Solitaire in the west?

[Galloway]

Just wondering if the card game of solitaire was around during the old west? Anyone know of any other single person card games that were popular at the time? Thanks

[Lumpy Grits]

Tho I am NOT a card man. This is a VERY good question.
LG

[Professor Marvel]

Solitaire has been around for some time,  The version called "patience" was played solo in England in the middle 1700's.
It has been argued that solitaire was first documented  in a German book of games ca 1783, but that seems to be a competitive game between two players taking turns.

There is an  article claiming
"The first known solitaire game rules were recorded during the Napoleonic era"
(Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/1199186

Whilst it is generally acknowledged that Faro predominated the saloon card games, I have not found much regarding Solitaire ( a French word BTW) in our chosen times and place. It may be one of those everyday things that did not get well documented.

yhs
prof marvel

[Bugscuffle]

While on the subject of card games, I heard or read somewhere a while back that poker was played by some different rules "back in the day". I seem to remember that at one time a four-flush (four cards of the same suit) beat a pair and there were some other changes to the rank of hands. Does anyone know this to be true or false?

[Delmonico]

It may be one of those everyday things that did not get well documented.

There are a lot of things like that out there.

[GunClick Rick]

Tried once,got accused by myself of cheatin,you shoulda seen the fight in that one,the other guy lost!!I wouldn't say i won,new mirror cost 250.00 !!!!!!!!!!

[Trailrider]

Solitaire in the West was invented by a guy who got lost. He was miles from civilization, had no compass, and in despair sat down, pulled a deck of cars out of his backpack, and began to lay out a hand of cards. He had played for awhile, but failed to notice that he had a play to place a black four on a red five.  Sure enough, a mountain man appeared and told him what card to play. Therefore the pilgrim was not loast any more!