Copyright: Napoleon Solitaire by Tom Warfield


Contents

Napoleon Solitaire 1.0

by Tom Warfield
Internet E-mail: Tomstaaf1@aol.com
World Wide Web:  http://users.aol.com/Tomstaaf1/pgs/napsol.html
Compuserve:  75237,254  SWREG #9185

General Information

Benefits of Registration

How to Play

Features

Game Wizard

How to Register

About

Other Programs by the Same Author

Pretty Good Solitaire


General Information

Napoleon Solitaire is a collection of solitaire games based on the classic game Napoleon at St. Helena (also known as Forty Thieves, Big Forty, Roosevelt at San Juan and other names).  In this collection, this stem game is called Forty Thieves.  It is a two deck solitaire game, with 8 foundations that are built from ace to king, and ten tableaus that are built down by suit.  The tableaus begin with 4 cards each (40 cards total, the 40 "thieves").  The rest of the cards are placed face down in a stock pile, which is turned over one at a time onto a discard pile.  Only one card can be moved from pile to pile at a time.  The game is won if all 104 cards in the deck are moved to the foundations.

The other ten games in the collection are simply variations on the rules.  Sometimes the number of tableau piles is changed, or the number of cards dealt to each pile, or whether these cards are dealt face up or down.  Some games allow more than one card at a time to be moved in the tableau, if the cards form the proper descending sequence.  Some games have different methods of building on the tableau, such as by alternate color rather than by suit.

For example, the game Josephine is simply Forty Thieves, with one change: you can move any group of cards in the tableau that is a descending sequence of cards of the same suit  (a 4, 3, and 2 of hearts, for example).  This makes the game easier to win.  Most of the variations were invented because Forty Thieves is very difficult to win.

It is not certain, but it is believed that Forty Thieves dates back to Napoleon's time, hence the name.  Many of the variations were invented in the 1890s and 1900s.

The Game Wizard allows you to create your own Napoleon Solitaire type games.  It gives you control over the rules.  You can choose the number of tableau piles (from 8 to 13), the number of cards dealt to each pile (from 1 to 5), how many of these are face down, how the tableau piles are built down (by suit, by alternate color, by the same color, by any color but the same, or down regardless).  You can control whether moving multiple cards from one tableau pile to another is allowed.  And you can give your own name to a set of rules and play the game over and over.  There are 900 different possible sets of rules, so you can create up to 900 different solitaire games with the Game Wizard.

Finally, all the games (including the ones you create with the Game Wizard) have all the features that every game in my other solitaire program, Pretty Good Solitaire, have.  You have full undo/redo, autoplay, selectable card backs and background color.  Win/loss records are kept, and games in progress are saved automatically when you exit the program.

Important Notes about the AutoPlay feature

Windows 95 Issues

Screen Resolution Issues

Benefits of Registration


Important
Notes about the AutoPlay feature

AutoPlay

AutoPlay is the feature that moves playable cards from the tableau to the foundations automatically.  (Only those games with foundations have this feature, of course.)   This feature can be a great time and effort saver, and I highly recommend its use.

However, there are a couple of things about AutoPlay that you should be aware of.  First, in some games it is not necessarily a good idea to automatically play every possible card to the foundations.  In these games, the best strategy is to keep the foundations pile roughly even with each other (for example, don't play the clubs foundation pile up to 5 or 6 when the ace of hearts hasn't come out yet).  Because of this, the AutoPlay feature will NOT play a card to the foundations if it determines that that card might be necessary for play on the tableau.  You can, of course, override this if you wish by playing the card to the foundations yourself.  But remember, if AutoPlay doesn't move a card that it could move, there's a reason.


Auto Play

By selecting Auto Play from the Options menu, any cards in the tableau or cells that can be legally moved to the foundation are automatically moved there.  This speeds up play.

Important Notes about the AutoPlay feature


Windows 95 Issues

Napoleon Solitaire is a Windows 3.1 program.  However, like most Win3.1 programs, it runs fine in Windows 95.  There are a few things Win95 users should be aware of, however.

