This is a game called “Maverick Solitaire” form the Maverick Episode titled 'Rope of Cards' starring James Garner. I have modified it by using the whole deck and not just the first 25 cards – and I began to include the Jokers after a few hands just to make it more interesting. You deal out two stacks of 25 cards, thus having four (4) cards left over - these cards are available to replace the Jokers (semi-wild cards). Object of the game is to make five 'pat' hands (full house, straight, flush, four of a kind, straight flush, etc) out of the 25 cards.

My first two hands – left one has two flushes and three straights – right one has four full houses and one straight (Jokers sitting to far right and two dead cards near the clock not used) – odds begin at 100%

My second two hands (3^rd/4th) – left one has four flushes and a straight – right one has three flushes, a straight, and a full house (Jokers and dead cards near salt and pepper shakers not used) – odds still at 100%

My third two hands (5^th/6^th) – left one has a straight, a flush, two full houses and two pair (fails to give 5 pat hands) – right one has three flushes, a straight, and a full house – odds now at 83% (5/6)

My fourth two hands (7^th/8^th) – left one has a straight flush, three flushes, and a full house – right one has four flushes and four of a kind (first time Jokers were used and both found in the right hand) – odds now at 88% (7/8)

My fifth two hands (9^th/10^th) – left one has three flushes, a straight, and three aces <notice the four nines> ran this hand several ways, but no joy (fails to give 5 pat hands) – the right one has two straights, two flushes, and a full house (second time Jokers were used and both found in the right hand again) – odds now at 80% (8/10)

My sixth hand (11^th/12^th) as dealt – one joker in right hand, the other dead (turned over on right) – strategy is to start making flushes, then straights, then full houses... then panic and go for it!

Here's how the right hand played out – on left side is 1^st try and has four full houses and nothing. On right side is next try using the three of hearts from the wild card pile for the Joker and getting four flushes and a straight... see how it's done?

Here's how the hand on the left played out - on the left side 1st try four flushes and nothing ~ on the right side second try three full houses, four of a kind, and one pair...

Still working the on the hand on left side... on the left side 3^rd try three flushes, a straight and two pair.. on the right side fourth try three flushes, a straight, and three of a kind – the best hand so far, but fails to give 5 pat hands :-\ odds back at 75% (9/12)

See how it's done?

My seventh two hands (13^th/14^th) – as dealt – both Jokers in right hand again (weird?) – strategy is to start making flushes, then straights, then full houses, then well, you know!

Here's how the left hand played out – on left side is 1^st try and has a straight flush, two straights. and four pairs – terrible... on the right side is 2^nd try two straights, two full houses, and three of a kind but fails to give 5 pat hands :-\ odds now at 71% (10/14 with right side below)

Here's how the right hand played – used the queen of spades and four of clubs for the two Jokers (the two aces looked good but useless...). There's five flushes – simple!

My eighth two hands (15^th/16^th) – as dealt – both Jokers in right hand again (too weird!) – strategy is well, you know!

Here's how the right hand played out – on the left side is 1^st try with three flushes, then using the king and queen of clubs from the wild card pile for the Jokers and you'd have a full house and two pairs – not 5 pat hands, so... on the right side 2^nd try two flushes, a straight, and using the king of clubs and eight of clubs from the wild card pile for the Jokers and you'd get two full houses – yep, a pat hand!

Here's how the left hand played out – on the left side is 1^st try with three flushes, and nothing else – on the right side 2^nd try two straights, two flushes, and a full house! Another pat hand making odds back at 75% (12/16)

So, there you have it – odds are with Maverick Solitaire you can draw five (5) 'pat' hands about 75-80% of the time – I'll take those odds ANYTIME!