diff --git a/pysollib/game.py b/pysollib/game.py
index aa5a8d57..60762825 100644
--- a/pysollib/game.py
+++ b/pysollib/game.py
@@ -484,20 +484,25 @@ class Game(object):
     #
 
     # start a new name
-    def newGame(self, random=None, restart=0, autoplay=1):
+    def newGame(self, random=None, restart=0, autoplay=1, shuffle=True,
+                s_game=0):
         # print 'Game.newGame'
         self.finished = False
         old_busy, self.busy = self.busy, 1
         self.setCursor(cursor=CURSOR_WATCH)
         self.stopWinAnimation()
         self.disableMenus()
-        self.redealAnimation()
+        if shuffle:
+            self.redealAnimation()
         self.reset(restart=restart)
         self.resetGame()
         self.createRandom(random)
         # print self.random, self.random.__dict__
-        self.shuffle()
-        assert len(self.s.talon.cards) == self.gameinfo.ncards
+        if shuffle:
+            self.shuffle()
+            assert len(self.s.talon.cards) == self.gameinfo.ncards
+        else:
+            self.s = s_game
         for stack in self.allstacks:
             stack.updateText()
         self.updateText()
diff --git a/pysollib/hint.py b/pysollib/hint.py
index ef240c4e..6337b5c3 100644
--- a/pysollib/hint.py
+++ b/pysollib/hint.py
@@ -814,6 +814,59 @@ class FreeCellSolver_Hint(Base_Solver_Hint):
             self._addBoardLine(prefix + b)
         return
 
+    def _getNextId(self):
+        self._id += 1
+        return self._id
+
+    def importFile(solver, fh, s_game, self):
+        game = s_game.s
+        solver._id = 1000
+        stack_idx = 0
+
+        def crCard(id, deck, suit, rank):
+            return s_game._createCard(id, deck, suit, rank, 0, 0)
+        for line_p in fh:
+            line = line_p.rstrip('\r\n')
+            m = re.match(r'^(?:Foundations:|Founds?:)\s*(.*)', line)
+            if m:
+                g = re.findall(r'\b([HCDS])-([0A23456789TJQK])\b', m.group(1))
+                for gm in g:
+                    for foundat in game.foundations:
+                        suit = foundat.cap.suit
+                        if "CSHD"[suit] == gm[0]:
+                            foundat.cards = [crCard(
+                                solver._getNextId(), 0, suit, r
+                            ) for r in range(
+                                "A23456789TJQK".index(gm[1]))
+                            ]
+                            break
+                continue
+            m = re.match(r'^(?:FC:|Freecells:)\s*(.*)', line)
+            if m:
+                g = re.findall(
+                    r'\b((?:[A23456789TJQK][HCDS])|\-)\b', m.group(1))
+                while len(g) < len(game.reserves):
+                    g.append(('-'))
+                for i, gm in enumerate(g):
+                    str_ = gm
+                    if str_ == '-':
+                        game.reserves[i].cards = []
+                    else:
+                        print(str_)
+                        game.reserves[i].cards = [crCard(
+                            solver._getNextId(), 0, "CSHD".index(str_[1]),
+                            "A23456789TJQK".index(str_[0]))]
+                continue
+            g = re.findall(r'\b((?:[A23456789TJQK][HCDS]))\b', line)
+            game.rows[stack_idx].cards = [
+                crCard(solver._getNextId(), 0, "CSHD".index(str_[1]),
+                       "A23456789TJQK".index(str_[0]))
+                for str_ in g
+                ]
+            stack_idx += 1
+            s_game.endGame()
+            s_game.newGame(shuffle=False, s_game=game)
+
     def calcBoardString(self):
         game = self.game
         self.board = ''
diff --git a/pysollib/ui/tktile/menubar.py b/pysollib/ui/tktile/menubar.py
index cba84da4..092967db 100644
--- a/pysollib/ui/tktile/menubar.py
+++ b/pysollib/ui/tktile/menubar.py
@@ -334,6 +334,9 @@ class PysolMenubarTkCommon:
         menu.add_command(
             label=n_("E&xport current layout..."),
             command=self.mExportCurrentLayout)
+        menu.add_command(
+            label=n_("I&mport starting layout..."),
+            command=self.mImportStartingLayout)
         menu.add_separator()
         menu.add_command(
             label=n_("&Hold and quit"),
@@ -1201,6 +1204,38 @@ Unsupported game for export.
                 fh.write(game.Solver_Class(game, self).calcBoardString())
             self.updateMenus()
 
+    def mImportStartingLayout(self, *event):
+        if self._cancelDrag(break_pause=False):
+            return
+        game = self.game
+        if not game.Solver_Class:
+            d = self._calc_MfxMessageDialog()(
+                self.top, title=_('Import game error'),
+                text=_('''
+Unsupported game for import.
+'''),
+                bitmap='error')
+            return
+
+        filename = self.game.filename
+        if filename:
+            idir, ifile = os.path.split(os.path.normpath(filename))
+        else:
+            idir, ifile = "", ""
+        if not idir:
+            idir = self.app.dn.savegames
+        d = tkinter_tkfiledialog.Open()
+        filename = d.show(filetypes=self.FILETYPES,
+                          defaultextension=self.DEFAULTEXTENSION,
+                          initialdir=idir, initialfile=ifile)
+        if filename:
+            filename = os.path.normpath(filename)
+            # filename = os.path.normcase(filename)
+            if os.path.isfile(filename):
+                with open(filename, 'r') as fh:
+                    game = self.game
+                    game.Solver_Class(game, self).importFile(fh, game, self)
+
     def mSaveAs(self, *event):
         if self._cancelDrag(break_pause=False):
             return