What Is the Beak in Penguin Solitaire?

The beak is the one idea that makes Penguin different from other free-cell games. Once you know what it does, the rest of the rules follow. Here is the whole idea in plain words.

What the beak is

The beak is the first card dealt, and it sits at the bottom of the first column. The three other cards of the beak's rank do not go in a column. They start their suit foundations at once, and the next card fills the gap, so every column still has seven cards.

What the beak changes

• Foundations: every suit builds up from the beak's rank and wraps from King to Ace. If the beak is a 5, each foundation starts with a 5 and ends with a 4.
• Empty columns: an empty column takes only the card one rank below the beak, or a same-suit run that starts with it. With a 5 as the beak, that card is a 4.
• The beak's own foundation: it stays empty until you free the beak.

The status bar shows the rule, for example 5 to 4.

How to use it

Free the beak first, because it holds back the foundation of its own suit and starts at the bottom of a column. Use the seven free cells, but keep a few empty. Columns build down in the same suit and wrap, so a King can go on an Ace. Read the Penguin guide or play Penguin.

Frequently asked questions