Bear River

Play Bear River Solitaire online. Dynamic foundation starting rank.

Bear River

Game info

  • Decks: 1 (52 cards)
  • Difficulty: Medium
  • Game time: Medium
  • Win rate: ~60%
  • Type: Skill

Objective

Build all four foundations to completion.

The game

Foundations
  • 4 piles at the top
  • Build up in suit, wrapping King to Ace
  • Starting rank determined by first dealt foundation card
Tableau
  • 18 piles arranged in rows
  • Each pile holds maximum 3 cards
  • Build up or down by suit (bidirectional)
  • Only the top card of each pile moves
Holes (Reserve)
  • 3 special piles that act as temporary storage
  • Accept cards when empty
  • Use them to maneuver stuck cards

Unique features

Bear River's 3-card pile limit creates tight constraints. The bidirectional building (up or down) and variable foundation start rank add strategic depth uncommon in solitaire games.

Strategy

  • Monitor pile sizes carefully - hitting 3 cards blocks the pile
  • Use holes to free up critical cards
  • Bidirectional building means more options - look for both directions