If you run Win95 with a screen resolution of 800x600 or more, you should have no difficulties.  You may want to resize the game window to your liking.  I recommend placing the taskbar at either the top or bottom of the screen, as most of the games like as much horizontal space as possible.

Screen Resolution Issues

The main problems with Napoleon Solitaire and Windows 95 occur at 640x480 resolution.  The problem is the taskbar, and how much valuable space it takes up.  This screen just ain't big enough for the both of 'em.   I recommend hiding the taskbar (this can be done by positioning the mouse at the top of the taskbar and pulling down over it, or by clicking on the Start button, selecting Settings | Taskbar, and turning off "Always on Top"). Better yet, if you have a machine capable of running Win95, you probably can run it at 800x600.


Screen Resolution Issues

Napoleon Solitaire was developed to run in 800x600 mode or higher.  If you run it in higher resolutions, you can resize the game window to make it bigger.  Napoleon Solitaire will then adjust to the bigger window the first time you do a "New Game".  This will spread out the piles.

If you run it in 640x480 resolution, only a few of the games (the ones with only 8 tableau piles) will run.

You can adjust the size of the game window at any time.  Napoleon Solitaire will always adjust to a new window size after a "New Game".

Note: If you switch resolutions and play a game that was previously played at another resolution, you will need to "New Game" to get Napoleon Solitaire to adjust to the new resolution.


Benefits
Benefits of Registration

This program is shareware.  Continued use beyond a 30 day evaluation period requires registration.  The registration price for this program is only $15!     Supporting shareware development will result in better programs.

If you do register this program, this is what you will get for your money:

•	Instructions on how to register your copy of Napoleon Solitaire and get rid of the registration notices.  (Instructions will be sent by e-mail if you specify an e-mail address; otherwise, they will be sent by regular mail).

•	Upgrades to all future versions, if you have a Compuserve, America Online, Prodigy, or Microsoft Network account.  These upgrades will be sent by e-mail, so be sure to include your e-mail address on the registration form if you wish to take advantage of this benefit.

•	Technical support, via e-mail.

•	The eternal gratitude of the author.

You can register online on the Compuserve service by GO SWREG.  The registration number is #9185.  You will be sent the registration instructions by e-mail, as well as any future upgrades.

Registration Form

International Users


Registration Form

Napoleon Solitaire 1.0.1

Print out this form.  (To print, select Print from the File menu.)
Send this form along with a check for $15 to:

Thomas Warfield
1309 N Hershey Rd #8
Bloomington IL  61704  USA

(Compuserve members can register online, GO SWREG #9185)

Name_________________________________

Address_______________________________

City__________________State_____Zip_____

E-Mail address__________________________
(if a Compuserve, Prodigy, America Online, or Microsoft Network account,
you will receive upgrades by e-mail.)

Where did you hear about Napoleon Solitaire?

______________________________________

Suggestions:

______________________________________

______________________________________

______________________________________

CIE101


International Users

Registering shareware from outside the United States can be difficult, I know.  At the moment I don't have any good method.  I'm not set up to take credit cards at this time.  The best way for international users to register is via CompuServe's SWREG service.  If you don't have CompuServe, then you could try using American Express Money Orders.  I can't really recommend sending cash, although if you make sure it can't be seen from outside the envelope, you are usually OK.  US currency is preferred, although it's always fun to look at foreign currency.


How to Play

All the games in Napoleon Solitaire follow the same basic format.  They all have a foundation, tableau, stock pile, and waste pile.  To see the specific rules of a particular game, select Properties from the Game menu.

Foundation

The foundation piles are always located at the top of the screen, marked with X's when they are empty.  There are 8 foundation piles, one for each of the suits in 2 decks.  The foundation piles are built up in suit, beginning with an ace and moving up to Kings.

