Types of Solitaire Games: A Complete Guide to Every Variant
Play Solitaire Gaming Team
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There are over a hundred documented solitaire variants, but eight dominate modern play. Here is a complete guide to every major type — what makes each one unique, who it suits, and how often you can expect to win.
Types of Solitaire Games: A Complete Guide to Every Variant
You probably know Klondike — the version that came pre-installed on every Windows computer for thirty years. But Klondike is just one of more than a hundred documented solitaire variants, and several of the others are genuinely better games depending on what you want from a session.
This guide covers the eight major solitaire types that make up nearly all modern play, with the rules, win rates, and personality of each so you can pick the one that fits your mood.
Table of Contents
- How Many Types of Solitaire Are There?
- The 8 Major Types of Solitaire
- How to Choose the Right Solitaire Variant
- Quick Comparison Table
- Frequently Asked Questions
How Many Types of Solitaire Are There?
There are over 100 documented solitaire variants, but 8 account for nearly all modern play: Klondike, Spider, FreeCell, Pyramid, Yukon, Golf, TriPeaks, and Forty Thieves. Each uses one or two standard 52-card decks but differs in layout, movement rules, win conditions, and difficulty.
The reason most people only know one or two variants is historical: Microsoft bundled Klondike with Windows starting in 1990, then added FreeCell, Spider, and a handful of others over the years. Those choices defined "solitaire" for a generation.
But the wider family is much richer — and most of the eight major variants are arguably more interesting than Klondike once you have played them a few times.
The 8 Major Types of Solitaire
Klondike Solitaire
The classic. Seven tableau columns of increasing length, four foundations, and a stock pile to draw from. Build tableau columns in descending order with alternating colors. Move cards to foundations starting with Aces and building up by suit.
Difficulty: Medium Win Rate: ~80% theoretical, ~25% practical for casual players Decks: 1 Game Length: 3–10 minutes
Why play it: Familiar, balanced mix of luck and skill, accessible for almost anyone. The game most people mean when they say "solitaire."
Spider Solitaire
The multi-deck challenge. Two decks (104 cards) across ten tableau columns. Build same-suit descending sequences from King down to Ace. Complete sequences are automatically removed from the board. Stock deals 10 cards across all columns at once — every column must be non-empty to deal.
Difficulty: Easy (1-suit) to Very Hard (4-suit) Win Rate: ~99% (1-suit), ~30% (2-suit), under 10% (4-suit) Decks: 2 Game Length: 10–25 minutes
Why play it: Scalable difficulty lets you grow into it. Building long same-suit runs is one of the most satisfying mechanics in any solitaire game.
FreeCell Solitaire
The pure puzzle. All 52 cards are dealt face-up across eight columns. Four "free cells" act as temporary storage. Build foundations from Ace to King by suit.
Difficulty: Medium-Hard (but solvable) Win Rate: ~99.999% — only 8 of the first 32,000 Microsoft FreeCell deals are unsolvable Decks: 1 Game Length: 5–15 minutes
Why play it: Nearly every game is winnable, which means losing means you missed something — not that you got unlucky. The thinking person's solitaire.
Pyramid Solitaire
The pairing game. Twenty-eight cards arranged in a seven-row pyramid. Remove pairs of exposed cards that add up to 13. Kings are worth 13 and come off alone.
Difficulty: Hard Win Rate: ~0.5% to 5% depending on rule variant Decks: 1 Game Length: 3–8 minutes
Why play it: Unique pairing mechanic, satisfying visual collapse as the pyramid shrinks, and the rare wins feel earned.
Play Pyramid Solitaire — and see our Pyramid strategy guide if you want to actually win.
Yukon Solitaire
Klondike's wild cousin. Same seven-column tableau as Klondike, but all 52 cards are dealt to the tableau (no stock pile), and any face-up card can be moved as the head of a stack regardless of sequence below it.
Difficulty: Medium-Hard Win Rate: ~80% theoretical with optimal play Decks: 1 Game Length: 8–15 minutes
Why play it: The flexible movement rule creates tactical possibilities Klondike does not have. Rewards visualization and forward planning.
Golf Solitaire
The speed game. Seven short columns of five cards each. Play cards from column tops onto a discard pile, one rank above or below the discard top. Clear the tableau to win.
Difficulty: Easy-Medium Win Rate: ~10–15% Decks: 1 Game Length: 2–4 minutes
Why play it: Ultra-simple rules, near-instant games, perfect for filling a 5-minute break. Golf scoring (lower remaining cards = better) means even losses feel like progress.
TriPeaks Solitaire
The chain builder. Three overlapping peaks of cards (28 total) plus a stock and waste. Click any exposed peak card that is one rank up or down from the waste top. Consecutive plays without drawing build streak multipliers.
Difficulty: Easy-Medium Win Rate: ~80–90% Decks: 1 Game Length: 3–7 minutes
Why play it: High win rate, addictive streak scoring (strong games can score 15,000+ points), and click-based gameplay that works one-handed on phones.
