How to Play Klondike Solitaire
Klondike Solitaire is the most popular solitaire card game in the world — the one most people simply call "Solitaire." It uses a standard 52-card deck and challenges you to sort all cards into four foundation piles by suit, from Ace to King. First included in Windows 3.0 in 1990, Klondike has been played by billions of people and remains the gold standard of single-player card games.
Game Setup
- 1Shuffle a standard 52-card deck.
- 2Deal seven tableau columns: the first column gets 1 card, the second gets 2, and so on up to 7 cards in the seventh column.
- 3Turn the top card of each column face-up. All other cards remain face-down.
- 4Place the remaining 24 cards face-down as the stock pile.
- 5Leave space for four foundation piles (one per suit) and a waste pile.
Complete Rules
- 1Build tableau columns in descending order with alternating colors (e.g., black 6 on red 7).
- 2Move the top face-up card(s) of one column to another if they form a valid descending, alternating-color sequence.
- 3When a face-down card is uncovered, flip it face-up.
- 4Only Kings (or sequences starting with a King) can be placed on empty tableau columns.
- 5Build foundations by suit in ascending order: Ace, 2, 3, ... King.
- 6Draw cards from the stock pile to the waste pile. In Draw One mode, flip one card at a time. In Draw Three mode, flip three at once and only the top card is playable.
- 7When the stock is empty, flip the waste pile over to form a new stock (no limit on recycling in Draw One; limited passes in some Draw Three variants).
- 8Win by moving all 52 cards to the four foundation piles.
- 9You can move any valid sub-sequence from the bottom of a tableau column to another column as a group.
- 10Cards moved to the foundation can be moved back to the tableau if needed.
- 11The game is lost when no more moves are available and the stock is exhausted.
- 12A face-down card is automatically revealed when it becomes the top card of a tableau column.
Strategy Tips
- Always play Aces and Twos to the foundation immediately — they can never be useful in the tableau.
- Prioritize uncovering face-down cards. Columns with many hidden cards should be addressed first.
- Keep tableau columns balanced. Avoid emptying a column unless you have a King ready to place.
- In Draw Three mode, pay attention to the order of cards in the stock — sometimes it is better not to play a card to keep a favorable draw order.
- Use undo freely to explore different move sequences. Solitaire rewards experimentation.
- Build foundations evenly. Moving a card to the foundation too early can block tableau moves.
- When you have a choice between uncovering a card in a long column vs. a short column, choose the long column — it has more hidden cards to reveal.
- Do not rush to move cards to foundations. Sometimes keeping a 3 or 4 in the tableau helps you build longer sequences.
- Count cards mentally. Knowing which cards are still hidden helps you make better decisions about when to draw from the stock.
- If you are stuck, try cycling through the stock completely before giving up — a fresh pass can reveal new opportunities.
Advanced Strategy
- Track which Kings are available. An empty column is only useful if you have a King to place there, so plan your moves around King availability.
- In Draw Three, the stock has a fixed order. Memorize which cards appear at which position in the cycle to plan multi-pass strategies.
- When two moves seem equal, prefer the one that frees a card closer to the bottom of the tableau — deeper reveals are worth more.
- Build "escape routes" for buried Aces by strategically moving cards that sit above them before building long sequences elsewhere.
- Late-game foundation ordering matters. If Hearts is at 8 and Diamonds is at 3, focus on Diamonds to avoid getting stuck with unplayable tableau cards.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the win rate for Klondike Solitaire?
Roughly 80% of Klondike Solitaire deals are theoretically winnable, but in practice most players win around 10-20% of games. Expert players with undo can win significantly more.
What is the difference between Draw One and Draw Three?
In Draw One, you flip one card at a time from the stock, giving you access to every card. In Draw Three, you flip three cards and can only play the top one, making the game significantly harder.
Can you move a partial sequence in Klondike?
Yes. You can move any valid sub-sequence from the bottom of a tableau column to another column, as long as the connection follows the alternating-color descending rule.
Who invented Klondike Solitaire?
The exact inventor is unknown. The game likely originated in the mid-19th century, with the name possibly referencing the Klondike Gold Rush (1896-1899). It became globally famous when Microsoft included it in Windows 3.0 in 1990.
Is Klondike Solitaire the same as regular Solitaire?
When most people say "Solitaire," they mean Klondike. However, solitaire is a broad category with hundreds of variants. Klondike is simply the most well-known version.
What is the best first move in Klondike?
There is no single best first move. Generally, look for Aces to move to foundations, available Kings for empty columns, and moves that uncover face-down cards in the longest tableau columns.
How long does a game of Klondike take?
A typical game takes 5-15 minutes. Speed runs can be completed in under 2 minutes, while more complex games with lots of undo may take longer.
Can I play Klondike Solitaire on my phone?
Yes. Play Solitaire Gaming works on any device with a web browser — phones, tablets, laptops, and desktops. No app download required.
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