Copyright: Pete Gilchrist 1995


Solo Jim Help --- Contents

Quick Start

Aim of the game

Layout

How to move cards with the mouse

How to use the buttons

How to play the game

Hardware and software requirements

Registering Solo Jim


Quick Start

Solo Jim is an original patience game. It is loosely based on the Golf family of games but unlike most such games involves skill as well as luck.

The aim of the game is to clear the main layout of playing cards by building in ascending or descending numeric order, but regardless of suit, onto the build pile. The bottom, fully exposed card in each column is playable. When you have done this you have got Solo Jim out.

To help you there is a free space at the top of each column marked red. Any card can be placed into a free space to allow the newly revealed card to be used. There is a stockpile of 9 cards which can be played to the build pile at any time. If you use only some of the stockpile cards and still get the patience out you have done even better.

Cards can be moved by dragging or by clicking twice on a card.

Right clicking initiates the undo feature.

There are often several options open to a player and which of these is followed will effect  the outcome of the game. The undo option and the replay option allow you to experiment to gain the best score.

Have fun!!


The aim of the game

The aim of the game is to clear the main layout of playing cards by building in numeric order up or down, regardless of suit, onto the build pile. When you have done this you have got Solo Jim out. There is a stockpile of 9 cards which can be chosen at anytime. If you use only some of these cards and still get the patience out you have done even better.


Layout

Solo Jim is played on a playing table coloured green in the game. This area is divided into three areas :

The main layout of cards is grouped in 8 columns. Seven columns contain 6 cards each while the eighth column contains no cards. The eighth column reveals a free space marked by a red rectangle. Each of the 7 columns has a free space at its beginning which can only be used when the other cards have been removed. Only the bottom card in any pile is available for playing.

The build pile is the single pile at the bottom right of the playing table.

The stockpile is made up of a row of 9 cards.


how to move cards with the mouse
How to move cards with the mouse.

Dragging.

Click on a card, hold down the left mouse button and drag the card to its new position. Then release the mouse button. Cards can be dragged from the main layout to either a free space or to the build pile. A stockpile card can only be dragged to the build pile. A card occupying a free space can be dragged onto the build pile or to another free space.

Clicking twice.

Clicking twice on a card in the main layout with the left mouse button will automatically move the card to the build pile. If the card is not allowed to be placed on the build pile it will be moved instead to a free space. If you want to move a card which could be placed on the build pile to a free space do not try to move it by clicking twice because by default it will be placed on the build pile. Move it by dragging the card to the free space. Clicking twice on a stockpile card will move it to the build pile.

Right clicking

Right clicking the mouse initiates the undo feature. Right click once to take back one card. Right click more than once to take back cards in succession.


how to use the buttons
How to use the buttons.

The game is controlled by the toolbar buttons at the top of the screen. There are six buttons which are activated by clicking.

Deal	Click Deal to deal a new game.

Replay	Click Replay to redeal the same game.

Undo	Click Undo once to take back one card. Click Undo more than once to take back cards in succession. Undo will take back any card placed on the build pile or on a free space.

Exit	Click Exit to exit Solo Jim

About	Click About to find the author, copyright and version details of Solo Jim

Help	Click Help.....you already have!


how to play the game
How to play the game.

To play the game drag a card from the main layout to the build pileand drop it. The build pile will only accept cards from the main layout which have a value of one higher or one lower than the build pile top card. The suit or colour of the cards is not important. You can also click twice on a card to move it.

For example: a 5 can be followed by a 4 or a 6 and a King can be followed by a Queen or an ace.

To be accepted by the build pile the rules above must be followed. If a card is not accepted it will return to its position.

At any time you have 2 other options :

using free spaces

using the stockpile.

Free Spaces

A free space is marked by a red rectangle. Any card in the main layout can be moved to any available free space in order to reveal the card underneath. A free space can only hold one card at a time but when a free space card is played to the build pile the free space is ready to accept another card. All eight columns contain a free space which can be used once it is revealed. Clicking twice on a card will move it to a free space if it is not able to be played to the build pile.

The Stockpile

At any time or when you can no longer play cards to the build pile you can select the first stockpile card and drag it to the build pile. Clicking twice on a stockpile card will also move it to the build pile. Now continue play using the stockpile cards as necessary.

If you clear the main layout of cards on to the build pile Solo Jim has come out and you have won. If you use only some of the stockpile cards and still get the patience out you have done even better.


main layout
The Main Layout

The main layout of cards is grouped in 8 columns. Seven columns contain 6 cards each while the eighth column contains no cards. The eighth column reveals a free space marked by a red rectangle. Each of the 7 columns has a free space at its beginning which can only be used when the other cards have been removed. Only the bottom card in any pile is available for playing.


build pile
The Build Pile

The build pile is the single pile at the bottom right of the playing table.


stock pile
The Stock Pile

The stockpile is made up of a row of 9 cards.


free space
Free Spaces

A free space is marked by a red rectangle. Any card in the main layout can be moved to any available free space in order to reveal the card underneath. A free space can only hold one card at a time but when a free space card is played to the build pile the free space is ready to accept another card. All eight columns contain a free space which can be used once they are revealed.


Dragging Cards

Cards are moved by dragging. Click on a card, hold down the left mouse button and drag the card to its new position. Then release the mouse button.


double clicking
Clicking twice

Clicking twice on a card in the main layout with the left mouse button will automatically move the card to the build pile. If the card is not allowed to be placed on the build pile it will be moved instead to a free space. If you want to move a card which could be placed on the build pile to a free space do not try to move it by clicking twice on the card because by default it will be placed on the build pile. Move it by dragging the card to the free space.

Clicking twice on a stockpile card will move it to the build pile.


Registration Form

Please register Solo Jim. By registering you can stop the very annoying please register box popping up everytime you start to play.

UK Registration

Please send £7 in cash, cheque, postal order or Eurocheque in pounds sterling to:

Pete Gilchrist,

17 Boscawen Road,

Falmouth, Cornwall,

TR11 4EN,

England.

US Registration

Please send US$10 in cash or cheque to:

Adrian Chalker,

2325 North West Market Street,

Seattle,

WA 98107,

USA

Name

Address

Fax Number

If you have a printer you can print off this form by choosing print topic from the file menu.

Thank you!


Hardware & Software requirements
Hardware & Software requirements.

Solo Jim needs a 386 or higher PC with 4 MB of RAM and Windows 3.1 or higher. It does not require a hard disk.