6 Interesting Facts About Solitaire That You Never Knew
Solitaire card games are known to thrill and entertain at the same time. They were created for fun, but can also act as a stress reliever since this game requires attention and involves repetitive actions. Still, although the rules of classic Solitaire are simple, it develops one’s critical skills in strategy and creating tactical moves. It is loved world-over be it online or offline. But, do you know much about Solitaire? Actually, there are many amazing facts related to it, so let’s review some of them!
Fun Facts to Know About This Game
1. The name “Solitaire” means “alone”
Have you ever been thinking about why this game initially had only one player? In fact, this is connected to the name’s etymology. ‘Solitaire’ as a word has its roots in the Latin and French languages as was made up of ‘Solitas’ and ‘Solus’. The first one means ‘isolation’, whereas the second means ‘alone’ or ‘separated’.
2. Patience is another widely used name
Solitaire is not the only name for this Solitaire Masters game. One more alternative — Patience — is also widely known and was more popular in a certain range of countries. However, Patience is still used in Britain, Poland, and Germany. Also, there are other variants. For instance, in the Scandinavian countries, it is named the Cabale.
3. Solitaire is hundreds of years old
You may think that this way of spending leisure is quite new but it has been around for many centuries! The earliest mention of the word Solitaire in printed form was in 1746 according to the Oxford English dictionary. But, people might have been playing it much before that date! It is not clear whether the game was Scandinavian or German, but it first became extremely popular in France in the early 19th century before moving to Britain and eventually spreading the world over.
4. It was incorporated into Windows to help people operate a computer mouse
In the year 1989, an American intern referred to as Wes Cherry developed a digital version of this game and assimilated it into Windows 3.0 OS. This was an entertaining way to get customers familiar with rudimentary computer mouse usage such as dragging and dropping objects on the screen. The years went by, and Solitaire online has now found itself in a prestigious slot in the world of online games.
5. Solitaire started with one type but now has over 500 variants
The first version of Solitaire is now called classic. Its rules formed the base for all the other variations. Presently, there are over 500 known different games with some specifics implemented in the process like the number of decks, the form of the layout, and others. Some are easy to play whereas others are complex and require an experienced hand.
6. There are tricks you can pull
If you decide to play Solitaire, first explore some information on the internet about valuable tips to use to win faster and with fewer difficulties. The main two tricks are the following: play the twos and the aces as early as possible to progress quicker and never leave an empty space if you do not have a King to put there.
Conclusion
The facts about Solitaire are as interesting as the game itself. You can play it alone or choose the variant where you can share this experience with a friend or several of them. There are so many options of free Solitaire available that you’ll never get bored. Try to create different strategies, don’t worry about making mistakes, and enjoy this exciting game!
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