| Author |
Message |
Annette N. Schneider (Shelly)
New Solitaire Player
Username: Shelly
Post Number: 3
Registered: 7-2007
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 16, 2009 - 10:09 am: | |
Is this game winnable? |
Markus Reischl (Markus)
Master Solitaire Player
Username: Markus
Post Number: 181
Registered: 7-2009
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 16, 2009 - 2:19 pm: | |
It is winnable.
 |
Annette N. Schneider (Shelly)
Junior Solitaire Player
Username: Shelly
Post Number: 4
Registered: 7-2007
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 16, 2009 - 4:00 pm: | |
how did you begin with the first Ace in the top row being spades? Hearts and diamonds come up way before spades... |
paul forsdick (Pondpaul)
Master Solitaire Player
Username: Pondpaul
Post Number: 531
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 16, 2009 - 4:13 pm: | |
Hi Annette
here is my solution
I can write out the moves if you prefer
this one took me many tries
Paul
|
paul forsdick (Pondpaul)
Master Solitaire Player
Username: Pondpaul
Post Number: 532
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 16, 2009 - 4:42 pm: | |
I think Marcus was using Solitaire 101 and they may be different to the normal pretty good solitaire game numbers .
the 101 does have the K showing at the top of each line but the normal one does not
my solution was from the normal one which has the QD in the left most square and 9c in the waste and the hearts and diamonds are the 2 that go to the foundations first |
Annette N. Schneider (Shelly)
Junior Solitaire Player
Username: Shelly
Post Number: 5
Registered: 7-2007
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 16, 2009 - 7:18 pm: | |
Hi Paul....did you get my message that I would love to have it written out. I don't understand what type of code that is.....if it conformed to the card numbers it would be easy but what do all of those numbers mean?
Annette |
Markus Reischl (Markus)
Master Solitaire Player
Username: Markus
Post Number: 182
Registered: 7-2009
| | Posted on Thursday, December 17, 2009 - 12:54 am: | |
Hi Paul,
i am using the Mac-Edition which seems to be the same as the PGS 101. I thougt so long, that the numbers and games are the same as in the big PGS with 725 games.
Annette, i don't remember how i started. I saved, but it seems, you dont know, how to open it. I think, i am going to upload the starting formation, so you can see, if it is the same game. The number, which i played is the same. I controlled it 3 times. |
paul forsdick (Pondpaul)
Master Solitaire Player
Username: Pondpaul
Post Number: 533
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, December 17, 2009 - 3:50 am: | |
Hi Annette
this is he way I do it
right click on the link and click 'save target as' save it to your desktop and close when it has saved.
right click it on the desktop and rename the last 3 charecters so the extender is changed from .unc to .pgs and enter.
open pretty card solitaire and open Theives of Egypt
select game on the top left tab and then open game. you will need to change the top so it looks at your desktop and you may need to change the bottom files of type by clicking the arrow and selecting Pretty good solitaire files.
you should now be able to see the downloaded file select it and open.
The game will now play to my saved position
if you want to replay the game select undo and keep hitting this until it gets back to the start and then redo to play through the moves
I hope this is clear
the numbers do not make sense to me either
regards paul |
paul forsdick (Pondpaul)
Master Solitaire Player
Username: Pondpaul
Post Number: 534
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, December 17, 2009 - 5:12 am: | |
Hi Markus
I thought they would be the same as welll but I do not have version 101 to check
here is the starting position
 |
Markus Reischl (Markus)
Master Solitaire Player
Username: Markus
Post Number: 183
Registered: 7-2009
| | Posted on Thursday, December 17, 2009 - 5:32 am: | |
Hiere is mine:
Maybe Thomas can explain the difference. |
Annette N. Schneider (Shelly)
Junior Solitaire Player
Username: Shelly
Post Number: 6
Registered: 7-2007
| | Posted on Thursday, December 17, 2009 - 8:32 am: | |
Hi guys....everytime I open it, even after changing it to PGS, I just get those numbers. My starting lineup is the same as Paul's with the Queen of Diamonds in first spot. Sometimes I do get the first Ace of Spades uncovered and I can sometimes get the other ones uncovered but just can't finish the game. I'll give it another couple tries today....maybe I'll get lucky and do something different and it'll work. Thanks!! |
paul forsdick (Pondpaul)
Master Solitaire Player
Username: Pondpaul
Post Number: 535
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, December 17, 2009 - 9:06 am: | |
HI
are you loading it from PGS or just clicking on it on your desktop?
this is the next bit after changing the name
open pretty card solitaire and open Theives of Egypt
select game on the top left tab and then open game. you will need to change the top so it looks at your desktop and you may need to change the bottom files of type by clicking the arrow and selecting Pretty good solitaire files.
you should now be able to see the downloaded file select it and open.
Paul |
Annette N. Schneider (Shelly)
Junior Solitaire Player
Username: Shelly
Post Number: 7
Registered: 7-2007
| | Posted on Thursday, December 17, 2009 - 9:26 am: | |
Can you possibly send me a pic of your game before you start the second redeal? I don't understand what you mean by loading it from PGS...
maybe if I saw where you are half way through, I can figure out where I'm going wrong. I tried to take a pic to show you where I was half way, but I apparently don't know how to do that either...lol. I'm technically challenged!! |
paul forsdick (Pondpaul)
Master Solitaire Player
Username: Pondpaul
Post Number: 536
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, December 17, 2009 - 10:11 am: | |
Hi
you will have the file on your desktop but to not click on it
play solitaire like normal and open your game of theives as though you were going to play it as usual
at the top are 4 tabs as follows game options internet and help.click on games and select open game this will give you a screen starting with look in and it will show pretty good solitaire click the tab and it will show you other places and select desk top
at the bottom of this screen it will show files of type Theives of Egypt files click on this and you get the option to select pretty good solitaire files . you should now see the file thieves of eqypt_paul.pgs and click on this
Here is my screen print just before starting the 2nd deal
 |
Annette N. Schneider (Shelly)
Junior Solitaire Player
Username: Shelly
Post Number: 8
Registered: 7-2007
| | Posted on Thursday, December 17, 2009 - 11:34 am: | |
Paul....thank you so much for your help! I printed out a pic of your half way point and finally finished the game. It was perfect game #757. That was really a tough one!
