John--

This is in response to your question on how to win at Solitaire. I agree with Janine's advice totally, but have a few suggestions in addition.

Definitely, uncover all cards possible from the spread, when you have a choice, as you'll most likely have more chances to get at the cards in the deck again. Uncover cards from the spread from right to left when given a choice as more are buried to the right. When you get in a loop with the deck, though, then you want to try to use up a deck card so that you can get out of the loop.

Maybe I'm missing something, but it seems to me that no initial spreads are unwinnable or present significant deterrents to winning as each new revealed card from the deck can potentially alter the nature of the spread. It's maybe a little like meeting a new person for the first time, how the first impression hits you and then alters. Well, maybe that's not the best analogy, but it's like you're trying to judge the entire game from what you can see on the surface yet you just don't know what cards lie just beneath the surface.

On the other hand, I find I win most often at Solitaire when drinking Margaritas at the same time. Not just plain Margaritas - they have to be the frozen kind. To make them, you have to have a blender. I find I make the best ones with about a half a can of frozen strawberry Margarita mix, a can of tequila, a little Cointreau, an old peeled banana, some fresh strawberries and about one tray of icecubes. You just blend it all together on high until it gets like snow, then pour yourself a glass and start playing Solitaire and see if it doesn't improve your score.