Solitaire is a not only a very interesting game, but it is also an interesting study and comparator. The author would posit that much of it is very much like a person's life. Would that the reader consider the following. The first point is that there is a precise order and procedure to the game. A definite order which begins with drawing three cards (or, in some cases, one), and proceeds apace. It is a rule and procedure which does not change at any time during the game. One cannot decide 'out of the clear blue' to draw only one or two cards on a certain draw just because it serves their purpose. To be blunt, the game must be played 'according to Hoyle' (you might want to ask your parents or grandparents about that expression) and the rules do not change once the game has started. Otherwise irrespective of all other considerations, whatever it is one might think that they are playing, it isn't solitaire.

The game requires all sorts of types (suits), and both colors to play and, as noted above, although each of the cards is an individual in its own right, they are each and all interdependent. You can't play this or any card game with only one card or even one suit of cards. It requires not only the high cards, but also the low cards, in fact the final solution and victory (building the final solution starts with the 2 card being matched to the Ace of the same suit, rather than the King being matched to the Queen of the appropriate different suit (and the game, in order to be completed, must always be played with a full deck (which is as close to a pun as we are probably going to get in this piece). However, it is also important to build the pre-stacks beginning with the King, not the Ace and working down. The rules do not depend upon, nor do they in any way become altered on the basis of the race, color, gender, creed, national origin, or disability of the player. In short, one must pay attention not only to what they are doing but also to what is going on around them, at all times, or miss a chance for which they would have only themselves to fault. The exercise requires patience. Sometimes, the patience seemingly required is almost unbearable.

Is luck ever involved in all of this? That depends upon how one defines the term. However, let it be said that many times what many consider to be "luck" is really just being sensitive to the opportunities which surround all of us and being appropriately prepared to take advantage of them when they appear. For instance, in life, if one has a chance to be employed as a bi-lingual interpreter it helps greatly to be totally fluent in both languages, a 'fait accompli' which can be arranged by a good education (preparation). Of course, in the beginning, one might well want or need some instruction. That is neither a problem nor is it a denegration of the learner. However eventually, one can play on their own. One of the problems which has been observed many times is those who say "I was never given an education." The obvious answer to this is: "Neither was I. An education was set out before me. There were those who were trained and assigned to assist me in obtaining that education. But in the final analysis, I and everyone I knew in the postwar (WW II Baby Boomer) generation had to roll up the proverbial sleeves, jump into the pile, and get it themselves." The good news is that when you win a hand, it is you who have achieved by personal application of all of the above points. The bad news is that any failure is also on your own shoulders. However, in this game as well as in 'the game of life' you can always try again and eventually through perseverence, you will win some. But it does take perseverence along with a lucky break or two. Believe it or not, it also requires planning and strategy because one finds that where one decides to take cards from first in case of a tie can make a total difference.

One point of interest might be that the game may be the ultimate antithesis to the mentality which seems to prevail in many portions of the country. That would be the 'I have the right to sue so I shall rush to sue' mentality. No, as pointed out above, whatever happens is dependent upon what the individual player did or didn't do.

What is the most important life lesson of the game? Could it possibly be If you cheat, you only cheat yourself?

vurdraak@pacbell.net

Opinion Piece # 21

SOME THOUGHTS ON SELF DEFENSE

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