John Levi Martin: 

Department of Sociology

University of Wisconsin, Madison

"Party Simply, so that Others may Simply Party."

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FreeCell Puzzles:  A Tribute to EOW

Erik Olin Wright put on his website some variations of games like FreeCell and Chess.  In another of our Amazing Parallels, I have also worked on some variations.  I put a selection of the safer ones here.

Chutes and Chess -- this is like chess but you play it on a chutes and ladders board.  Hint:  It works better if you mix up the black and white pieces together.

Let all the monkeys out of the zoo -- this is like chess but more challenging.

Tic Tac Chess -- this is like chess but less challenging.  Significantly so.

Strip Candyland -- it helps if you are wearing clothes of different colors!

Babblescrabble -- this is like regular scrabble but you can only use words that are in more than one language.  Expert version:  the meanings of the words in the different languages have to be opposites.  (E.g., the meanings of "verschimmelt" in Yiddish and Cantonese.)

FreeCell 27653 -- this is a variation on EOW's variation for this same game, but in my version you do it blindfolded.  Plus you use a sledgehammer instead of the mouse.

FreeCell 6831 -- another variation on EOW's game for this board.  Again, you try to leave 50 cards on the table, move one to win the game.  But every time you move a red card, drink a beer.  Every time you move a black card, drink a beer.

FreeCell 6831B -- in this version you leave everything on the table, leave the table, and just go to the bar.

Meta-caber tossing --  Here you toss a Scotsman holding a big pole.

Meta-obverse-caber tossing --  Here you toss a Pole holding a big Scotsman.

Sneaky Solitaire -- This is like regular solitaire, but you try to do it when you are at a meeting.

Non solitary solitaire -- For experts, a variation on Sneaky Solitaire.  Here you wait until someone at the meeting asks a question directly of you, and you shamelessly reply, "That's a very interesting question. And I have an interesting question for YOU. Do you think I should play this queen or hope for a better card next time around?"

Which fire is bigger? -- This is a variation of a game Elijah played on Mount Carmel, but this one uses gasoline.

If you touch me I'll kill you -- I find this game works better the first time you play it with someone.