Tableau

The tableau piles are located below the foundation piles.  There are between 8 and 13 tableau piles, depending on the particular game.  Anywhere between 1 and 5 cards are dealt to each tableau pile at the beginning of the game.  The tableau piles are always built down.  For example, a 6 can be played on a 7.  Depending on the game, the cards may have to be the same suit, or of opposite colors, or some other method of building.  To see how the tableaus of a particular game are built, select Properties from the Game menu, and see the "Tableau Building Method" property.

In some games, only one card at a time can be moved from one tableau pile to another.  In other games, groups of cards that are in a descending sequence and meet the tableau building method property may be moved as a unit.  Again, check the Properties from the Game menu, and see the "Move groups of cards as a unit" property.  Cards can be moved from one pile to another by dragging.  Cards can also be moved from the Tableau to the Foundations by double-clicking on the card in the Tableau.

Stock Pile

The stock pile is located at the upper left hand corner of the screen (except when there are only 8 tableau piles, in which case it is located in the lower left hand corner).   All the cards not dealt to the tableau are placed face down in the stock pile.  These cards can be turned over one at a time by clicking on the stock pile.  The top card of the stock pile is then turned over and moved to the waste pile.  The stock pile may only be run through once during a game.

Waste Pile

The waste pile contains all unused cards from the stock pile.  As cards are turned over from the stock pile, they are placed in the waste pile.  The top card of the waste pile is always available for play on either the tableau or the foundation.

Objective

The objective of the game is to get all cards from both decks in the foundation piles.  When all cards are in the foundation piles, the game is won.  If the stock pile is empty and all cards cannot be played to the foundations, the game is lost.

Forty Thieves

Little Napoleon

Congress

Diplomat

Indian

Josephine

Maria

Rank and File

Midshipman

Number Ten

Limited


Forty Thieves

Forty Thieves is the original Napoleon Solitaire game.  Using two decks, forty cards are dealt to 10 tableaus, 4 cards to a tableau.  Above the tableaus are 8 foundation piles.  When Aces become available, they will be moved to the foundation piles.  The foundation piles will be built up in suit from Ace to King.   The game is won if all the cards are moved to the foundations.

The remainder of the cards form the stock (upper left corner).  The stock is turned over 1 card at a time to the waste pile.  The top card of the waste pile is always available for play on the foundations or tableau.  The tableau piles are built down in suit.  The top card of a tableau pile can be moved to the foundations or to another tableau pile.  Only one card at a time can be moved in the tableau.  A space in the tableau can be filled by any card.   There is no redeal.

Tips: Try to get a space in the tableau as quickly as possible.  This game is difficult to win.

Note: To review the rules of any game, select Properties from the Game menu.


Little Napoleon

In Little Napoleon, there are only 8 tableau piles, and 8 foundation piles (across the top of the screen).  The stock and waste piles are on the bottom left.

Four cards are dealt to each of the 8 tableau piles, the first 3 of them face down. The tableau piles are built down regardless of suit.  Groups of cards can be moved from one tableau pile to another, but only if they form a descending sequence all of the same suit.

The stock is turned over one card at a time, unplayable cards are placed in the waste pile.  There is no redeal.

Note: To review the rules of any game, select Properties from the Game menu.


Congress

Congress is closely related to Diplomat.

In Congress, there are only 8 tableau piles, and 8 foundation piles (across the top of the screen).  The stock and waste piles are on the bottom left.

Only one card is dealt to each of the 8 tableau piles, face up. The tableau piles are built down regardless of suit.  Only one card at a time can be moved from one tableau pile to another.

The stock is turned over one card at a time, unplayable cards are placed in the waste pile.  There is no redeal.

Note: To review the rules of any game, select Properties from the Game menu.


Diplomat

Diplomat is very similar to Congress.

In Diplomat, there are only 8 tableau piles, and 8 foundation piles (across the top of the screen).  The stock and waste piles are on the bottom left.

Four cards are dealt to each of the 8 tableau piles, all face up. The tableau piles are built down regardless of suit.  One one card at a time can be moved from one tableau pile to another.

