Index

The following Help Topics are available:

Overview

Rules Of The Game

Strategy And Hints

Playing The Game

About

Menus

Game Menu Commands

Options Menu Commands

For Help on Help, Press F1


Overview

Welcome to the game of Columns. This is yet another variation on the patience card game front and one of the harder ones to win.

If you already know this game and find a rule that plays differently to the way you like it and would like it included feel free to contact me at keith.s.westley@ac.com and I will be happy to consider it for inclusion in a future release.

Rules Of The Game

Strategy And Hints

Playing The Game


Game Menu Commands

The Game Menu consists of the following menu items:

New

Statistics

Exit


New Menu Item (Game)

This menu item is available at all times. When selected it will deal out a new set of cards. If you do abandon a game it will count as a loss in the statistics.

As an alternative to accessing the menu you may use the F2 key.


Statistics Menu Item (Game)

This menu item invokes the Statistics Dialog box  to view the statistics the computer collects as you play.


Exit Menu Item (Game)

This menu item shuts down the Columns application. Unfinished games are counted as lost games.


Options Menu Commands

The Options menu consists of the following menu items.

Deck

Reset Statistics


Cards Menu Item (Options)

This menu item invokes the Select A Deck Dialog box  to change the picture on the back of the deck of cards being used. You can change the deck at any time, even in the middle of a round.


Reset Statistics Menu Item (Options)

This menu item zeros out all the statistics the computer tracks as you play.


Select A Deck Dialog Box

This dialog box presents you with twelve alternative card backs that you can use. Selecting a card back is a totally decorative decision and has no impact on the way the game plays. To select a card back click on the image and select OK. The selected image appears above the OK button.


Statistics Dialog Box

This dialog box presents you with statistics on your play:

Wins
The number of games you have won.

Losses
The number of games you have lost. Abandoned games count as a losses.

Average Complete
As you play the game the computer informs you via the status bar how complete the game is based on the number of cards that are in the right sequence. This statistic is the average complete at the end of each game.


Rules Of The Game

The Deck

The deck is a regular 52 card deck.

Objective of the game

To organise the cards in four columns of cards within suit starting with King through to Ace at the bottom.

Rules

The rules are very simple

A card and all cards below it can be moved onto a column where the top card of the list being moved is one less and the same suit as the bottom card of the column you drop it onto.

Only Kings can be moved into columns which contain no cards.

The face down cards in the columns are removed as all cards below them are moved to other columns.

Cards from the spare cards list are only available when an ace appears at the bottom of one of the columns. Any of the cards from spare cards list can be placed onto an ace or any other valid card at any time.

Strategy And Hints

Playing The Game


Strategy And Hints

Generally there is not a lot of strategy. Usually you cant run into any trouble moving a card into a valid position but occasionally it cuts off another option. An example of this is where the column you are moving has a bottom card which would require a card from the column you are moving the card list onto. In this case you need to evaluate which provides you with the best long term options. This can be done by thinking through the moves that will be available after the move is completed. This is also true when you are moving kings into empty columns and taking cards from the spare list.

Given the option of making a normal move or uncovering one of the face down cards you should always lean toward uncovering the face down card.


The Columns Window

1. 	These cards are initially face down. As all the cards below them are removed they will automatically be exposed.

2. 	These cards are face up and can be moved acording to the rules.

3. 	These are the spare cards. These cards can be moved onto an ace at the bottom of any column.


Playing The Game

To play the game select the New menu item  off the Game menu ..

Rules Of The Game

Strategy And Hints


Selecting A Card

To select a card click anywhere on the visible cards and then while holding the left mouse button down drag the cards to the desired column. The mouse pointer will indicate when you may drop the cards.

The computer will not allow you to select an invalid card or to drop cards in an invalid place.


About

Author : Keith Westley

Address : 15 Scotney Place
Quakers Hill, 2763
NSW, Australia

Internet : keith.s.westley@ac.com

DISCLAIMER - AGREEMENT

Users of COLUMNS must accept this disclaimer of warranty: "COLUMNS" is supplied as is.  The author disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, including, without limitation, the warranties of merchantability and of fitness for any purpose.  The author assumes no liability for damages, direct or consequential, which may result from the use of "COLUMNS".

FREEWARE NOTICE

COLUMNS is a "freeware program" and is provided at no charge to the user. Feel free to share it with your friends, but please do not give it away altered or as part of another system. If you like it or have suggestions for improvements please send me your comments.

Anyone distributing COLUMNS for any kind of remuneration must first contact Keith Westley at the address above for authorisation.  You are encouraged to pass a copy of COLUMNS along to your friends.

Copyright laws apply to both Freeware and commercial software, and the copyright holder retains all rights. The author specifically grants the right to copy and distribute the software to anyone as long as the following files are included :

       README.TXT

       COLUMNS.EXE

       MFC30.DLL

       COLUMNS.HLP

       MSVCRT40.DLL