Thanks again! Annette |
paul forsdick (Pondpaul)
Master Solitaire Player
Username: Pondpaul
Post Number: 537
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, December 17, 2009 - 11:44 am: | |
Annette
good news it took me about 4 hours to solve it and my first guess was that it was impossible as I could never seem to get the last ace out
Paul |
Mike Butler (Butler77)
Master Solitaire Player
Username: Butler77
Post Number: 1300
Registered: 4-2006
| | Posted on Thursday, December 17, 2009 - 3:52 pm: | |
Well done Paul. A note to Annette. Hope you keep posting your problem hands. We have lots of good solvers here. |
Annette N. Schneider (Shelly)
Junior Solitaire Player
Username: Shelly
Post Number: 9
Registered: 7-2007
| | Posted on Friday, December 18, 2009 - 9:36 am: | |
I definitely will....I can't believe what Paul went through to solve that one!! Happy Holidays!! |
Markus Reischl (Markus)
Master Solitaire Player
Username: Markus
Post Number: 827
Registered: 7-2009
| | Posted on Saturday, April 03, 2010 - 2:50 am: | |
For everyone who is looking for harder ones:
Thieves of Egypt #78 |
Ken Millar (Tpa_ken)
Master Solitaire Player
Username: Tpa_ken
Post Number: 1322
Registered: 2-2006
| | Posted on Saturday, April 03, 2010 - 7:50 am: | |
Markus, you passed me in Thieves of Egypt? I thought we were friends! |
Markus Reischl (Markus)
Master Solitaire Player
Username: Markus
Post Number: 837
Registered: 7-2009
| | Posted on Saturday, April 03, 2010 - 10:17 am: | |
I watched your 60 and waited a few days when you will go on. In vain. I thought maybe you forgot your PC while biking and went on. Sorry.
Can i wait for till you reach my game number or are you to busy with biking.  |
Richard Mechen (Richardscotland)
Master Solitaire Player
Username: Richardscotland
Post Number: 4522
Registered: 9-2006
| | Posted on Saturday, April 03, 2010 - 11:00 am: | |
Poor Ken. Going down in the stats too. |
Ken Millar (Tpa_ken)
Master Solitaire Player
Username: Tpa_ken
Post Number: 1323
Registered: 2-2006
| | Posted on Sunday, April 04, 2010 - 7:44 am: | |
It is GORGEOUS weather here in Florida so I have been biking, so go for it, Markus! Blaze a trail for me!
P.S. to Richard: Thank God there are no hills in Florida or that would be me! |
Ken Millar (Tpa_ken)
Master Solitaire Player
Username: Tpa_ken
Post Number: 1324
Registered: 2-2006
| | Posted on Sunday, April 04, 2010 - 7:52 am: | |
Markus, the one thing I noticed is how quickly you are solving them. Good show! Your fastest one (#44) took me nearly 2 1/2 minutes longer than you. How long did it take you to solve my fastest one (#23)? |
Markus Reischl (Markus)
Master Solitaire Player
Username: Markus
Post Number: 859
Registered: 7-2009
| | Posted on Sunday, April 04, 2010 - 8:12 am: | |
I have also one with nearly 40 minutes. |
Richard Mechen (Richardscotland)
Master Solitaire Player
Username: Richardscotland
Post Number: 4546
Registered: 9-2006
| | Posted on Sunday, April 04, 2010 - 8:42 am: | |
Hi Ken,The weather has improved a lot here in the last few days. Funny place Scotland, we sometimes get all four seasons in the same day. A few days ago we had gales and snow simultaneously. Roads got blocked pdq. May have to invest ion a Snow-Mobile next year. After all, could you imagine me on skis?!?!? |
Markus Reischl (Markus)
Master Solitaire Player
Username: Markus
Post Number: 862
Registered: 7-2009
| | Posted on Sunday, April 04, 2010 - 1:11 pm: | |
For everyone who loves challenges. #92 looks horrible. I am still working on it, but that is the worst so long. A lot of Aces are buried (?) and it is hard to get them out.
I think it will at the end be winnable, but far from easy. |
Mike Butler (Butler77)
Master Solitaire Player
Username: Butler77
Post Number: 1524
Registered: 4-2006
| | Posted on Sunday, April 04, 2010 - 1:16 pm: | |
I want to make a comment. I really do. But I can't. Someone would have to do a whole Novena. (Joke)  |
Markus Reischl (Markus)
Master Solitaire Player
Username: Markus
Post Number: 863
Registered: 7-2009
| | Posted on Sunday, April 04, 2010 - 1:23 pm: | |
Not so hard, as i thought, but you have to be careful in which order you put the cards onto another. |
Richard Mechen (Richardscotland)
Master Solitaire Player
Username: Richardscotland
Post Number: 4550
Registered: 9-2006
| | Posted on Sunday, April 04, 2010 - 1:25 pm: | |
No. |
Markus Reischl (Markus)
Master Solitaire Player
Username: Markus
Post Number: 864
Registered: 7-2009
| | Posted on Sunday, April 04, 2010 - 1:26 pm: | |
Mike, what is a Novena? And why do you not make a comment, even if you really want to? Why can't you? |
Richard Mechen (Richardscotland)
Master Solitaire Player
Username: Richardscotland
Post Number: 4551
Registered: 9-2006
| | Posted on Sunday, April 04, 2010 - 1:29 pm: | |
Just spotted your post Mike. YEP. It's screaming at me too.
