How to Play Solitaire
Solitaire, or Klondike, is the card game that came with every computer. Seven piles, four foundations, one deck, and a simple goal: get every card onto the foundations in order from ace to king.
It takes a minute to learn, and the difference between a good player and a lucky one is which card you move first.
Play SolitaireThe layout
- Seven tableau piles, the first with one card and the seventh with seven, only the top card of each face up.
- Four foundations, one per suit, built up from ace to king.
- A stock you draw from, and a waste pile where drawn cards land.
How to play
- Move cards between tableau piles in descending order and alternating colours, so a red six goes on a black seven.
- Move aces to the foundations as they appear, then build each suit upwards in order.
- Only a king can move into an empty column.
- Turn a face down card over whenever the card covering it leaves.
- Draw from the stock when you run out of moves. You win when all four foundations reach the king.
Tips that win games
Uncover face down cards before anything else. A move that reveals a hidden card is almost always better than one that tidies the piles you can already see.
Do not send every ace and two to the foundation the moment you can. Low cards in the tableau are useful landing spots, and sending them away too early strands the cards that needed them.
Empty a column only if you have a king ready. An empty column with no king is dead space.
Frequently asked questions
Can every game of Solitaire be won?
No. With draw three in particular some deals cannot be solved however well you play, which is part of why winning feels good.
What is the difference between draw one and draw three?
Draw one turns a single card at a time and is much more forgiving. Draw three turns them in sets of three, so only every third card is reachable.
Which card should I move first?
Whichever one exposes a face down card. Information beats tidiness in Klondike.