The stock is turned over one card at a time, unplayable cards are placed in the waste pile.  There is no redeal.

Note: To review the rules of any game, select Properties from the Game menu.


Indian

Indian is very much like Forty Thieves, except that there are fewer cards in the original tableau, and the method of tableau building is by any suit but the same.  It makes for a considerably easier game.

In Indian, there are 10 tableau piles, and 8 foundation piles (across the top of the screen).  The stock and waste piles are on the top left.

Three cards are dealt to each of the 10 tableau piles, the first one face down. The tableau piles are built down by any suit but the same.  Only one card at a time can be moved from one tableau pile to another.

The stock is turned over one card at a time, unplayable cards are placed in the waste pile.  There is no redeal.

Note: To review the rules of any game, select Properties from the Game menu.


Josephine

Josephine is very much like Forty Thieves, except that cards forming a descending sequence of the same suit may be moved as a unit.  It makes for a somewhat easier game.

In Josephine, there are 10 tableau piles, and 8 foundation piles (across the top of the screen).  The stock and waste piles are on the top left.

Four cards are dealt to each of the 10 tableau piles, all face up. The tableau piles are built down by suit.  Groups of cards can be moved from one tableau pile to another, but only if they form a descending sequence all of the same suit.

The stock is turned over one card at a time, unplayable cards are placed in the waste pile.  There is no redeal.

Note: To review the rules of any game, select Properties from the Game menu.


Maria

Maria is closely related to Midshipman.

In Maria (also sometimes known as Maria Luisa), there are 9 tableau piles, and 8 foundation piles (across the top of the screen).  The stock and waste piles are on the top left.

Four cards are dealt to each of the 9 tableau piles, all face up. The tableau piles are built down by alternate color.  Only one card at a time can be moved from one tableau pile to another.

The stock is turned over one card at a time, unplayable cards are placed in the waste pile.  There is no redeal.

Note: To review the rules of any game, select Properties from the Game menu.


Rank and File

Rank and File is one of the classic variations on Forty Thieves.  The differences are that 3 of the 4 cards in the original tableau are dealt face down, the tableaus are built down by alternate color instead of by suit, and groups of cards forming a descending sequence in alternate colors can be moved as a unit.  Rank and File is also very similar to Number Ten.

In Rank and File, there are 10 tableau piles, and 8 foundation piles (across the top of the screen).  The stock and waste piles are on the top left.

Four cards are dealt to each of the 10 tableau piles, the first three face down. The tableau piles are built down by alternate color.   Groups of cards can be moved from one tableau pile to another, but only if they form a descending sequence in alternate colors.

The stock is turned over one card at a time, unplayable cards are placed in the waste pile.  There is no redeal.

Note: To review the rules of any game, select Properties from the Game menu.


Midshipman

Midshipman is very similar to Maria.  The differences are that two cards in the original tableau are dealt face down, and the tableaus are built down by any suit but the same, rather than by alternate colors.  It makes the game slightly easier to win.

In Midshipman, there are 9 tableau piles, and 8 foundation piles (across the top of the screen).  The stock and waste piles are on the top left.

Four cards are dealt to each of the 9 tableau piles, the first two face down. The tableau piles are built down by any suit but the same.  Only one card at a time can be moved from one tableau pile to another.

The stock is turned over one card at a time, unplayable cards are placed in the waste pile.  There is no redeal.

Note: To review the rules of any game, select Properties from the Game menu.


Number Ten

Number Ten is one of the classic variations on Forty Thieves.  The differences are that 2 of the 4 cards in the original tableau are dealt face down, the tableaus are built down by alternate color instead of by suit, and groups of cards forming a descending sequence in alternate colors can be moved as a unit.  Number Ten is also very similar to Rank and File.

In Number Ten, there are 10 tableau piles, and 8 foundation piles (across the top of the screen).  The stock and waste piles are on the top left.

Four cards are dealt to each of the 10 tableau piles, the first two face down. The tableau piles are built down by alternate color.   Groups of cards can be moved from one tableau pile to another, but only if they form a descending sequence in alternate colors.