Should I email Markus just in case he thinks we are laughing at him? Or will he try and spot the joke? |
Kathy Quade (Kathyquade)
Master Solitaire Player
Username: Kathyquade
Post Number: 579
Registered: 2-2006
| | Posted on Sunday, April 04, 2010 - 1:37 pm: | |
I don't get the joke. Markus, I thought you said you were a Catholic, and you don't know what a novena is? Don't get mad; I'm just joking. And Richard, I'm not "talking" religion, although I've often thought that maybe a novena might be a good idea to keep you guys in line. |
Markus Reischl (Markus)
Master Solitaire Player
Username: Markus
Post Number: 865
Registered: 7-2009
| | Posted on Sunday, April 04, 2010 - 1:38 pm: | |
I wouldn't have asked, Richard. I have tried and looked, but so far without result. |
Mike Butler (Butler77)
Master Solitaire Player
Username: Butler77
Post Number: 1525
Registered: 4-2006
| | Posted on Sunday, April 04, 2010 - 1:59 pm: | |
Richard. Send the email. That's the way Kathy. We need to be kept in line. Although I think that goes back to one of Markus's Gnomes. Did you look up novena Markus. It would be easier than explaining it. And my Catechism days are way behind me. Simply. A lot of praying. |
Richard Mechen (Richardscotland)
Master Solitaire Player
Username: Richardscotland
Post Number: 4555
Registered: 9-2006
| | Posted on Sunday, April 04, 2010 - 2:02 pm: | |
Go walk the DOberman Mike. Dogs do need to get out regularly. |
Kathy Quade (Kathyquade)
Master Solitaire Player
Username: Kathyquade
Post Number: 581
Registered: 2-2006
| | Posted on Sunday, April 04, 2010 - 2:03 pm: | |
Markus probably knows what it is, but maybe doesn't recognize the English word. I'll let him look it up lest I get scolded again from Richard. |
Richard Mechen (Richardscotland)
Master Solitaire Player
Username: Richardscotland
Post Number: 4557
Registered: 9-2006
| | Posted on Sunday, April 04, 2010 - 2:05 pm: | |
What have I done now? |
Markus Reischl (Markus)
Master Solitaire Player
Username: Markus
Post Number: 868
Registered: 7-2009
| | Posted on Sunday, April 04, 2010 - 2:17 pm: | |
 |
Richard Mechen (Richardscotland)
Master Solitaire Player
Username: Richardscotland
Post Number: 4560
Registered: 9-2006
| | Posted on Sunday, April 04, 2010 - 2:42 pm: | |
 |
Ken Millar (Tpa_ken)
Master Solitaire Player
Username: Tpa_ken
Post Number: 1327
Registered: 2-2006
| | Posted on Friday, April 09, 2010 - 12:08 am: | |
Markus, are you still playing Thieves of Egypt? You haven't posted any new scores in a week! |
Markus Reischl (Markus)
Master Solitaire Player
Username: Markus
Post Number: 928
Registered: 7-2009
| | Posted on Friday, April 09, 2010 - 1:10 am: | |
Not every day, but playing. The stats say, that i have played 90 games, but i have in mind, i played one or two. Seems, that i haven't posted my stats. I can tell you, when i am back from work.
I saw you are closing up.
|
Markus Reischl (Markus)
Master Solitaire Player
Username: Markus
Post Number: 934
Registered: 7-2009
| | Posted on Friday, April 09, 2010 - 1:42 pm: | |
Hi Ken.
 |
Markus Reischl (Markus)
Master Solitaire Player
Username: Markus
Post Number: 947
Registered: 7-2009
| | Posted on Saturday, April 10, 2010 - 3:02 pm: | |
Ken, i thought you closed up and put me on third place again, but then i saw, that we got Mikes stats problem. |
Ken Millar (Tpa_ken)
Master Solitaire Player
Username: Tpa_ken
Post Number: 1335
Registered: 2-2006
| | Posted on Monday, April 19, 2010 - 12:35 am: | |
Markus, #78 was not THAT hard. It took me 16 1/2 minutes to solve. #71 I found much harder. It took me 24 1/2 minutes to solve. How long did it take you? |
Markus Reischl (Markus)
Master Solitaire Player
Username: Markus
Post Number: 1053
Registered: 7-2009
| | Posted on Monday, April 19, 2010 - 10:26 am: | |
Here you are, Ken.
 |
Mike Butler (Butler77)
Master Solitaire Player
Username: Butler77
Post Number: 1572
Registered: 4-2006
| | Posted on Monday, April 19, 2010 - 10:47 am: | |
The two people on the top of the stats are some of my favorites. |
Markus Reischl (Markus)
Master Solitaire Player
Username: Markus
Post Number: 1054
Registered: 7-2009
| | Posted on Monday, April 19, 2010 - 2:52 pm: | |
We maybe can get them, but for how long??? |
Mike Butler (Butler77)
Master Solitaire Player
Username: Butler77
Post Number: 1573
Registered: 4-2006
| | Posted on Monday, April 19, 2010 - 5:24 pm: | |
Thieves is a game that can take a long time to play a hand. But you and Ken can do it. He can play PGS from his bike. |
Ken Millar (Tpa_ken)
Master Solitaire Player
Username: Tpa_ken
Post Number: 1336
Registered: 2-2006
| | Posted on Monday, April 19, 2010 - 5:27 pm: | |
Markus, I'm impressed. What was the game it took you 40 minutes to win? |
Markus Reischl (Markus)
Master Solitaire Player
Username: Markus
Post Number: 1058
Registered: 7-2009
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 20, 2010 - 1:28 am: | |
It was one of the earlier ones. There has been a problem with the Jacks, when i remember right. I think it was #18 or #28, but i will tell you exactly, when i be at home on my Mac.
