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Beleaguered Castle

Lay siege to the four towers, Ace to King —
a classic game of patience that is fiendishly difficult to complete.

Free · plays in any browser · no download, no sign-up

⚔ Begin the Siege A single-player card puzzle

The Puzzle

The four Aces stand in the central towers. The other forty-eight cards form eight rows of six — the walls of the castle besieging them.

Your task sounds simple: send every card home to its tower, Ace to King, in suit. But only the exposed card at the end of each row will move, and the walls fall in an order you do not choose. Many a deal cannot be won at all — which is exactly what makes victory so sweet, and why seasoned players know this one to be fiendishly difficult to complete.

How It's Played

  1. Only the exposed card at the end of each row may be moved.
  2. Send it to a tower if it's the same suit and next in sequence (2♦ on A♦, then 3♦…).
  3. Or lay it on the end of another row, onto a card one higher — suit doesn't matter.
  4. Empty a row entirely and you may start it afresh with any card.

Win by completing all four towers, Ace to King, each in its own suit.

Built for the Joy of It

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Ten Realms

Every game opens in a new hand-drawn scene, from a snowy lamppost to a ringed planet.

Smooth & Tactile

Tap to move or drag precisely, with fanfares for every tower you complete.

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Your Chronicle

Wins, streaks, best times and fewest moves are tracked as you play.

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Anywhere

Works beautifully on phone, tablet and desktop. Nothing to install.

Can It Be Won?

Yes — but rarely by accident. With perfect play roughly 68% of deals are winnable, yet most players win far less often, because every card is face up from the start and there is no luck to hide behind. A deal can be lost beyond saving in the first half-dozen moves without any obvious sign. That is the cruelty of it, and the appeal.

If you want to win more often, we have written a full guide to the rules, the odds and the tactics that actually work:

📖 How to Play & Win

A Family Favourite

This game was set down by hand in a family rulebook — a father's favourite way to pass a quiet hour. It has been rebuilt here, faithfully, so that anyone can lay siege to the castle.

"Object: to complete all four centre piles, Ace to King, keeping to the original suit."
⚔ Play Beleaguered Castle