Agnes Bernauer vs Agnes Sorel
The Key Difference
Agnes Bernauer uses alternating colors (red on black) like standard Klondike. Agnes Sorel uses same-color building (red on red, black on black)—making it significantly harder with only ~5% win rate.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Agnes Bernauer | Agnes Sorel |
|---|---|---|
| Win Rate | ~30% | ~5% |
| Building Rule | Alternating colors | Same color |
| Foundation Start | Random card | Random card |
| Reserve Piles | Yes (7 cards each) | Yes (7 cards each) |
| Difficulty | Medium | Expert |
| Named After | German noblewoman (1400s) | French royal mistress (1400s) |
What Makes Agnes Variants Unique
Both Agnes variants share features that set them apart from standard Klondike:
- Random foundation start: Instead of building from Aces, a random card is dealt to start the first foundation. All foundations must start with that rank.
- Wrapping: Building wraps around (King to Ace or Ace to King as needed)
- Reserve piles: Cards are dealt in batches of 7 to reserve piles instead of a single stock pile
- Smaller tableau: 7 columns with 1-7 cards (like Klondike)
The Building Rule Difference
Agnes Bernauer: Alternating Colors
Familiar Klondike-style building:
- ♥ or ♦ goes on ♠ or ♣
- ♠ or ♣ goes on ♥ or ♦
- 2 suits available for each card
- More forgiving, more options
Agnes Sorel: Same Color
Unusual same-color building:
- ♥ or ♦ goes on ♥ or ♦
- ♠ or ♣ goes on ♠ or ♣
- Only 1 other suit available
- Much more restrictive
Why Same-Color is So Hard
In Agnes Sorel, a ♥6 can only go on ♥7 or ♦7—just 2 possible cards in the whole deck. Compare that to Agnes Bernauer where ♥6 can go on ♠7 or ♣7—still 2 cards, but the visual distinction makes tracking easier. The real difficulty comes from foundations: building same-color sequences to completion is statistically much harder.
Which Should You Play?
Choose Agnes Bernauer If:
- You want to experience Agnes-style play without extreme difficulty
- You're familiar with Klondike and want something different
- You enjoy the random foundation start mechanic
- You want reasonable odds of winning (~30%)
Choose Agnes Sorel If:
- You've mastered Agnes Bernauer
- You enjoy extremely challenging solitaire variants
- You're okay with winning only ~5% of games
- You want to test your strategic planning limits
Historical Background
Both variants are named after famous women from 15th-century European nobility:
- Agnes Bernauer (c. 1410-1435): German woman secretly married to Duke Albert III of Bavaria. Her tragic story inspired plays and operas.
- Agnès Sorel (c. 1422-1450): French noblewoman who became the first officially recognized royal mistress of a French king (Charles VII).