This games shreddered (?) my average time, otherwise i would be as fast as the losers on top of the score, but with 100 %. |
Ken Millar (Tpa_ken)
Master Solitaire Player
Username: Tpa_ken
Post Number: 1338
Registered: 2-2006
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 20, 2010 - 6:14 am: | |
Was it #20? It took me 47 minutes to win that game! |
Markus Reischl (Markus)
Master Solitaire Player
Username: Markus
Post Number: 1060
Registered: 7-2009
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 20, 2010 - 7:53 am: | |
#20 i did in 11 minutes,29.7 seconds (look at an upload above).
My hardest ones you get later. |
Markus Reischl (Markus)
Master Solitaire Player
Username: Markus
Post Number: 1061
Registered: 7-2009
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 20, 2010 - 9:53 am: | |
Here are my favorites, where i have needed more than 15 minutes, that means, i started the game twice and couldn't do it the first time.
#2 (25,5), 7 (17), 10 (21), 11 (40,5), 30 (38,38), 78 (17), 85 (15), 91 (19), 92 (16), 96 (17), 99 (19,5), 124 (16)
The times in brackets are obviously minutes. I think most of the games have been for the leaders in the stats losers. |
Ken Millar (Tpa_ken)
Master Solitaire Player
Username: Tpa_ken
Post Number: 1340
Registered: 2-2006
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 21, 2010 - 6:35 am: | |
So, Markus, your secret is out! That's why your average time is so much better than mine. You play the hard ones first (under another name?) and then go back and win them under Bib? But no worries, it's all good! |
Ken Millar (Tpa_ken)
Master Solitaire Player
Username: Tpa_ken
Post Number: 1341
Registered: 2-2006
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 21, 2010 - 6:39 am: | |
BTW, I know Richard and I say this ad naseum but it is interesting how different people play the same game differently, you KILLED me on most of those games but for #'s 10, 11, and 30 I won all of those games in 7 minutes apiece. |
Markus Reischl (Markus)
Master Solitaire Player
Username: Markus
Post Number: 1065
Registered: 7-2009
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 21, 2010 - 8:15 am: | |
Ken, i haven't played any of the games under another name. It seems you understood my sentence wrongly (" i started the game twice and couldn't do it the first time. ")
That means the first time playing it, came up a problem, for example, the black 9 are burried and you have to carefully choose, which red 8 you take to get to all black 9s. In easier games you can normally correct such things while playing it, but not with the harder ones. So, i restart the game (after playing already 9 or 10 minutes) and playing it the second time, i try to solve the problems i have had playing it the first time, but all under Bib.
The big ones i restarted twice or even often, till i find the right combination.
Maybe helps the double click in PGSME. When i double click on a card, which can go to the foundation (Autoplay of), then all cards, which could be put onto the foundation are going there.
I should must have 2 lifes, when i would playing all games twice.
I have, as every player of course more players. There is the player For Kathy (playing games Kathy are asking), For Richard (...), Markus (games, which do not make sense playing them in climb mode), but games i like to play i only play under Bib. |
Ken Millar (Tpa_ken)
Master Solitaire Player
Username: Tpa_ken
Post Number: 1342
Registered: 2-2006
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 21, 2010 - 5:50 pm: | |
Markus, I guess I still don't understand. When I'm playing Thieves of Egypt in climb mode, when I start the game over again, the time still keeps on ticking. Do you play the game in non-climb mode first and then when you win it, then play it in climb mode? |
Markus Reischl (Markus)
Master Solitaire Player
Username: Markus
Post Number: 1066
Registered: 7-2009
| | Posted on Thursday, April 22, 2010 - 1:35 am: | |
No, i play it as you. I just use the restart button, when i cannot solve it, because i get stuck and cannot arrange the cards in a way, that it is winnable. Sometimes i go some steps back (using the undo button), but mostly i play the same game again from the beginning and try to eliminate the problems. My starting time is then for example 9 minutes. The time is still running.
How do you play, when you get stuck (for example how often did you use the restart-button with your problem game #20)? |
Markus Reischl (Markus)
Master Solitaire Player
Username: Markus
Post Number: 1076
Registered: 7-2009
| | Posted on Saturday, April 24, 2010 - 2:46 am: | |
Ken, here an actual example. #135. Here a picture of my first try at the end. As you can see i got stuck. I know use the restart button and while playing it the second time, the time will go on from 7:11.7 and i try to solve the problems i have had the first time.
 |
Ken Millar (Tpa_ken)
Master Solitaire Player
Username: Tpa_ken
Post Number: 1343
Registered: 2-2006
| | Posted on Saturday, April 24, 2010 - 9:49 am: | |
Markus, I think I was confused from your post on Tuesday when you posted that you won #2 in (25, 5). If I understand you correctly, you got stuck after 25 minutes, you restarted, saw what you did wrong and then won it in 5 minutes. Correct? So then your total time for winning that game was 30 minutes, right? |
Richard Mechen (Richardscotland)
Master Solitaire Player
Username: Richardscotland
Post Number: 4764
Registered: 9-2006
| | Posted on Saturday, April 24, 2010 - 10:05 am: | |
Thanks for your concern about the volcanic ash "problem" Ken. As I explained in the email it was a huge farce. My proof is this photo taken near the top of Skye.
Some of a beach!
