck
- Layout: Deal all 52 cards face up into 17 fans of 3 cards each and 1 fan of 1 card. Arrange the fans in rows for easy viewing. Set up space for four foundation piles.
Gameplay
- Available cards: Only the top (exposed) card of each fan is available for play.
- Build on foundations: Move available Aces to foundations, then build up by suit in ascending order (Ace, 2, 3... King).
- Build on fans: Move an available card onto another available card if it is the same suit and one rank higher. For example, place the 5 of hearts on the 6 of hearts.
- Empty fans: When all cards in a fan are removed, the empty space cannot be filled.
- Redeal: When no more moves are possible, gather all remaining tableau cards, shuffle them, and redeal into fans of 3. You are allowed 2 redeals (3 total deals).
Scoring
- Win: All 52 cards are placed on the four foundation piles.
- Loss: No more legal moves after using both redeals.
- Progress measure: Count foundation cards to track how close you came to winning.
Variations
- Trefoil: Same as La Belle Lucie but Aces are removed and placed on foundations before play begins.
- Shamrocks: Building on fans is done regardless of suit, and no fan may contain more than 3 cards.
- Super Flower Garden: Allows building on fans in either ascending or descending order by suit.
Tips and Strategies
- Before making any moves, study the entire layout to plan your approach.
- Try to free cards that are blocking other needed cards before using a redeal.
- Use redeals strategically rather than as soon as you get stuck; exhaust all possible moves first.
- Prioritize uncovering Aces and low cards early to start foundation building.
Tips & Strategy
Study the entire layout before making moves. Exhaust all possible moves before using a redeal. Prioritize freeing Aces and low cards that are buried in fans. Empty fans cannot be refilled, so plan carefully.
The two redeals are your most valuable resource. Use them wisely by making absolutely every possible move before reshuffling. A well-timed redeal can break open a previously impossible position.
Trivia & Fun Facts
La Belle Lucie translates from French as The Beautiful Lucy. The game is also known as Clover Leaf, Midnight Oil, and Alexander the Great, depending on the region and slight rule variations.
How many redeals are allowed in standard La Belle Lucie? Answer: Two redeals are allowed, giving the player three total deals to try to win.
History & Culture
La Belle Lucie (The Beautiful Lucy) is a French solitaire game dating to at least the 19th century. It has been a classic patience game for over 150 years and is featured in virtually every book of solitaire card games.
La Belle Lucie is one of the most revered classic solitaire games in French and English card gaming traditions. Its elegance and difficulty have made it a benchmark for patience game design.
Variations & House Rules
Trefoil pre-places Aces on foundations for an easier start. Shamrocks allows cross-suit building but limits fan size. Some versions allow only one redeal instead of two.
For an easier game, allow three redeals instead of two. Start with Aces already on foundations (Trefoil rules). Allow building on fans regardless of suit for more flexibility.
