How to Play Yukon Solitaire

Yukon Solitaire is a challenging variant of Klondike where all 52 cards are dealt to the tableau with no stock pile. Its defining feature is that any face-up card can be moved regardless of the sequence below it, creating unique strategic possibilities. This freedom of movement makes Yukon feel more dynamic than Klondike, but the lack of a stock pile means you must work entirely with what is on the table.

Game Setup

1. 1Shuffle a standard 52-card deck.
2. 2Deal seven tableau columns like Klondike: 1 card in the first column, 2 in the second, up to 7 in the seventh.
3. 3Turn the top card of each column face-up.
4. 4Deal the remaining 24 cards face-up across columns 2-7 (4 extra cards per column).
5. 5There is no stock pile or waste pile — all cards are in the tableau.

Complete Rules

1. 1Build tableau columns in descending order with alternating colors (e.g., black 6 on red 7).
2. 2Any face-up card can be moved to another column, regardless of the cards on top of it. All cards on top of the moved card come along.
3. 3This is the key difference from Klondike: you do not need a valid sequence to move a group of cards.
4. 4When a face-down card is uncovered, flip it face-up.
5. 5Only Kings (or groups starting with a King) can be placed on empty columns.
6. 6Build foundations by suit in ascending order: Ace, 2, 3, ... King.
7. 7Win by moving all 52 cards to the four foundation piles.
8. 8You can move a face-up card even if the cards above it are not in sequence.
9. 9Moving a card also moves every card on top of it in the column.
10. 10There are no stock draws — all strategic decisions involve rearranging the tableau.
11. 11The game is lost when no valid moves remain and foundations are incomplete.
12. 12A face-down card is automatically revealed when it becomes the top card after a move.

Strategy Tips

• Prioritize uncovering face-down cards. This is even more important than in Klondike since there is no stock pile to draw from.
• Use the free movement rule aggressively. Moving a face-up card from deep in a column can uncover hidden cards.
• Build foundations steadily, but do not rush. Cards in the tableau may be needed for uncovering sequences.
• Empty columns are valuable — use them strategically for Kings.
• Think several moves ahead. Yukon rewards careful planning more than Klondike.
• Try to avoid blocking useful cards. Check what is underneath before placing cards on a column.
• Look for opportunities to move cards that expose multiple face-down cards in a single move.
• Kings are extremely important. Plan your empty columns around which Kings you can access.
• Do not get tunnel vision. Scan all seven columns for opportunities before committing to a move.
• Sometimes moving a "bad" sequence (mixed, unordered cards) on top of a valid card is worthwhile if it uncovers a critical hidden card.

Advanced Strategy

• Identify the "critical path" — the chain of face-down cards that must be uncovered to reach important cards like Aces and Twos.
• Use "column sacrifice" — sometimes it is worth burying useful cards in one column to unlock face-down cards in another.
• Plan King placement carefully. Each empty column you create should be immediately filled with a King that enables further progress.
• Build foundations in parallel. Getting all four suits started gives you more flexibility for subsequent moves.
• In difficult positions, work backwards: identify which card you need to move to the foundation next, then trace the moves needed to free it.

Frequently Asked Questions

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