Markus's times are clear enough to me. Days and weeks. |
Ken Millar (Tpa_ken)
Master Solitaire Player
Username: Tpa_ken
Post Number: 1344
Registered: 2-2006
| | Posted on Saturday, April 24, 2010 - 10:19 am: | |
Richard, my parents (18 more days!) loved that picture and were curious as to what you looked like. I told them that I had a picture of you from the article you sent me about you trying to give away your mother's stair lift. I asked them if they wanted to see your picture so soon after having breakfast, but they're a brave lot. But we were wondering what ever happened to the stair lift? |
Richard Mechen (Richardscotland)
Master Solitaire Player
Username: Richardscotland
Post Number: 4765
Registered: 9-2006
| | Posted on Saturday, April 24, 2010 - 10:54 am: | |
Yes Ken, 18 more days1 I know! Isn't it wonderful? Hope they managed to keep their breakfasts down. You feed them? That's where you are going wrong.
I got rid of the stair lift. An old guy phoned and said his son would be in to uplift it. He was a joiner so he'd have loads of tools with him. A clown! He was adamant about how we'd dismantle it, so we proceeded with his plan. We freed it from the stairs so that we could slide the seat part off the track completely. It's still on the stair gradient and he asks me to lift the bottom right up so that he could get it balanced on something. He shoved in the shaft of a hammer and asked me to h0ld the hammer til he undid a bolt. The entire stucture was being held up in the air on the handle on an ordinary hammer, perhaps 1.5 inches wide. He undid a bolt and the chair came hurtling down the rails and crashed into my head. The inpact made me lose my grip on the hammer, and the entire chair-lift came crashing down on my thumb. It took weeks to get better. Probably cracked the bone. I also had a nasty gash on my head. No! Not my mouth! On my forehead. It was quite a day. I can laugh about it now......but you can't. |
Markus Reischl (Markus)
Master Solitaire Player
Username: Markus
Post Number: 1081
Registered: 7-2009
| | Posted on Saturday, April 24, 2010 - 11:49 am: | |
" If I understand you correctly, you got stuck after 25 minutes, you restarted, saw what you did wrong and then won it in 5 minutes. Correct?" NO. All are realtimes. I needed just 25,5 minutes. Don't ask how often i restarted the game. I think 2 times. (First time maybe about 6 or 7 minutes, second time 9 minutes and then another 9 for the winning variation, i don't know.)
Believe it or not, but i really didn't play any of those 134 games first under another game and then for the stats under Bib. You will have to accept, that it seems, that i am mostly faster than you with this game. |
Markus Reischl (Markus)
Master Solitaire Player
Username: Markus
Post Number: 1082
Registered: 7-2009
| | Posted on Saturday, April 24, 2010 - 11:52 am: | |
"Markus's times are clear enough to me. Days and weeks."
Richard, what do you mean? |
Markus Reischl (Markus)
Master Solitaire Player
Username: Markus
Post Number: 1083
Registered: 7-2009
| | Posted on Saturday, April 24, 2010 - 12:11 pm: | |
Here is now #135. The first try i didn't win it and that take me 7:11.7 minutes. Total time is 15:11.9 minutes, that means, i solved the game after restarting it in 8:00.2 minutes carefully trying to avoid the problems i have had. |
Richard Mechen (Richardscotland)
Master Solitaire Player
Username: Richardscotland
Post Number: 4769
Registered: 9-2006
| | Posted on Saturday, April 24, 2010 - 4:24 pm: | |
"Days and weeks" was intended to confuse Ken even further. Maybe I should have stuck to my original intention of putting feet and inches. |
Richard Mechen (Richardscotland)
Master Solitaire Player
Username: Richardscotland
Post Number: 4770
Registered: 9-2006
| | Posted on Saturday, April 24, 2010 - 4:26 pm: | |
BTW Ken, Rolls Royce are working on a new aero engine. One that can cough. |
Markus Reischl (Markus)
Master Solitaire Player
Username: Markus
Post Number: 1091
Registered: 7-2009
| | Posted on Saturday, April 24, 2010 - 4:32 pm: | |
Ken is thinking, i play Thieves of Egypt under different names and rewin it then under my stats-name to be faster. I tried to explain him, that i didn't do that, but so far he cannot believe that i am faster with the average game. |
Richard Mechen (Richardscotland)
Master Solitaire Player
Username: Richardscotland
Post Number: 4771
Registered: 9-2006
| | Posted on Saturday, April 24, 2010 - 5:08 pm: | |
Markus, People are always going to be suspicious of times that are much faster than the average person achieves. The most obvious conclusion would be that they had won the games before. All of the PGS veterans have had their doubts about many,many stats. Some of them are probably legitimate but the players will still be accused of dishonesty. That's life I'm afraid. The players know whether their stats are honest or not, but nobody else does. Is it worth worrying about? |
Ken Millar (Tpa_ken)
Master Solitaire Player
Username: Tpa_ken
Post Number: 1345
Registered: 2-2006
| | Posted on Saturday, April 24, 2010 - 7:49 pm: | |
Markus, I think I finally figured out what my source of my confusion is. In your Tuesday post, it said you won #2 in (25, 5), I took it to mean you played it and got stuck at 25 minutes, and then restarted it again and won it in 5 minutes. It FINALLY dawned on me that Europeans and Americans use commas and periods differently. You meant 25 1/2 minutes, right? Over here in the states we denote it by 25.5, not 25, 5. MY APOLOGIES for ever doubting you!
BTW, have you or Richard seen "Inglorious Basterds"? There is a big plot point in the movie that hinges on when the American masquerading as a German orders 3 glasses and holds up his middle three fingers thus exposing himself as a lousy American! Vive la cultural differences! |
Markus Reischl (Markus)
Master Solitaire Player
Username: Markus
Post Number: 1094
Registered: 7-2009
| | Posted on Sunday, April 25, 2010 - 1:16 am: | |
Sorry Ken, i forgot this time the American writing of numbers. I teach that also every year to my students and often i try to put the dot instead of the "," , but this time i just forgot.
In Thieves of Egypt it makes not sense to try it first under another name and then rewin it, because there are to many moves to remember and as you know, saving it and then open it in climb mode does not work.
