How to Play the Streets and Alleys Card Game

We have another solo card game for you today: Streets and Alleys. This game will challenge you to think. It does have an element of luck to it but if you puzzle it out right you can win.

Streets and Alleys is the most challenging of a family of games. In the middle there is a game called Beleaguered and a different variation is Citadel that is less challenging—but trust me they will all have you “puzzling till your puzzler is score.”

This game adds to our collection of solo card games including Eagle Wings, Beehive and Black Hole. It is also part of our Golden Solo Card game book that includes one game that you can’t find anywhere else.

In this post we’ll cover how to play, the rules and the different variations of Streets and Alleys. Let’s get to it.

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What you Need for Streets and Alleys

You will need a deck of cards with the jokers removed and some table space. If you need some new cards, check out the selection here; Canadians here.

Setting Up Streets and Alleys

Streets and Alleys is a specific layout of cards that needs a little of space to paly and can seem complicated at first, but is easy once you get use to it.

First, deal four cards face up in a vertical line. Next, deal a second line of four cards to the right of the first, leaving space in the middle for a third row. Now, deal a second set of four cards on top of the first row, overlapping them so you can see both rows. Next, deal a second row of cards on top of the second row that you deal on the right side, again overlapping them so you can see all cards. Continue doing this so that you have 7 cards in each left side lines and 6 cards in each line on the right side. You should be able to see all of the cards. You’re now ready to play.

How to Play Streets and Alleys

The object of Streets and Alleys is to get all of the cards onto foundation cards that go in the middle of the two lines of cards. A foundation pile starts with the ace of each suit. You build these foundation piles from ace to king.

To play, you can move only one card at a time from each end to either to the foundation piles or to the end of a different line. When adding to a foundation pile, the suit must match. However, when moving a card to the end of a line, you do not need to match suits. They do need to be in descending order. For example, if you have the 7 of spades on the end of a line, you may add any of the 6s to that line.

When a line becomes empty, you may place any single card there that you like.

Winning Streets and Alleys

To win this game, you will need to place all of the cards on the foundation piles in their correct suits.

Streets and Alleys Variations

This is a very challenging game and I have found two games that have the same game play but with different rules to make them easier.

Beleaguered Castle

This game also goes by the names of Laying Siege and Sham Battle. It is played the same as Streets and Alleys but you will start with the aces in the center as the foundation piles. This leaves 6 cards on each line on the sides of the foundation piles (instead of the 6 7 arrangement in the base game). The game paly and wining is the same as above.

Citadel

This game is played the same with two differences. First, the aces are placed in the middle as the start of the foundation piles (like in Beleaguered Castle). Next, after you deal each vertical row, you get to stop and look to see if you can place anything on the foundation piles. If you can, you place the card on the foundation pile and then deal the next row of cards. Again, you get to stop and place any cards that are on the ends into the foundation piles. The game play once you have all the cards deal is the same as both Streets and Alleys and Beleaguered Castle.

Puzzling Times

The Streets and Alleys solo card game is a challenging game that requires much thought and observation. If you’re up for the challenge give it a try and try the different setup and see if it makes it easier. Good Luck! Get the printable rules here.

For more solo games try Mini Golf—also a challenging puzzle with a fun theme, Flower Garden and Crazy Quilt.

For more fun and games visit our Family Game Shelf Shop for tons of fun with seasonal and original games like our Sticks card game, Dice Sticks game and our Whacky Putt—dice mini golf that is a really hoot! It might be just what you need after a good game of Streets and Alleys!