Addiction Solitaire

Addiction Solitaire is a harder variant of Gaps/Montana with stricter rules. The grid layout and gap-sliding mechanic are the same, but Addiction limits redeals or adds restrictions on which cards can move. This creates a more demanding puzzle where early decisions have lasting consequences. Every gap you fill determines which future moves are possible.

How to Play Addiction Solitaire

What’s Different from Classic Gaps?

Harder Gaps with stricter rules and fewer redeals. Early decisions have lasting consequences.

Layout

All 52 cards are dealt face-up in a 4×13 grid. The four Aces are then removed, creating 4 gaps.

Objective

Arrange four complete rows of cards by suit, running from 2 through King.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Move a card into a gap if it is the same suit and one rank higher than the card to the left of the gap.
For example, if 5♥ is to the left of a gap, only 6♥ can fill it.
A gap at the start of a row (leftmost position) can only be filled with a 2.
A gap to the right of a King is a dead end — no card can fill it.
When no more moves are possible, use a redeal: all cards NOT in correct position are gathered and re-dealt randomly, creating new gaps.
You typically get 1–2 redeals. Correctly-placed cards (part of a sequence starting from 2 on the left) stay locked.
Win when each row contains a complete suited run: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, J, Q, K.

Other Gaps Variations

Or go back to Gaps Solitaire.

Classic Gapsmedium

Gaps (also known as Montana) deals all 52 cards into a 4x13 grid, then removes the four Aces to create gaps. Slide cards into gaps: a card can move if it's the same suit and one ra...

Easy Gapseasy

Gaps Easy offers more redeals or relaxed placement rules compared to standard Gaps, making the grid-rearrangement puzzle more forgiving. You can experiment with different sequence-...

Montana Gapsmedium

Montana Solitaire is the classic name for the Gaps game. All 52 cards are dealt in a 4×13 grid, then the four Aces are removed to create gaps. You slide cards into gaps: a card can...

Blue Moon Gapshard

Blue Moon is a Gaps variant with a different initial deal or modified gap-filling rules. The same 4x13 grid and sliding mechanic apply, but rule variations create different strateg...

Why Play Addiction Solitaire Online?

Gaps (Montana) removes the Aces to create four gaps, then you slide cards into position. The goal is to arrange four complete suited runs from 2 to King. With limited redeals and a grid-based layout, it feels more like a sliding puzzle than traditional solitaire.

Game Features

Sliding Puzzle Mechanic — Slide cards into gaps to build sequences
4x13 Grid Layout — Unique grid-based solitaire experience
Redeals Available — Reshuffle non-placed cards for fresh attempts
Unlimited Undo — Test gap-filling strategies before committing
Smart Hints — Shows valid cards for each gap position
No Download — Play instantly in your browser on any device

Addiction Tips and Strategies

Think multiple moves ahead — filling one gap affects which cards can move next. Prioritize completing suits that have the most cards already in sequence. Avoid creating gaps at the end of rows (after Kings) since they're dead ends. Use redeals sparingly and strategically.

Addiction Solitaire Rules

All 52 cards are dealt face-up in a 4×13 grid. The four Aces are removed, creating gaps. Move a card into a gap if it is the same suit and one rank higher than the card to its left. A gap at the start of a row can only be filled with a 2. A gap next to a King is dead. Limited redeals shuffle unplaced cards.

Scoring System

Gaps (Montana) doesn't use traditional point scoring. Success is measured by how many cards you arrange in correct suited order from 2 to King. A perfect game has all four rows correctly ordered. Fewer redeals used indicates greater skill.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

In Gaps, the biggest mistake is filling gaps randomly. Plan which gaps to fill to extend existing suited sequences. Work on one row at a time when possible. Before using a redeal, make sure you've maximized your current arrangement.

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about Addiction Solitaire.

What is Addiction Solitaire?

Addiction Solitaire is a classic card game you can play for free online at Solitaire.fyi. No downloads or registration required — play instantly in your browser on any device.

What makes Addiction harder than Montana?

Addiction typically has fewer redeals or stricter gap-filling rules. This means early mistakes are harder to recover from. The core sliding puzzle mechanic is the same, but the reduced margin for error significantly increases difficulty.

Is Addiction Solitaire free to play?

Yes — 100% free at Solitaire.fyi with no hidden costs, no sign-up, and no ads that interrupt gameplay. Play unlimited games on desktop, tablet, or mobile.

What is a good win rate for Addiction Solitaire?

Win rates vary by variant and skill level. Experienced players typically win 30-60% of games depending on the variant. Using undo and hints can help you improve.

History of Addiction Solitaire

Gaps, also known as Montana or Spaces, originated in the American West during the late 19th century. The name "Montana" connects it to the frontier era when miners and cowboys played card games during downtime. Its sliding-puzzle mechanic makes it feel distinctly different from traditional solitaire — closer to the famous 15-puzzle than to Klondike. The game appeared in many 20th-century patience books and gained renewed popularity in digital collections where the grid-based interface works particularly well.

Cognitive Benefits of Addiction

Gaps exercises sliding-puzzle logic and sequence-building planning. Visualizing how card movements create chains of new gap positions builds the same spatial reasoning skills used in logistics and scheduling problems. The grid-based layout adds a geometric dimension to traditional card game thinking.

Play Addiction Solitaire Free Online