Some of my speeding "tricks" you can find in the Mac section of the forum. Gregg explains a little. I play mostly with Autoplay enabled. But i think i know the thing, which is speeding up my winnings:
When i click on the stock a card is turned. Normally you have now to look, where you can put the card if you can. I don't look if it fits, but clicking just on the card and it moves automatically to a possible position. You can do that with right-clicking on the cards in PGS. That means i am mostly just clicking stock, card, stock, card, stock, card, ...
When then a card is moving (the luck factor) i am looking in the piles where is the best place for the card and can i do other arrangements (the skill factor).
Maybe this explains my times. |
Ken Millar (Tpa_ken)
Master Solitaire Player
Username: Tpa_ken
Post Number: 1347
Registered: 2-2006
| | Posted on Sunday, April 25, 2010 - 1:31 am: | |
Markus, Thanks for the tip! |
Richard Mechen (Richardscotland)
Master Solitaire Player
Username: Richardscotland
Post Number: 4773
Registered: 9-2006
| | Posted on Sunday, April 25, 2010 - 5:25 am: | |
That's what the rats say,"Thanks for the tip".
(A rubbish-tip, Markus).
That was another example of how punctuation can be important. I'd typed in "a rubbish tip, Markus" and then realised it could be interpreted in two ways. |
Markus Reischl (Markus)
Master Solitaire Player
Username: Markus
Post Number: 1095
Registered: 7-2009
| | Posted on Sunday, April 25, 2010 - 5:46 am: | |
I know rubbish only as "Abfall" (waste?). What is then the other meaning and how did you mean it? |
Richard Mechen (Richardscotland)
Master Solitaire Player
Username: Richardscotland
Post Number: 4776
Registered: 9-2006
| | Posted on Sunday, April 25, 2010 - 5:56 am: | |
Rubbish can mean waste/refuse/garbage/trash....the stuff that goes onto a rubbish-tip/rubbish-dump/refuse-tip. (In Scotland...a midden).
If I'd said rubbish-tip without the hyphen (-) you could have thought that I was saying that the tip you had given was a rubbish one. I was pointing out tt is very easy to be ambiguous (double meaning) without realising that we are doing so. |
Markus Reischl (Markus)
Master Solitaire Player
Username: Markus
Post Number: 1097
Registered: 7-2009
| | Posted on Sunday, April 25, 2010 - 6:08 am: | |
Ah, a midden.
"A midden is the archaeological term for trash heap. Archaeologists love middens, because they contain the broken remains from all kinds of cultural behaviors, including food stuff and broken crockery; exhausted stone and metal tools; organic matter and sometimes burials. In some cases, midden environments have excellent preservation of organic materials like wood, basketry, and plant food. ..." |
Markus Reischl (Markus)
Master Solitaire Player
Username: Markus
Post Number: 1201
Registered: 7-2009
| | Posted on Sunday, May 16, 2010 - 5:37 am: | |
#144 is winnable, but not easy. |
Markus Reischl (Markus)
Master Solitaire Player
Username: Markus
Post Number: 1262
Registered: 7-2009
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 02, 2010 - 2:43 pm: | |
Ken, i will make a little break so that you can close up a little.
 |
Markus Reischl (Markus)
Master Solitaire Player
Username: Markus
Post Number: 1529
Registered: 7-2009
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 10, 2010 - 6:38 am: | |
#280 is a nice little mind breaker. |
Richard Mechen (Richardscotland)
Master Solitaire Player
Username: Richardscotland
Post Number: 5606
Registered: 9-2006
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 10, 2010 - 1:26 pm: | |
I won this one at the second attempt. Knowing it had given you problems made me play it more carefully than I may have done otherwise. |
Markus Reischl (Markus)
Master Solitaire Player
Username: Markus
Post Number: 1535
Registered: 7-2009
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 10, 2010 - 1:31 pm: | |
But also knowing it you needed two attempts. I needed three. The first one was my speed gaming without playing carefully. I hope, you enjoyed it too. |
Ken Millar (Tpa_ken)
Master Solitaire Player
Username: Tpa_ken
Post Number: 1472
Registered: 2-2006
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 10, 2010 - 7:10 pm: | |
That was a good one, Markus. It took me 29:58 to solve it. |
Markus Reischl (Markus)
Master Solitaire Player
Username: Markus
Post Number: 1537
Registered: 7-2009
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 11, 2010 - 12:46 am: | |
I needed a little more. About 32.24 min. |
Markus Reischl (Markus)
Master Solitaire Player
Username: Markus
Post Number: 1575
Registered: 7-2009
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 17, 2010 - 7:48 am: | |
#289. Nice winnable one. |
Markus Reischl (Markus)
Master Solitaire Player
Username: Markus
Post Number: 1633
Registered: 7-2009
| | Posted on Sunday, September 12, 2010 - 5:54 am: | |
#329. All i say, i had to start it 4 times till i won it. |
Richard Mechen (Richardscotland)
Master Solitaire Player
Username: Richardscotland
Post Number: 5802
Registered: 9-2006
| | Posted on Sunday, September 12, 2010 - 8:14 am: | |
Pretty good Markus. 2 attempts but 21 minutes.
 |
Markus Reischl (Markus)
Master Solitaire Player
Username: Markus
Post Number: 1635
Registered: 7-2009
| | Posted on Sunday, September 12, 2010 - 10:00 am: | |
I don't know how long it took me today (fourth attempt) (i made a 2 week brake) but all four attempts took me 31 minutes. |
Markus Reischl (Markus)
Master Solitaire Player
Username: Markus
Post Number: 1646
Registered: 7-2009
| | Posted on Sunday, September 19, 2010 - 1:54 pm: | |
Hi Ken, i found a nice one. #347. I had to start over 4 times. |
Ken Millar (Tpa_ken)
Master Solitaire Player
Username: Tpa_ken
Post Number: 1537
Registered: 2-2006
| | Posted on Monday, September 20, 2010 - 7:27 am: | |
Markus, you're right, it is a nice one! I worked on it for 1/2 hour last night and got nowhere close. If I have time, I'll try again tonight. |
Markus Reischl (Markus)
Master Solitaire Player
Username: Markus
Post Number: 1647
Registered: 7-2009
| | Posted on Monday, September 20, 2010 - 8:13 am: | |
One first hint, if you want: Don't put the red King into the empty second column at the beginning. Wait for a black one.