Forty Thieves Solitaire
The expert's game. Two decks (104 cards), ten tableau columns of four face-up cards each, and eight foundations. Build same-suit descending sequences on the tableau. Only one card moves at a time. No stock recycling.
Difficulty: Very Hard Win Rate: ~10% Decks: 2 Game Length: 15–30 minutes
Why play it: Among the hardest mainstream solitaire variants. For experienced players who find Klondike and FreeCell too forgiving.
How to Choose the Right Solitaire Variant
Different variants suit different moods and skill levels. Here is a quick decision tree:
- Want the familiar experience? Klondike (Draw 1).
- Want to actually win most games? FreeCell or one-suit Spider.
- Want a 3-minute break? Golf or TriPeaks.
- Want to think hard? FreeCell or Yukon.
- Want a real challenge? Four-suit Spider or Forty Thieves.
- Want something different? Pyramid — it does not look or feel like the others.
If you have only ever played Klondike, try FreeCell next. The shift from luck-driven to puzzle-driven gameplay surprises most players in a good way.
For more detail on which variant fits which player, see our easiest solitaire games for beginners guide.
Quick Comparison Table
| Variant | Decks | Win Rate | Difficulty | Game Length | |---|---|---|---|---| | Klondike | 1 | ~25–80% | Medium | 3–10 min | | Spider (1-suit) | 2 | ~99% | Easy | 10–15 min | | Spider (4-suit) | 2 | Under 10% | Very Hard | 20–25 min | | FreeCell | 1 | ~99.999% | Medium-Hard | 5–15 min | | Pyramid | 1 | ~0.5–5% | Hard | 3–8 min | | Yukon | 1 | ~80% | Medium-Hard | 8–15 min | | Golf | 1 | ~10–15% | Easy-Medium | 2–4 min | | TriPeaks | 1 | ~80–90% | Easy-Medium | 3–7 min | | Forty Thieves | 2 | ~10% | Very Hard | 15–30 min |
Frequently Asked Questions
How many types of solitaire are there?
There are over 100 documented solitaire variants in card-game references, but 8 dominate modern digital play: Klondike, Spider, FreeCell, Pyramid, Yukon, Golf, TriPeaks, and Forty Thieves. These eight cover nearly every play style — from quick casual games to deep strategic puzzles.
What is the most popular type of solitaire?
Klondike Solitaire is by far the most popular, largely because Microsoft bundled it with Windows starting in 1990. When most people say "solitaire" without specifying, they mean Klondike. FreeCell is the second-most-played variant for similar reasons.
Which solitaire variant has the highest win rate?
FreeCell has the highest win rate of any major variant — approximately 99.999%, with only 8 of the first 32,000 numbered Microsoft FreeCell deals being mathematically unsolvable. One-suit Spider and TriPeaks both have ~90–99% win rates, making them also very forgiving.
What is the hardest type of solitaire?
Pyramid Solitaire has the lowest raw win rate (under 5%), but Forty Thieves and 4-suit Spider are widely considered the hardest "skill-based" variants — a strong player can dramatically improve their results, while Pyramid losses are often unavoidable due to the deal.
Are all solitaire games one player?
Yes — by definition, solitaire (also called "patience") is a single-player card game category. Multi-player card games like Rummy or Bridge are not solitaire variants, even though they share the same standard 52-card deck.
What is the difference between Klondike and Spider Solitaire?
Klondike uses one deck, seven columns, and builds foundations Ace-to-King by suit. Spider uses two decks, ten columns, and removes complete King-to-Ace same-suit sequences directly from the board. Spider has no foundations and no draw-one stock — instead it deals 10 cards across all columns at once.
Which solitaire game is best for beginners?
One-suit Spider Solitaire (~99% win rate), TriPeaks (~90% win rate), or Klondike Draw One are the best starting points. They have simple rules, generous win rates, and build skills that transfer to harder variants. See our easiest solitaire games guide for a full breakdown.
Can you play all solitaire variants on one site?
Yes. Modern solitaire sites that offer multiple variants let you switch between them with one click. Play Solitaire Gaming offers all eight major variants free in your browser with shared stats, daily challenges, and global leaderboards across every game.
Ready to Play?
Try every variant for free in your browser — no download, no signup, no ads:
- Play Klondike Solitaire — the classic
- Play Spider Solitaire — start with 1-suit
- Play FreeCell Solitaire — the puzzle game
- Play Pyramid Solitaire — pair to 13
- Play Yukon Solitaire — Klondike unlocked
- Play Golf Solitaire — 3-minute games
- Play TriPeaks Solitaire — streak scoring
- Play Forty Thieves — the hard one
The best way to find your favorite is to play each one for a few games. Most people are surprised by which variant becomes their go-to once they try them all.
Ready to play?