In Bristol Player is first dealt 24 cards face-up into eight piles, 3 cards in each pile.
Three cards are then dealt in a row either above or below the tableau. This will act as the reserve. The cards in the reserve are available for play.
Foundations are built up regardless of suit starting from Ace up to King, while the columns on the tableau are built down regardless of suit.
Only the top card of each pile on the tableau and the top card of each reserve pile is available for play on the foundations and the tableau.
When a pile becomes empty in tableau, it can not be filled.
Once a card is played on a foundation, it can't be removed.
If the game cannot continue even from the reserve,
a new set of three cards is dealt from the stock to the reserve which can be played either to the tableau or the foundations.
The game is won when all cards have made their way to the foundations.