(I know it will not help lot.)
Don't get frustrated, but all 4 attempts took me together about 31 minutes, when i remember right. The winning attempt about 14 minutes. |
Markus Reischl (Markus)
Master Solitaire Player
Username: Markus
Post Number: 1648
Registered: 7-2009
| | Posted on Monday, September 20, 2010 - 9:42 am: | |
Sorry, 33 minutes and 16 minutes. |
Ken Millar (Tpa_ken)
Master Solitaire Player
Username: Tpa_ken
Post Number: 1538
Registered: 2-2006
| | Posted on Monday, September 20, 2010 - 6:46 pm: | |
Markus, 57 minutes later, I FINALLY got it! |
Markus Reischl (Markus)
Master Solitaire Player
Username: Markus
Post Number: 1650
Registered: 7-2009
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 21, 2010 - 3:16 am: | |
Well done. It was a very tricky one with the 10s covered and the 6s blocking (when i remember right). |
Richard Mechen (Richardscotland)
Master Solitaire Player
Username: Richardscotland
Post Number: 5861
Registered: 9-2006
| | Posted on Saturday, October 02, 2010 - 1:53 pm: | |
Sorry Markus. I didn't spot this one. I had two interruptions whilst playing it, so I've no idea how long it took. It was quite a long time though. Difficult/very difficult.
 |
Markus Reischl (Markus)
Master Solitaire Player
Username: Markus
Post Number: 1671
Registered: 7-2009
| | Posted on Saturday, October 02, 2010 - 2:28 pm: | |
In my opinion, i found a more difficult one. I am still working on it, but with very less success so far. I let you and Ken (or any other) know, when i give up to try it alone. |
Markus Reischl (Markus)
Master Solitaire Player
Username: Markus
Post Number: 1672
Registered: 7-2009
| | Posted on Saturday, October 02, 2010 - 2:48 pm: | |
#371. Difficult, but it seems, that my brain could yesterday and today afternoon relax a little bit. Still a nice one. |
Markus Reischl (Markus)
Master Solitaire Player
Username: Markus
Post Number: 1712
Registered: 7-2009
| | Posted on Monday, October 18, 2010 - 2:36 pm: | |
Ken, another nice one. #447. It took me nearly 27 minutes. |
Markus Reischl (Markus)
Master Solitaire Player
Username: Markus
Post Number: 1733
Registered: 7-2009
| | Posted on Friday, October 29, 2010 - 4:28 pm: | |
Another nice one. #520 |
Ken Millar (Tpa_ken)
Master Solitaire Player
Username: Tpa_ken
Post Number: 1625
Registered: 2-2006
| | Posted on Friday, October 29, 2010 - 10:18 pm: | |
Finally, one that I beat Markus on! #520 was easy and I won it in less than 5 minutes! |
Markus Reischl (Markus)
Master Solitaire Player
Username: Markus
Post Number: 1734
Registered: 7-2009
| | Posted on Saturday, October 30, 2010 - 1:38 am: | |
Then you figured faster than me the problem with the red Jacks out.
Did you also try #447? |
Ken Millar (Tpa_ken)
Master Solitaire Player
Username: Tpa_ken
Post Number: 1626
Registered: 2-2006
| | Posted on Saturday, October 30, 2010 - 6:53 am: | |
Markus, STILL haven't won that one (and it's been 2 weeks). That's why I had to crow about winning #520! |
Markus Reischl (Markus)
Master Solitaire Player
Username: Markus
Post Number: 1735
Registered: 7-2009
| | Posted on Saturday, October 30, 2010 - 7:59 am: | |
Ok, we make a deal: i have troubles with Forty Thieves #2 and you with Thieves of Egypt #447. I post some screenshot's for #447 and you help me with #2, although i hate it to use hints beyond knowing it is winnable. ;-) |
Richard Mechen (Richardscotland)
Master Solitaire Player
Username: Richardscotland
Post Number: 6038
Registered: 9-2006
| | Posted on Saturday, October 30, 2010 - 8:12 am: | |
Ken, Refuse the red four at the deal and get the other 4D out of column four and it's quite easy. (Sub 10 minutes). |
Richard Mechen (Richardscotland)
Master Solitaire Player
Username: Richardscotland
Post Number: 6040
Registered: 9-2006
| | Posted on Saturday, October 30, 2010 - 8:38 am: | |
Got #2 as well. A bit harder than 447. |
Richard Mechen (Richardscotland)
Master Solitaire Player
Username: Richardscotland
Post Number: 6041
Registered: 9-2006
| | Posted on Saturday, October 30, 2010 - 9:00 am: | |
With #2 Markus.... When I was about to start the Redeal, I still had 13 cards in column 5. It will look after itself. |
Richard Mechen (Richardscotland)
Master Solitaire Player
Username: Richardscotland
Post Number: 6042
Registered: 9-2006
| | Posted on Saturday, October 30, 2010 - 9:20 am: | |
Oops....... Got my "Thieves" mixed up. The previous post was referring to #2 of T.O.E. not Forty Thieves. |
Markus Reischl (Markus)
Master Solitaire Player
Username: Markus
Post Number: 1736
Registered: 7-2009
| | Posted on Saturday, October 30, 2010 - 10:02 am: | |
Richard, i have a clean sweep with Thieves of Egypt (that means 525 games won), but when you want me to join you and Ken with Forty Thieves, then you have to wait, till i have won FT #2 as Gregg did. I can score 53 but am just one card less of the winner and i cannot find it so far. |
Markus Reischl (Markus)
Master Solitaire Player
Username: Markus
Post Number: 1744
Registered: 7-2009
| | Posted on Sunday, October 31, 2010 - 2:56 pm: | |
Interesting is #539. I thought about 4 minutes, that it is harder one, and then suddenly it was won in 5:21.2 . |
Markus Reischl (Markus)
Master Solitaire Player
Username: Markus
Post Number: 1901
Registered: 7-2009
| | Posted on Saturday, December 25, 2010 - 4:54 pm: | |
For all who are loving a challenge. #628. Have fun trying to get the Aces out. But it is possible. |
Richard Mechen (Richardscotland)
Master Solitaire Player
Username: Richardscotland
Post Number: 6279
Registered: 9-2006
| | Posted on Saturday, December 25, 2010 - 6:05 pm: | |
Thanks Markus. Very worthwhile.
