Last Updated on April 10, 2025 by The Official Game Rules Team

Devil’s Grip puts a strategic twist on classic solitaire, using a grid layout and two standard decks (with Aces removed). The goal is to build specific sequences in a 3-row grid while minimizing the cards left in your stockpile.

Want more classic card games? Don’t miss our guides to Old Maid and War.

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How to Play Devil’s Grip

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Setup

Start by removing all Aces from two regular playing card decks. Shuffle the remaining cards and deal them face-up into a 3-row by 8-column grid. The leftover cards form your stockpile and are placed face-down below the grid.

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How to Play

To clear cards from the stock, you’ll build piles within the grid using a specific pattern:

• Top row piles must follow this order (same suit): 2 → 5 → 8 → Jack
• Middle row piles: 3 → 6 → 9 → Queen
• Bottom row piles: 4 → 7 → 10 → King

When you move a card within the grid, immediately fill the empty space with the top card from your stock.

If no moves are possible in the grid, deal three cards at a time from your stock. You may only play the top card of the set. Once you’ve gone through the entire stock, flip the dealt cards to form a new draw pile and continue.

The game ends when no more valid moves can be made, and it’s time to score.

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Scoring

Your final score is the number of cards left in your stock—the fewer, the better. A score of zero means you’ve mastered the game.

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Devil’s Grip is a fresh, puzzle-like spin on traditional solitaire that rewards careful planning and pattern recognition. With its unique grid structure and suit-based sequences, it offers a challenging solo experience that’s easy to learn but tough to master. Whether you’re looking to sharpen your strategy or just unwind with a new card game, Devil’s Grip is a great pick for fans of classic and modern solitaire alike.