Lessons about Solitaire Shootout play: The differences of Competition v Solo

[Reginald Rutledge]

I had the opportunity to teach a police officer friend of mine about the Shootout Solitaire Monday night. He had often watched games and seen us in action using the rules. He had always wanted to play but was one of those who could not stomach losing to anyone else, thus staying out the league that I had created here over the years.

However, he has constantly been a friend who I discuss the game of football with and the other night, he was so taken back by all the teams I had painted for myself, the stadiums, the whole setup, that he asked me. "How do you do this and are you really enjoying this?"

I told him, "Mike, look around. Does it really look like I need anyone to have fun?" He replied, "No." Then the real questions about "The Box", Weight Distribution, playing under the lights, the statistics, the movies, and everything about playing solitaire.

He always felt there was no way you could play the Shootout style in solitaire without cheating for one team. When I showed him the 100 play Playbook and he started going through the plays and seeing how, it those players run the plays accordingly, the best team would usually win - I HOOKED HIM to start his own solitaire league.

This is a guy who was always in total support of my company and my ideas. Now, I have a reason to help this guy learn everything there is to about this style of play. It was one of the best times, just teaching someone who wanted the information and you know, would take that information and create his own league.

Reg