
- BGG rank
- BGG #9,810
- BGG rating
- 6.8
Rival Realms
- 1–2 players
- 20–30 min
- Complexity 2.3/5
- 2018

Rules assistance for Patience
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.

For 1 player
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Patience is a board game released in 1783 for 1 player, 10 minutes per game, and ages 8 and up. Its main mechanics are Pattern Building, Solo / Solitaire Game, and Ordering.
Solitaire or Patience are a family of solitaire games with a standard playing card deck. While most Patience rules are for 1 player, there are a few Patience game rules for 2 players! They are also called "Zankpatiencen" (quarrel patiences) in German Patience books. There are also commercial versions available with a collection of 2 full card decks (including Jokers), especially made to play Patience. The cards are extra small to carry in your pocket, in a little box. Instructions for several different Solitaire games are included.
Patience supports 1 player according to the catalogue. This is the publisher’s listed player count, so the game is designed for exactly that number of participants. Variants for other group sizes, if any, are described in the rulebook of your edition, so check it before setting up a different configuration.
The listed playing time for Patience is 10 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists Patience for ages 8 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
Patience has a complexity rating of 1.2 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a light game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
Patience belongs to these categories: Card Game. Its main mechanics are Pattern Building, Solo / Solitaire Game, and Ordering. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The catalogue lists Patience as a base game. It can be played on its own with the components in the box and does not require any other title. Expansions, if any exist, add new content or rules on top of it and are listed separately in the catalogue with a link back to this base game.