Gaps (Montana) - Play Online Free
Gaps, also known as Montana, is a one-of-a-kind solitaire that plays more like a sliding puzzle than a traditional card game. All 52 cards are dealt face-up in a four-by-thirteen grid, then the four Aces are removed to create gaps. You slide cards into those gaps to build each row into a complete same-suit sequence from 2 up to King. This free online Gaps Solitaire plays instantly in your browser — no download and no sign-up.
What Is Gaps Solitaire?
Gaps is a single-player card game played with one standard 52-card deck, laid out face-up in four rows of thirteen. Once the four Aces are removed, four empty spaces — the gaps — remain. The goal is to arrange all four rows so that each becomes an ordered same-suit run from 2 through King, with the leftmost columns holding the 2s and the sequence climbing to the right.
What makes the gaps game so distinctive is that cards are never stacked. Instead of building piles, you slide a single card into a gap, and the rule is precise: a gap can only be filled by the card that is the same suit and exactly one rank higher than the card immediately to its left. Moving a card creates a new gap where it used to be, so the puzzle is a chain reaction of openings. Also called Montana or Blue Moon, Gaps is a tight, cerebral challenge — quite hard without redeals (5–10% solvable) but much more winnable with them (30–40%).
How to Play Gaps
Setup and Deal
Deal all 52 cards face-up into four rows of thirteen. Remove the four Aces, leaving four gaps (empty spaces) scattered through the grid. There are no piles and no stock — the entire layout is a single flat grid you reorganize by sliding cards.
Objective
Arrange each of the four rows into a complete same-suit sequence running from 2 on the left to King on the right. The game is won when all four rows are correctly ordered by suit. If you run out of useful moves (and redeals, where allowed), the game ends.
Rules
- Fill a gap with the card that is the same suit and one rank higher than the card to its left.
- A gap in the leftmost position can be filled with any 2.
- A gap to the right of a King cannot be filled (Kings end sequences).
- Win when each row contains a complete same-suit sequence from 2 to King.
- Some versions allow redeals where non-sequenced cards are reshuffled.
Gaps Solitaire Strategy Tips
- Start by moving 2s to the leftmost positions, since they anchor each row's sequence.
- Plan several moves ahead, because each card you slide opens a new gap somewhere else.
- Avoid creating gaps to the right of a King, as those spaces are dead ends that cannot be filled.
- Try to complete one row at a time rather than spreading effort thinly across all four.
- Watch how a move's new gap cascades — the best move is often the one that opens the most useful follow-up.
- If your version allows redeals, save them for when every gap is stuck behind a King.
Gaps, Montana, and Blue Moon
Gaps goes by several names, and the variations mostly concern redeals and starting layout. Montana and Blue Moon are the most common alternate names for the same sliding-gap mechanic. The biggest rule difference between versions is how many redeals you get: with no redeals the game is brutally hard, while versions that reshuffle the out-of-sequence cards two or three times become genuinely winnable. Some variants also fix where the 2s start. Whatever the name, the core puzzle — slide cards into gaps to build same-suit rows from 2 to King — stays the same.
Tips for Beginners
New to Gaps? Think of it as a sliding puzzle, not a stacking game. Begin by getting a 2 of each suit into the leftmost columns, then extend those rows rightward one rank at a time. Before each move, look at the gap it will create and make sure that gap is useful. Steer clear of stranding gaps behind Kings, which are permanent dead ends. If you have redeals, hold them for when the board truly locks up. Unlimited undo lets you explore the chain reactions safely.
Play Gaps Solitaire Free Online — No Download
You can play Gaps Solitaire free online right here, with no download and no sign-up. The game runs in your browser on desktop, tablet, and phone, so this unique sliding-puzzle solitaire is always within reach. With its flat grid, gap-sliding mechanic, and same-suit row goal, Gaps offers a refreshing change from traditional stacking solitaires — a tight, brain-teasing challenge. Every deal is a fresh puzzle to untangle.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Gaps also called Montana?
The game goes by several names including Gaps, Montana, and Blue Moon. The names reflect different regional traditions for the same core game mechanic.
What is the win rate for Gaps?
Without redeals, only about 5-10% of deals are solvable. With redeals allowed, the win rate increases significantly to around 30-40%.
How is Gaps different from other solitaire games?
Gaps is unique because cards are not stacked — they are arranged in a flat grid. Instead of building sequences on top of each other, you slide cards into empty spaces. It is more of a sliding puzzle than a traditional card game.
How do you win Gaps Solitaire?
You win by arranging all four rows into complete same-suit sequences from 2 on the left to King on the right. Each gap must be filled by the same-suit card one rank higher than the card to its left until every row is ordered.
Why can't I fill a gap to the right of a King?
Because a King is the highest card in a sequence, there is no card one rank higher to slide in after it. A gap directly to the right of a King is therefore a dead end and cannot be filled.
Is Gaps Solitaire free to play?
Yes. This Gaps Solitaire is completely free — no download, no sign-up, and no fees. Just open the page and play in your browser on any device.