Card games for one

Published in 1986 as part of the long-standing Teach Yourself series, David Parlett’s Card Games for One sought to codify and preserve a wide array of solitaire variants that had previously been scattered across disparate or out-of-print gaming manuals. Parlett, a highly respected games researcher and author, curated this collection to showcase the intellectual depth of single-player card games, moving beyond the ubiquitous Klondike to present lesser-known historical titles that reward strategic thinking.

The design of the book adheres to the practical, instructional aesthetic associated with the Teach Yourself imprint, focusing on clarity, ease of reference, and functional layout. By emphasizing the nuances of rules and strategy, Parlett intended for the text to serve as both a historical record and a pragmatic guide for enthusiasts. It was well-received by the gaming community for its scholarly yet accessible approach, cementing its reputation as a definitive reference for those interested in the mechanics of patience and solitaire games.