What is "virginia reel"

Virginia \Vir*gin"i*a\, n. One of the States of the United States of America. -- a. Of or pertaining to the State of Virginia.

Virginia cowslip (Bot.), the American lungwort ( Mertensia Virginica).

Virginia creeper (Bot.), a common ornamental North American woody vine ( Ampelopsis quinquefolia), climbing extensively by means of tendrils; -- called also woodbine, and American ivy. [U. S.]

Virginia fence. See Worm fence, under Fence.

Virginia nightingale (Zo["o]l.), the cardinal bird. See under Cardinal.

Virginia quail (Zo["o]l.), the bobwhite.

Virginia reel, an old English contradance; -- so called in the United States.
--Bartlett.

Virginia stock. (Bot.) See Mahon stock.

Reel \Reel\ (r[=e]l), n. [Gael. righil.] A lively dance of the Highlanders of Scotland; also, the music to the dance; -- often called Scotch reel.

Virginia reel, the common name throughout the United States for the old English ``country dance,'' or contradance (contredanse).
--Bartlett.

The Virginia reel is a folk dance that dates from the 17th century. Though the reel may have its origins in Scottish country dance and the Highland reel, and perhaps have an even earlier influence from an Irish dance called the Rinnce Fada, it is generally considered to be an English country dance. The dance was most popular in America from 1830–1890.

The Virginia reel was a popular dance, and in each area there would be slight differences. This has given rise to a large number of dances called the Virginia reel. All of the versions have certain similarities, such as the reel figure.

Virginia Reel is a solitaire card game which uses two decks of 52 playing cards mixed together. The object of the game is to place all the cards in the 24 foundations.

First three cards, a 2, a 3, and a 4, are placed vertically. Then, beside each of the three cards is a row of seven cards. The first card in each row shows that it is the row for all other cards with the same rank. The first row is known as the "2s' row," the second row the "3s' row," and the third row the "4s' row."

A fourth row of eight cards is dealt. This serves as the reserve with each card forming a pile.

The foundations are built up by suit in intervals of three, as illustrated in the table below.

2

5

8

J

3

6

9

Q

4

7

10

K

To play, a card can be moved to a foundation or to a rightful row from the other rows or from the reserve. But the player has to bear in mind that when a card is moved from anywhere in the tableau, the gap it leaves behind must be filled with a card appropriate for the row where the gap is located. For instance, when a card has left the 2s' row, the gap it left behind must be filled with a 2, either from the other rows or from the reserve. This is especially true at the beginning of the game, where some cards are on each other's rows like a 4 in the 3s' row and a 3 in the 4s' row. Exchanging cards to their rightful rows in this case is also possible.

While the first card in each row is already a foundation in itself and it can be built on, once a card ends up in its proper row no matter where in the row, it becomes a foundation itself.

The top cards in the reserve are in play and can be placed on the foundations, or be placed on a row (if it is a 2, 3, or 4), but empty piles are not filled until a new batch of eight cards are dealt every time no more moves are possible.

Aces play no part in this game. Any ace that is in the reserve is immediately discarded. But an ace in any of the rows must be replaced by any applicable card for that row. So in order to discard an ace from the 2s' row, for example, a 2 must be available to replace it.

The game is considered won when all the cards are in foundations, with all face cards on top.

Virginia Reel can refer to any of the following:

• Virginia Reel (solitaire), a solitaire card game
• Virginia reel (dance), a folk dance
• Virginia Reel roller coaster, a type of roller coaster