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(formerly The Solitaire of Champions)
Copyright 1993-98, by Thomas Reed
Gaps is shareware. If you keep it, you should send $5 to the address listed below. For the address or more information about registering this program, see the Contact Information section below.
This program is protected by copyright, and therefore may not be redistributed in modified form. The program must always be accompanied by the documentation and any other files that were included in the original distribution.
At the beginning of a game, the entire deck of cards is dealt out, face up, in four rows. Then, the Aces are removed. This makes four "holes" in the deck. The object of the game is to line the cards up in order by suit starting with twos on the left. For example, the three of clubs should follow the two of clubs.
The theory behind achieving this goal is simple. You move cards around by placing cards in the "holes." The card you place in the hole must be the appropriate card to follow the card to the left of the "hole." In the case of a "hole" on the far left, you may place any 2 there. One consequence of these rules is that any holes directly to the right of a King are "dead." After all, what card goes after a King?
As an example, in the following row, what would go in the hole?
Answer: the Jack of hearts belongs in the hole.
The "dead hole" problem is the part that makes the game so difficult. In fact, it would make the game nearly impossible to win but for one extra rule: you get 3 re-shuffles. After you've dealt the cards and you get stuck, you can use a shuffle. All the cards that aren't in their proper places are removed, shuffled, and dealt into the open spaces. The Aces are also shuffled in and dealt with the rest of the cards. So you get your holes back. And all the cards you got into the right places stay where they were. Unfortunately, once you've used your third shuffle, if you get stuck, you lose.
The concept of the "proper place" can be kind of confusing. For instance, in the following row
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the 6 and 7 could be considered to be in the right place. However, they're still reshuffled. Why? Because the 5 is missing -- the order is broken by the 8 of spades. Anything after the leftmost card that is out of place is removed and reshuffled. In this case, the 8 and everything after it in that row is removed and reshuffled. (Think of building a tower with the 2 at the bottom -- you can't build the roof without the foundation!)
To add a little excitement, I've added a timer. As long as you're playing, you are timed, and your time is displayed on the screen. This time is part of the basis of the high scores list. Don't let this intimidate you, though! If you play too fast, you probably won't win as often. Note that the timer continues to run even when you're mousing around in the menus. You just don't see it change until you let go of the mouse button. During other occurrences, like when you're viewing the high scores, About box, etc., the timer stops until you continue.
High scores are ranked by two different things: number of shuffles used, and time used. (And, of course, you have to win!) The number of shuffles used is of greater priority than the amount of time taken. For instance, if the highest score was 1 shuffle used in 5 minutes, and you win in 0 shuffles, but you take 20 minutes to do so, your new score will replace the old one in the number one spot!
The high scores are kept in a file in your Preferences folder called Gaps Highs. You'll notice that if you move, rename, or delete the high scores file, a new one will eventually be created. This makes it very easy to clear out old high scores. Just delete the file, and a new one will take it's place. (Of course, the new one is filled with bogus, low scores.)
All this is very well and good, but it does you no good if you don't know how to tell the computer what you want to do! So, here's what to do.
First things first. You have to deal the cards in order to play a game. To do so, choose Deal 'Em from the File menu. This will deal the cards and remove the Aces. Note that you can do this at any time, except while the game is paused. For instance, if you're in the middle of a game and are not doing so well, you can always choose Deal 'Em and start a new game.
Moving the cards is a simple process, achieved two ways. One method is just to click on the card you want to move. It will become hilighted. Next, click on the space you want to move it to.
Another method of moving cards can be used when the game is set to Clicking Blanks Moves. When this option is set, clicking on a blank spot will instantly move the appropriate card there. If there is already a card selected, it will be deselected.
For more information about the Clicking Blanks ... option, see the Options section below.
In addition to the Clicking Blanks ... option, which allows finding what card would go in a particular "hole", I have provided a method to find the card that would go in a particular spot, whether there is a card already in that spot or not. Simply hold down the Option key while clicking on a card. You will be shown what card ought to go where that card is. For instance, in the following row:
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...suppose you wanted to find the 5 of spades, which is the card that should go where the King currently is. Just option-click on the King, and the 5 of spades will be highlighted.
