"Eric R Snow" wrote: (clip)Since there are seven chances in the larger stack
it would seem that the tall stack should be the one to choose from. Am I
wrong?
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Yes and no. I always play the card covering the tallest stack, but for a
different reason. When a stack goes empty, you can't use the opening until
you have a king available. Of course, you want to empty all the stacks, but
you want to do it as evenly as possible, so you don't get empty positions
that can't be played.

I don't think the odds of turning a useful card are any higher in a taller
stack--you turn only the top card. The odds of being able to play that card
are the same in either stack.

Now my question. Lets say you have a choice of playing a card from one of
the stacks in the row, of from the pile up above (don't know what to call
it.) Is there a preference, and how do you decide?