Frequently asked questions about Half Moon
Is every Half Moon deal winnable?
No, and the app does not tell you whether a deal is winnable: it has no solver. Deal HM1-N-AAAAAAB can be won; the Examples page replays it in 48 moves. This site gives no proportion of winnable deals, as no reliable measurement is available.
Can two face cards be removed together?
No. A Jack, a Queen and a King can only be removed together, as a set of three, regardless of suit. Tapping two Kings one after the other does not form a combination: the app keeps the second as the selected card.
What is the reserve for?
The eight reserve cards can be played at any time, just like the top cards of the piles. A removed reserve card does not return: its slot stays empty.
How is the score calculated?
Each pair scores 10 and each triplet 15. A winning game always contains 40 pairs and 8 triplets, giving a score of 520. The timer does not affect the calculation.
Can you see the cards below the top of the piles?
No. The screen shows only the top card of each pile; the next card appears when the top card is removed. You therefore choose your pairs without knowing what comes next.
What is the game code for?
Each deal has a code, such as HM1-N-AAAAAAB. Typing or pasting it into the New Game window recreates exactly the same layout, so you can replay a deal or share it with someone. The codes on this site come from the app.
Can you undo a move?
Yes, up to the last 100 moves. Undo puts the cards back in place and subtracts the points earned by the move.
When is the game lost?
When no pair adding up to 11 and no Jack, Queen, King triplet is possible among the playable cards, the app announces a dead end. You can then undo or start a new game. The game is won when all 104 cards have been removed.