Addiction Solitaire
Slide cards into the gaps to build four same-suit rows, 2 to King. Free, no download.
On Mr. Solitaire, Addiction Solitaire is played as Gaps.
What is Addiction Solitaire?
Addiction Solitaire is a gap-filling card puzzle — the same game known for centuries as Gaps, Montana, or Spaces. The whole 52-card deck is dealt face-up in four rows of thirteen, the four Aces are removed to leave four gaps, and you slide cards into those gaps to turn each row into a clean same-suit run from 2 up to King.
What makes it “addictive” is how close to solved the board always looks. Every card is visible from the start, so there is no luck of the draw — only planning. One misjudged move can freeze a row, and the “just one more reshuffle” loop is famously hard to walk away from.
How to Play Addiction Solitaire
Read the layout
All 52 cards are dealt face-up in four rows of 13. The four Aces are removed, leaving four gaps you can fill.
Fill a gap
A gap takes exactly one card: the same suit and one rank higher than the card immediately to its left. A red 6 sits to the right of the red 5.
Start rows with a 2
A gap at the far-left of any row can be filled by any 2. That 2 anchors the row, and the rest must follow in the same suit.
Watch for dead gaps
A gap directly to the right of a King cannot be filled — nothing is higher than a King. Avoid stranding gaps behind Kings.
Reshuffle wisely
When no legal move remains, reshuffle the unplaced cards back into the open spots. You get three reshuffles, so plan before you spend one.
Complete four rows
Win by building all four rows into 2-3-4-…-K runs of a single suit, left to right.
Tips to Win More Often
- ✦Place 2s at the left of rows early — every completed row has to start with one.
- ✦Protect the cards already in correct position; a reshuffle only moves unplaced cards, so locked runs stay safe.
- ✦Avoid creating a gap to the right of a King — it is dead space until a reshuffle.
- ✦Think two moves ahead: filling one gap opens a new one, so trace the chain before committing.
- ✦Don't spend a reshuffle the moment you're stuck — scan the whole board first; a legal move is often hiding.
Play This and More — Free
Gaps (play this)
The playable version of Addiction Solitaire on Mr. Solitaire.
Klondike
The classic. Build four foundations Ace to King.
FreeCell
All cards face-up. Nearly every deal is winnable.
Scorpion
Move any face-up group into long same-suit runs.
Pyramid
Pair cards that add to 13 to clear the pyramid.
TriPeaks
Fast and casual — clear three peaks in one run.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is Addiction Solitaire?
- Addiction Solitaire is a gap-filling card puzzle. The full 52-card deck is dealt face-up in four rows of 13, the Aces are removed to leave four gaps, and you slide cards into the gaps to build each row into a same-suit run from 2 up to King. It is a game of pure planning — every card is visible and there is no luck of the draw once the deal is set.
- Is Addiction Solitaire the same as Gaps or Montana?
- Yes — Addiction Solitaire, Gaps, Montana, and Spaces are all names for the same gap-filling puzzle. The board and the core rule are identical: fill each gap with the card one rank higher and the same suit as the card to its left, and aim for four complete 2-to-King suit rows. On Mr. Solitaire you play it as Gaps.
- How do you play Addiction Solitaire?
- Each gap can be filled by exactly one card: the one that is the same suit and one rank higher than the card immediately to its left. A gap at the far-left of a row can take any 2. A gap to the right of a King is dead and cannot be filled. When no legal move remains, you reshuffle the unplaced cards and continue, up to three times.
- Is Addiction Solitaire free to play?
- Yes. Mr. Solitaire's version (listed as Gaps) is completely free, runs in your browser, and needs no download or sign-up. It works on phone, tablet, and desktop.
- How many reshuffles do you get in Addiction Solitaire?
- Three. When you reach a position with no legal move, you can call a reshuffle: every card that is not already locked in its correct place is collected, shuffled, and redealt into the open spots. You are allowed three reshuffles per game, so planning before you reshuffle matters.
- Why is it called Addiction Solitaire?
- The name comes from how compelling the 'just one more reshuffle' loop is — the puzzle looks almost solved so often that it is hard to stop. The underlying game is centuries old under the names Gaps, Montana, and Spaces; 'Addiction Solitaire' is the popular modern branding.
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Play Addiction Solitaire (Gaps) free — instant, no sign-up.