The stock is turned over one card at a time, unplayable cards are placed in the waste pile.  There is no redeal.

Note: To review the rules of any game, select Properties from the Game menu.


Limited

Limited is very much like Forty Thieves, except that the tableau consists of twelve piles of four cards each.  It makes for a somewhat easier game.  Note also that of all the games, Limited is the most (ahem) limited, in the sense that it requires a screen resolution of at least 1024x768, so that all 12 piles can fit across the screen.

In Limited, there are 12 tableau piles, and 8 foundation piles (across the top of the screen).  The stock and waste piles are on the top left.

Four cards are dealt to each of the 10 tableau piles, all face up. The tableau piles are built down by suit.  Only one card at a time can be moved from one tableau pile to another.

The stock is turned over one card at a time, unplayable cards are placed in the waste pile.  There is no redeal.

Note: To review the rules of any game, select Properties from the Game menu.


Features

Select Random Game

Add New Player

Delete Current Player

Delete Current Game

Background Color

Game Statistics

Game Saving

Individual Game Features

New Game

Restart Game

Undo

Redo

Card Backs

AutoPlay


Select Random Game

The Select Random Game option selects one of the games at random to play.


Add New Player

The Add New Player option adds a new player to the player list.  You will be asked for a name for the new player.


Delete Current Player

Delete Current Player deletes the currently selected player from the player list.  You will be asked to confirm the action.


Delete Current Game

The Delete Current Game deletes games that were created and named by the Game Wizard.  First you must click on game in the box at the right hand side of the screen.  This starts the game.  Exit the game, and with the game name still highlighted in the box, select "Delete Current Game".  The game will be deleted.  Note that any game can be recreated by choosing its rules in the Game Wizard and naming it.


Background Color

The Background Color option allows you to change the backgound color for each game.  Select the game in the box at the left and the current background color for that game will be shown.  To change the color for that game, click on the Change Color button.  To save your changes, click OK.  To abandon any changes, click Cancel.


Game Statistics

The Game Statistics option, when set, saves win and loss statistics for each game, for each player.  To see your statistics for an individual game, start the game and select Statistics from the Options menu.  You can reset the statistics at any time.

If you do not want statistics of your performance kept, simply unselect this option.  Your current statistics will remain, but no new results will be added until you select the option again.

Different player names can set this option individually.


Game Saving

The Game Saving option, when set, saves the game positions of every game upon exit.  This means that if you are interrupted during play, and exit the game, you can return to the same position the next time you play.

When this option is not set, the game positions are not saved.  Turning off the option will also delete all currently saved positions.

Different player names can set this option individually.


New Game

Selecting New Game from the Game menu will deal out a new deck.  If you are in the middle of a game and Game Statistics is on, a loss will be added to your statistics.


Restart Game

Selecting ReStart Game from the Game menu will start the current game over again from the beginning.  This will not affect your statistics.


Undo

Selecting Undo from the Options menu will undo the last move.  Moves can be undone back to the beginning of the game (of course, ReStart Game would be easier in this case).


Redo

Selecting Redo from the Options menu will replay any moves you have undone,  in case you change your mind.


Card Backs

Selecting Card Backs from the Options menu allows you to select between 6 different card backs.  Card Backs are only visible in games where some cards are face back.  A card back change will not go into effect until a new game is started.


Game Wizard

The Napoleon Solitaire Game Wizard allows you to create up to 900 different Napoleon Solitaire type games by changing the properties of the games.

Number of Tableau Piles

Determines how many tableau piles there will be in the game.  This can be anywhere from 8 to 13.   The number of tableau piles will also determine what Windows screen resolutions the game will run in.

•	13 tableau piles - requires at least a 1280 x 1024 resolution.

•	11 to 12 tableau piles - requires at least a 1024 x 768 resolution.

•	9 to 10 tableau piles - requires at least a 800 x 600 resolution.

