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How to Play Gaps Solitaire (Montana)

Gaps — also known as Montana — is a grid-based patience game where you slide cards into empty spaces to build complete suit sequences. With a challenging win rate of 10-20% and a satisfying redeal mechanic, it rewards careful planning and strategic thinking.

Setup

  1. Use a standard 52-card deck.
  2. Deal all 52 cards face-up into a 4×13 grid (4 rows, 13 columns).
  3. Remove all four Aces from the grid, creating 4 gaps (empty spaces).
  4. All cards are visible from the start — no hidden information.
  5. You have 2 redeals available (3 total deals).

Objective

Arrange each of the four rows as a complete suit sequence from 2 through King (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, J, Q, K) of the same suit. Column 13 should be empty (where the Ace was). Each row contains one complete suit when you win.

Rules

Moving Cards into Gaps

A card can move into a gap if it is one rank higher and the same suit as the card immediately to the left of the gap. For example, if the 5♥ is to the left of a gap, only the 6♥ can fill it.

Leftmost Column Gaps

A gap in column 1 (the leftmost column) can be filled by any 2 of any suit. Since winning rows start with a 2, this is how you begin building sequences from the left.

Dead Gaps

A gap immediately to the right of a King is dead — nothing can be placed there (no card ranks higher than King). A gap to the right of another gap is also dead (no card to reference). Dead gaps reduce your available moves and should be avoided when possible.

Redeals

When no more moves are available, you can redeal (up to 2 times). Cards that are correctly sequenced from the left of each row — starting with a 2 of a suit — are locked in place. All other cards are gathered, shuffled, and redealt into the remaining positions. Aces are removed again to create new gaps.

Strategy Tips

1. Prioritize 2s in Column 1

Getting 2s into the leftmost column is your first priority. Each 2 placed in column 1 starts a potential suit sequence. Without a 2 in column 1, that entire row is stuck until a redeal.

2. Avoid Creating Dead Gaps Near Kings

Moving a card from next to a King creates a dead gap. Before making a move, check whether it will create a dead gap. Sometimes it's better to leave a gap open and make a different move first.

3. Build Long Sequences Before Redealing

The more cards you can lock into correct sequences before redealing, the better your chances. Each locked card is one fewer card that gets reshuffled. Try to extend existing sequences as far as possible before using a redeal.

4. Think in Chains

Each move creates a new gap where the card came from. Think ahead: “If I move 6♠ into this gap, the new gap where 6♠ was can be filled by...” Chain your moves to maximize the number of cards placed correctly.

5. Save Redeals for Maximum Impact

Don't redeal the moment you're stuck. Use undo to explore alternative move sequences. Sometimes rethinking your approach lets you lock a few more cards before redealing. Every extra locked card improves your odds.

6. Focus on One or Two Rows

Trying to build all four rows simultaneously spreads your moves thin. Focus on completing one or two rows first — this locks more cards and gives the redeal shuffle better odds of producing useful arrangements in remaining rows.

Comparison: Gaps vs Related Games

FeatureGaps (Montana)CruelFreeCell
Layout4×13 grid12 piles of 48 cascades
GoalArrange in gridBuild foundationsBuild foundations
Redeals2 (shuffled)Unlimited (ordered)None
FoundationsNone4 (up by suit)4 (up by suit)
Free cellsNoneNone4
Win rate~10-20%~25-30%~82%

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes Gaps Solitaire different from other patience games?

Gaps (Montana) is unique because there are no foundations or stock piles. The entire game takes place within a 4×13 grid where you slide cards into empty gaps. The goal is arrangement, not removal — you're organizing cards into suit sequences within the grid itself. The redeal mechanic, where correctly sequenced cards lock in place, adds a satisfying layer of strategy.

How many redeals do I get in Gaps Solitaire?

You get 2 redeals for a total of 3 deals. When you redeal, cards that form a correct sequence from the left of each row (starting with a 2 of any suit) are locked in place. All other cards are gathered, shuffled, and redealt. Aces are removed again to create new gaps. Use your redeals wisely — they're your lifeline when stuck.

What is a dead gap?

A dead gap is an empty space where no card can be placed. A gap is dead when it's immediately to the right of a King (since no card has a higher rank than King in sequence) or to the right of another gap (since there's no card to reference for the suit/rank requirement). Dead gaps are essentially wasted space on the board.

Can any card go in the leftmost column?

Only 2s can be placed in the leftmost column (column 1). Since completed rows must start with a 2 and end with a King, and the gap rule requires matching the card to the left, leftmost gaps are special — they accept any 2 of any suit. Getting 2s into the leftmost column early is a key strategy.

Why are Aces removed in Gaps Solitaire?

Aces are removed to create the gaps that drive the game. Since completed rows run from 2 to King (12 cards) across 13 columns, the 13th column should be empty in a winning position. Removing the 4 Aces creates exactly 4 gaps (one per row ideally) and eliminates cards that don't fit the 2-through-King sequence.

Is Gaps Solitaire hard to win?

Gaps is one of the more challenging patience games, with an estimated win rate of 10-20% with skilled play. The redeals help significantly — without them, the win rate drops below 5%. Success requires careful planning, strategic use of redeals, and avoiding dead gaps near Kings.

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