Intermediate difficulty
Nestor
Remove pairs of matching rank from across the tableau columns until none remain.
- One-Deck Games
- Four-Suit Games
- Mobile-Friendly Games
- Tableau Builders
- Foundation-Building Games
- Patience Classics
| Decks | One deck |
|---|---|
| Suits | 4 |
| Typical length | 10 min |
| Difficulty | Intermediate |
| How much skill matters | Medium |
| How much the shuffle matters | Medium |
| Family | Standalone |
There is no playable version of Nestor on this site yet — this page covers its rules and strategy. The game suits a touchscreen well, so it is a good candidate once a build exists.
About Nestor
Nestor is a pure matching game with a thoughtfully rigged deal: eight columns of six, arranged so that no column ever contains two cards of the same rank. That constraint is what makes it playable at all, since your only move is removing a matching pair from the tops of the columns or the four-card reserve.
There are no foundations, no sequences and no building. It is the simplest kind of patience — clear the table by pairing — and the whole skill is in reading which removal opens up the next one. Quick, tidy, and a good palate cleanser between longer games.
How to play
Eight columns of six cards, dealt with a deliberate constraint — no two cards in the same column may share a rank, so the deal itself is arranged to be playable. Four more cards sit as a reserve. Every reserve card and the top card of each column is available, and the only move in the game is removing a pair of matching rank. There are no foundations and nothing is ever built on anything. Clear all 52 cards and you win.
Strategy
With no building at all, the only question is which of several possible pairs to take, and the answer is whichever one exposes the more useful card. Because no column contains two cards of the same rank, a rank you need is always in a different column from its partner — so think in terms of which two columns you are working toward each other. The four reserve cards never get covered, so they are permanently available and worth saving as matches for awkward ranks rather than spending early.
What works
- The deal is arranged to be playable — no column blocks itself
- Nothing to learn beyond matching ranks
- The four reserve cards stay available all game
What to know
- No building or sequencing at all, so very little depth
- Repetitive over more than a few rounds
- Eight columns plus a reserve is wide for a game this simple
Frequently asked questions
- How many decks does Nestor use?
- Nestor is played with a single standard deck.
- Is Nestor good for beginners?
- Nestor is generally better suited to players who already know the basics of solitaire, as it involves more planning than a typical beginner game.
- Is Nestor based more on luck or strategy?
- Nestor involves a mix of the initial deal and the decisions you make along the way.