•	8 tableau piles - runs in any resolution, including 640 x 480.

The program will not change Windows resolutions for you. In Windows 3.x, you must go to Windows Setup to change the resolution.  In Windows 95, right-click on the desktop and select Properties | Settings.

Number of Cards in Each Tableau Pile

Determines how many cards are dealt to each tableau pile at the beginning of the game.  Must be between 1 and 5.

Number of Face Down Cards

Determines how many cards are dealt face down to each tableau pile at the beginning of the game.  Must be between 0 and 4, and less than the number of cards in each tableau pile (ie. there must be at least one face up card in each tableau pile).

Method of Tableau Building

Determines how the tableau piles are built down.  The choices are: build down in the same suit only, build down in alternate colors, build down in the same color only, build down in any suit but the same suit, and build down regardless of suit.

This selection gives you the most power over the difficulty level of the game.  Games that require cards to be of the same suit are the most difficult, because they are the most restrictive.  The other choices become progressively less difficult, with building down regardless of suit the easiest.

Groups of Cards in the correct sequence...

Determines whether groups of cards that form a sequence (as defined in the method of tableau building) can be moved together as a unit.  For example, if the building method is down by same suit and this option is checked, only those cards that form a descending sequence in the same suit could be moved as a group.

If this option is not checked, cards in the tableau can only be moved one at a time.  Clearly, checking this option results in an easier game.

Save These Rules

Allows you to save all the current settings from the Game Wizard.  Check the option, then type in a name for the game in the box.  This game name will then appear in the box under the Game Wizard button on the main screen.  Clicking on the game name will then play this game in the future.


About

Napoleon Solitaire 1.0

Copyright © 1996 Tom Warfield.  All Rights Reserved.

Thomas Warfield
1309 N Hershey Rd #8
Bloomington IL  61704  USA

Technical Support is available by e-mail to:  Tomstaaf1@aol.com (note the last character before the @ is a one) or on Compuserve: 75237,254.

Acknowledgments

Thanks to Microsoft for Visual Basic 3.0, which allowed a humble programmer like myself to write games like this.  Thanks to Stephen Murphy for writing QCARD.DLL, the wonderful playing cards that this program uses.  Thanks to my beta testers: Michael Calligaro, Lorrita Morgan, Kevin McGillicuddy, Kevin Crowley, James Simpson, and others.  And thanks to my primary tester, Diane.

Version History

Version 1.0 - released 1/2/96 - original version

Vendor Information

Napoleon Solitaire version 1.0 may be distributed via BBSs, online services, and the Internet, as long as all files (NAPSOL2.EXE, NAPSOL2.HLP, QCARD.DLL, CMDIALOG.VBX, README.1ST, FILE_ID.DIZ and VENDOR.DOC) are present and unmodified.  It may be not be sold on diskette or CD-ROM, either alone or as part of a collection, without the permission of the author.  No fee or charge of any kind, not even a "distribution fee", may be made for this program when distributed by diskette or CD-ROM without the permission of the author.  Private individuals can copy and distribute the program on diskette as long as there is no charge for the program.  Diskette and CD-ROM vendors should direct inquiries to the author at the postal or email addresses above.


Pretty Good Solitaire

Pretty Good Solitaire is a collection of 30 Windows solitaire games, including most of the classic solitaire games.  It contains all the same features as Napoleon Solitaire, such as autoplay, game saving, statistics, and so on.  The 30 games include Klondike, Canfield, FreeCell, Spider, Seahaven Towers, Yukon, Forty Thieves, and many more.  Look for this collection in the same place that you found Napoleon Solitaire, or download it from the World Wide Web at http://users.aol.com/Tomstaaf1/pgs/pgs.html.

Pretty Good Solitaire 2.0
by Tom Warfield
released November 15, 1995
Registration price: $12   Compuserve SWREG #8322
http://users.aol.com/Tomstaaf1/pgs/pgs.html


Napoleon Solitaire

To determine the specific rules for the current game, select Properties from the Game menu.