Card Game Glossary

Solitaire Terms

Tableau
The main playing area where cards are arranged in columns...
Foundation
The four piles where you build cards from Ace to King...
Stock Pile
The face-down pile of remaining cards you draw from...
Waste Pile
Where cards from the stock pile are placed face-up...
Klondike
The classic solitaire variant most people know...
Alternating Colors
Stacking rule requiring red-black-red-black sequence...

Hearts Terms

Shooting the Moon
Capturing all 26 penalty points to give opponents +26 each...
Passing Cards
The phase where players exchange 3 cards before play...
Breaking Hearts
Playing the first heart card, allowing hearts to be led...
Queen of Spades
The 13-point penalty card also known as the Black Lady...

Spades Terms

Blind Nil
Bidding zero tricks before seeing your cards...
Bags (Overtricks)
Extra tricks beyond your bid that can penalize you...
Bidding
Predicting how many tricks your team will take...
Trick-Taking
Game mechanic where players play one card each round...

General Card Terms

Trump
A suit that beats all other suits in trick-taking games...
Meld
A set or run of cards in rummy-style games...
Deadwood
Cards not part of any meld in Gin Rummy...