Why every Orderwick board is solvable
By Milan Vasovic · · 1 min read
Orderwick boards are not shuffled at random. They are built backwards from the solved state and checked by a solver, so a solution always exists.
The problem with random shuffles
If you shuffle a deck of cards onto columns, some deals simply cannot be solved. For a puzzle that is meant to be relaxing, an unwinnable board is a bug.
Building backwards
Orderwick starts from the solved board, where every column holds one type. It then applies moves in reverse, rotating cards through thin layers of the board, until the cards are mixed. Because every step can be undone, the solution is the reverse of how the board was made.
Breaking the patterns
Pure reverse moves can leave visible regularities. The generator therefore adds swaps, and a solver verifies each change, so the board gets less predictable without ever losing its solution.
A solver with the real rules
The solver uses exactly the game rules: moving runs, free slots, empty columns and the clean-column rule. It also checks the rescue case, so you can always get out of a corner.
What it means for you
If a board feels impossible, it is not. There is always a path, even if it needs a different opening than the one you tried. Our sorting tips are a good start.
FAQ
Are daily boards solvable too?
Yes. They come from the same generator and use the same checks.
Is a hidden card always revealed in the end?
Yes. Solving a board means every card ends in a clean column, so each one is revealed on the way.
