Play Gaps Solitaire Free Online

Gaps Solitaire

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 rank higher than the card to its left. Leftmost gaps can only be filled with 2s. The goal is to arrange four complete suited runs (2 through King) across the rows. A satisfying spatial puzzle with typically 1-2 redeals.

How to Play Gaps Solitaire

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

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

Other Gaps Variations

Why Play Gaps 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

Gaps Tips and Strategies

Start by filling the leftmost gaps with 2s — these establish the foundation for each row's sequence. Extend sequences from the left side outward. Before using a redeal, maximize the number of correctly-placed cards since they stay locked during reshuffling. Avoid creating gaps to the right of Kings (dead ends).

Gaps Solitaire Rules

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 Gaps Solitaire.

History of Gaps 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 Gaps

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.