 |
Ken Blackwell (Blackie9)
Master Solitaire Player
Username: Blackie9
Post Number: 549
Registered: 8-2003
| | Posted on Sunday, December 26, 2010 - 10:28 am: | |
I gave the game a try. Havent really played it much. I can say Im not fast like Markus. My first game was 39 minutes. |
Markus Reischl (Markus)
Master Solitaire Player
Username: Markus
Post Number: 1902
Registered: 7-2009
| | Posted on Sunday, December 26, 2010 - 1:16 pm: | |
When your first game was #628, then you were only about 5 minutes slower than me. |
Ken Blackwell (Blackie9)
Master Solitaire Player
Username: Blackie9
Post Number: 550
Registered: 8-2003
| | Posted on Sunday, December 26, 2010 - 1:24 pm: | |
If that were the case, but I started climb and have played about 13 or so. The first took me some rule reading and stumbling. |
Richard Mechen (Richardscotland)
Master Solitaire Player
Username: Richardscotland
Post Number: 6280
Registered: 9-2006
| | Posted on Sunday, December 26, 2010 - 1:58 pm: | |
I took less than 15 minutes for #628. I knew if I concentrated my efforts on getting a red eight and a black seven onto column seven, then column six would be easy and the game would be at my mercy. The plan worked a treat on this occasion, but often a strategy like this can prove futile. |
Markus Reischl (Markus)
Master Solitaire Player
Username: Markus
Post Number: 1904
Registered: 7-2009
| | Posted on Sunday, December 26, 2010 - 2:14 pm: | |
I have had 3 restarts. The second time, i were so close, just 12 cards in the waste and all Aces freed (?) (released (?)), but then i was just one card from winning it and also in the next about 5 minutes i could not found it, so i gave him a third restart. |
Ken Blackwell (Blackie9)
Master Solitaire Player
Username: Blackie9
Post Number: 552
Registered: 8-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, January 01, 2011 - 11:06 am: | |
Markus,
You got me hooked but will take some time to catch up to you. Ill never catch your times I surmise. I did win #134 without the second deal...my first time doing that. |
Markus Reischl (Markus)
Master Solitaire Player
Username: Markus
Post Number: 1921
Registered: 7-2009
| | Posted on Saturday, January 01, 2011 - 12:14 pm: | |
Ken, i am sure you will catch me up. About the times: i normally don't look at the beginning, if there are problems in the deal as Richard is doing, but i just start playing. While playing i recognize the problems and try to solve them. Mostly that is working and you can save time, but there are game numbers, where it would be better to examine the shuffle first to avoid then problems while playing. That are those games, where i need a second or third restart.
AND in the Mac edition the snapshot button is working very well, i know you maybe know that (you have PGSME on your mothers MBP). That is a often used button.
BTW i have always better times on PGSME than with PGS. Even with the same game numbers and even when i replay a game in PGS.
For me it is not important to be the fastest, but i have not so much time to play PGSME at all, so i try to win a game as fast as possible. So i can play more game numbers. |
Kathy Quade (Kathyquade)
Master Solitaire Player
Username: Kathyquade
Post Number: 1557
Registered: 2-2006
| | Posted on Sunday, January 02, 2011 - 4:13 am: | |
I find Thieves of Egypt difficult to play. I think it's because there are too many cards to deal with. Maybe when my eyes get better, I can try again. |
Ken Blackwell (Blackie9)
Master Solitaire Player
Username: Blackie9
Post Number: 553
Registered: 8-2003
| | Posted on Monday, January 03, 2011 - 1:39 pm: | |
I play mostly against myself but enjoy good competition with hard games and wins. It is for fun so you are the only one in this list I can play against. I also look for hard games so Ill have to wait till I work up to your harder ones. I got a 4:00 min game but its only second. I assume you have the fastest. |
Ken Blackwell (Blackie9)
Master Solitaire Player
Username: Blackie9
Post Number: 554
Registered: 8-2003
| | Posted on Monday, January 03, 2011 - 1:40 pm: | |
So close to breaking the 4 minute barrier...me and Roger. |
Markus Reischl (Markus)
Master Solitaire Player
Username: Markus
Post Number: 1927
Registered: 7-2009
| | Posted on Monday, January 03, 2011 - 4:10 pm: | |
Ken, my fastest game was #463 in 2:34.5 . It is very hard to break the 4 minute barrier. Mostly i need about 5 to 6 minutes, sometimes a little more than 4 minutes and very seldom i am in the 3s. But faster than 3 minutes, very very very seldom. All have to be perfect up from the beginning.
AND there are the harder ones. Those games i love in ToE most. I mean the real hard ones, where i need about 20 minutes or more, but they are rare. |
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