Are you a fan of solitaire and bowling? If so, you’re in for a treat! Bowling Solitaire is an engaging single-player card game that combines the mechanics of bowling with strategic card play. Unlike traditional solitaire games, this version challenges you to "knock down pins" using numbered cards while trying to achieve the best score possible.
In this guide, we’ll explore how to play Bowling Solitaire, its rules, scoring system, and expert tips to improve your gameplay.
Bowling Solitaire is a solitaire-style card game inspired by ten-pin bowling. The game is played using a standard 52-card deck, where cards represent bowling pins and a bowling ball. The goal is to "bowl" by strategically removing pins (cards) in the best way possible to maximize your score over 10 frames, just like in real bowling.
This game is perfect for those who enjoy puzzle-solving, card games, and the challenge of optimizing their moves.
A standard 52-card deck (no jokers).
A flat playing surface for easy card arrangement.
A score sheet (optional) to track your frames.
Shuffle the deck and deal 10 cards face-up in a pyramid shape to resemble bowling pins:
1 card in the first row
2 cards in the second row
3 cards in the third row
4 cards in the fourth row
The remaining deck serves as the draw pile, which acts as the "bowling ball" pile.
The game consists of 10 frames, just like real bowling.
The objective is to knock down as many pins as possible in each frame using the draw pile cards. Here’s how the gameplay works:
You will draw 2 cards from the deck per frame (representing two bowling balls).
Each drawn card can knock down a pin (card from the layout) if the numbers match.
If a drawn card matches the number of any pin, you remove that pin from the layout.
You can remove multiple pins if you have multiple matching draw cards.
If the first drawn card does not match any pin, you draw a second card (representing your second roll).
The game follows standard bowling scoring rules:
Strike (X): If you knock down all 10 pins on your first draw, you score 10 + the sum of the next two drawn cards.
Spare (/): If you knock down all pins after two draws, you score 10 + the next drawn card.
Open Frame: If you don’t knock down all pins, you score based on the number of pins knocked down.
After each frame, reshuffle all 52 cards, and set up the pins again.
The game continues for 10 frames, and the player with the highest score wins (if competing against their previous best).
Want to get a higher score in Bowling Solitaire? Here are some strategies to help you master the game:
Keep track of which cards have already been used. This helps in predicting the odds of drawing a needed card.
Since higher-numbered pins are harder to remove, try to knock them down early in the game.
Going for a strike or spare early in the game sets you up for a higher score later on.
Like real bowling, practice makes perfect. The more you play, the better you’ll get at strategizing your moves.
Bowling Solitaire is an exciting and unique twist on card games, combining the best elements of bowling and solitaire into one fun challenge. Whether you’re looking for a new solo game to master or just want a fresh take on card games, Bowling Solitaire is a must-try.