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🃏 Solitaire

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Klondike solitaire deals twenty-eight cards into seven tableau piles and leaves the rest in the stock. The aim is to build four foundation piles, one per suit, running from ace up to king.

Not every deal is winnable, but far more games are lost to impatient play than to bad deals. The order in which you make available moves matters enormously.

How to play

  1. Build tableau sequences downward in alternating colours, placing a red six on a black seven and so on.
  2. Move aces to the foundations as they become available, then build each foundation upward by suit.
  3. Turn face-down tableau cards by clearing the cards on top of them.
  4. Draw from the stock when you run out of moves, and win by completing all four foundations.

Playing a deal well

  • Prioritise moves that turn over a face-down card. Hidden cards are the real obstacle, and every one revealed adds options.
  • Empty a column when you can, but hold the space for a king rather than filling it with the first card available.
  • Do not send cards to the foundations too eagerly. A low card left in the tableau is often needed to accept an alternating-colour card later.
  • Look at the whole board before your first move. The obvious opening play frequently blocks a better sequence that was available.
  • Work the stock pile in a consistent rhythm so you know which cards are coming round again.

Frequently asked questions

Can every game of Klondike solitaire be won?
No. A meaningful share of deals are unwinnable no matter how well they are played, though skilled play wins a great many games that casual play loses.
Should I always move aces to the foundation?
Aces yes, but not everything after them. Low cards left in the tableau are often needed to build alternating sequences, and sending them up too early can lock the game.
What should I do with an empty column?
Save it for a king if you have one available or expect one soon. Filling an empty column with a lower card wastes the most valuable space on the board.