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What is Five Bridges Solitaire?

Five Bridges Solitaire is a fast-paced tableau-clearing solitaire game that uses a unique two-tier layout connected by five “bridges” of cards. With 25 cards in the tableau and 10 starting face-up, the game plays very similarly to Tripeaks but with a more linear and interconnected structure. The five bridges link the top row of face-down cards to the bottom row of exposed cards, creating a rhythmic puzzle where every reveal opens new pathways across the layout. The result is a clean, flowing game of timing, sequencing, and smart card removal.

How to Play Five Bridges Solitaire

Objective

The goal of Five Bridges Solitaire is to clear all cards from the tableau by moving them to the waste pile. You remove cards by selecting any available tableau card that is exactly one rank higher or lower than the top card of the waste pile. Suits and colors do not matter.

Setup

Five Bridges Solitaire is played with a standard 52-card deck and uses a layout built around two horizontal rows. The top row contains face-down cards, while the bottom row contains the 10 face-up cards you can play from. Five vertical “bridge” cards sit between the rows, creating links that reveal the upper cards as you clear the lower ones. The layout consists of:

Tableau: 25 cards arranged in two rows connected by five evenly spaced bridge cards. The entire bottom row of 10 cards starts face-up, as do the five bridge cards and a few top-row cards directly linked to them. Removing cards from the lower row uncovers the bridge cards above, and clearing bridge cards reveals the corresponding top-row cards.
Stock (draw pile): The remaining cards are placed face-down. When no moves are available, you draw the next card from the stock to the waste.
Waste: The top card of the waste pile determines which tableau cards you can play next. After removing a tableau card, it becomes the new waste top.

Rules

Rank-based matching: You may play a tableau card that is one rank higher or lower than the current waste card.
First Move Flexibility: Because the waste pile starts empty, the first card you play from the tableau can be any exposed card. It does not need to be one rank higher or lower than anything. After the first card is placed, normal “one higher or one lower” rules apply.
Face-up & unblocked cards only: A tableau card must be both face-up and not covered by another card to be playable. The bridge cards are typically the first to be unlocked, revealing the top row as you progress.
Single stock pass: You normally get only one pass through the stock pile. When the stock runs out, no additional draws are available.
No tableau building: You cannot move or rearrange tableau cards—only remove them.
Empty spaces remain empty: When a card is removed, nothing fills its position. The structure stays as dealt.

Strategies for Five Bridges Solitaire

Five Bridges Solitaire rewards planning ahead and using the bottom-row options wisely. These strategies can help improve your win rate:

Clear the bridges early: Removing bridge cards is crucial because they unlock the entire upper row. Prioritize moves that help uncover or remove these connectors.
Use the Free First Move Wisely: Since the waste starts empty, choose a starting card that helps reveal one of the bridges or opens multiple options rather than a card that leads to a dead end.
Check both rows before drawing: Because new options often appear in the upper row after a bridge is cleared, scan the entire tableau before pulling from the stock.
Create long runs: Sequential plays—such as 5 → 6 → 5 → 4 → 3—are the heart of the game and help you clear bridges efficiently.
Work across the row evenly: Avoid clearing only one section of the bottom row. Keeping the whole row active ensures the bridge cards reveal in a balanced way.
Pause after every reveal: When removing a card reveals a new tableau card—especially a bridge or upper-row card—check immediately to see whether it continues your sequence.
Think ahead when the stock gets low: The final stock cards often make or break the endgame. Leave yourself multiple playable ranks if possible.
Use hints or undo: These tools help test different reveal paths and prevent you from using stock cards too aggressively.

Why Play Five Bridges Solitaire?

Five Bridges Solitaire is perfect for players who enjoy fast, strategic matching games with clean and logical layouts. Its two-row structure and five connection points create a smooth flow of reveals and decisions, offering a refreshing alternative to classic triangular layouts. Whether you're aiming for long sequences, optimizing reveal order, or just relaxing with a satisfying pattern-based solitaire, Five Bridges Solitaire delivers. You can play Five Bridges Solitaire and many other solitaire games for free at Solitaire Land.