How to Play Solitaire

Solitaire, also known as Klondike Solitaire, is the most popular single-player card game in the world. The goal is to move all 52 cards to the four foundation piles, organized by suit from Ace to King.

Setup

The game begins with 28 cards dealt into 7 tableau columns. Column 1 has 1 card, column 2 has 2 cards, and so on up to column 7 with 7 cards. Only the top card of each column is face-up. The remaining 24 cards form the stock pile.

Rules

• Tableau: Build columns in descending order with alternating colors. For example, a black 6 can go on a red 7.
• Foundations: Build up by suit from Ace to King. Start each foundation pile with an Ace.
• Stock: Click the stock pile to draw cards. In Turn 1 mode, draw one card at a time. In Turn 3 mode, draw three.
• Empty columns: Only Kings (or sequences starting with a King) can be placed in empty tableau columns.
• Moving groups: You can move a properly sequenced group of face-up cards between tableau columns.

Winning Strategies

• Reveal face-down cards first. Always prioritize moves that turn over hidden cards — this gives you more options.
• Play Aces and 2s immediately. There's never a reason to hold them in the tableau.
• Don't empty a column without a King ready. An empty column is only useful if you have a King to place there.
• Use undo strategically. If drawing from the stock doesn't help, undo and try different moves first.
• Be careful with Kings. Choose which King to place in an empty column based on the colors of the cards you need to uncover.

Turn 1 vs Turn 3

Turn 1 draws one card at a time from the stock, making the game easier with a higher win rate (around 80% for skilled players). Turn 3 draws three cards at a time but you can only play the top card, making it significantly more challenging with a win rate around 40%.

Frequently Asked Questions