To re-shuffle, simply choose Use a Shuffle from the File menu. This option will be dimmed if you're not at a place in the game that allows re-shuffles. If you want to know how many shuffles you've got left, just look at the Shuffles window. There will be a picture of a hand with 3, 2, 1 or no fingers up. This tells you how many shuffles you have left. You can also use a shuffle by clicking on this hand.
The next item in the File menu is the Pause item. This is so that you can get up and do something else and not run up the timer during that time. To keep you from cheating, the cards are covered up while the game is paused. Note that the game will also pause if you click on the timer window or if you move the program into the background. Moving the program back into the foreground or a second click on the timer window will exit pause mode.
The last item of note in the File menu is the Show high scores item. Choosing this item displays the current highs in a new window on the screen. Almost any user activity will dismiss the highs window.
Lastly, if you change your mind after moving a card, and decide you really didn't want it there, you can use the Undo option from the Edit menu. Once you've done that, if you decide you didn't really want to Undo it, you can choose Undo again and the card will go back where it was. And so on. Of course, you can't Undo multiple moves. If you could, the game wouldn't be much of a challenge!
During the game, you may notice a couple of things that you don't like, and that you'd like to change. This is what the Options menu is for! It contains a number of different options that can be either on or off, and one that changes according to the current setting. A check mark beside an item indicates that it is on. When you quit Solitaire, your current preferences are saved and used the next time you start up.
The Sound item controls just what you'd think it would. With this item checked, you'll be treated to all the wild sounds Solitaire has. If you turn it off, you won't hear any of these sounds. Of course, this doesn't apply to system beeps. The default is on.
The Fast aces item lets you control the removal of the Aces. With this option on, the Aces are removed in the blink of an eye, with no sound. With this item off, however, the Aces are removed one at a time. And, if you have the sound on, you'll hear a little "plink" when each one is removed. The default is off.
The Auto reshuffle item lets you tell the computer to reshuffle automatically whenever you can't make any more moves and still have shuffles left. You'll see the standard alert telling you it's time to reshuffle, and dismissing the alert causes the program to reshuffle. With this item off, you'll see the same alert, but after you dismiss it, you'll have to choose Use a Shuffle yourself. The default is on.
The Timer item lets you control whether or not the timer window is visible. As long as this item is checked, the window is visible. This is the default. If you don't like seeing your time constantly, however, you can always choose to hide it. Of course, the timer still ticks away in the background!
The Zoom Cards option allows you to specify whether or not to "zoom" when you move a card. The "zoom" effect is similar to the effect when you open a window in the Finder. The default is off.
The Color option allows you to choose whether to run in black & white or color mode.
The Clicking Blanks ... option has two settings. It can be set to either Clicking Blanks Selects or Clicking Blanks Moves. Selecting this menu item toggles between these two settings. When set to Clicking Blanks Selects (the default), clicking on a blank spot will select the card that should go there, but will not move it. (Though, clicking a second time would move it.) When set to Clicking Blanks Moves, the card is moved, rather than just selected.
If you wish to temporarily switch to the other setting, simply hold down the option key. Holding down the option key while you click on a blank will produce the opposite effect to what you have this option set to. (For instance, if you currently have it set to Clicking Blanks Moves, holding down the option key while you click on a blank will only select the appropriate card.
Lastly, the Use Default Windows option tells Solitaire to use the default window positions for the Cards, Shuffles, and Timer windows. When you quit Solitaire, the positions of the windows are saved and used the next time you start up. This item allows you to reset their positions in the event that you should accidentally move one, or decide that you don't like where you've moved them.
If you would like to get in touch with me, you may do so through e-mail or postal mail. My e-mail address is:
If you don't have e-mail, and for registration purposes, my postal address (until sometime in the summer of 2002) is:
Thomas Reed
928 Rayburn Ave.
Crestwood, MO 63126
Please e-mail me for my new address if you are sending a registration during or after the summer of 2002.
IF YOU REGISTER, PLEASE INCLUDE A NOTE TELLING ME YOUR E-MAIL ADDRESS (IF YOU HAVE ONE) AND WHAT PROGRAM YOU ARE REGISTERING! If you provide me with an e-mail address, I'll keep you notified of updates.
Feel free to contact me if you have any questions, comments, bug reports, etc...
Thanks for your interest! I hope you enjoy the game!