How to play Kings in the Corners
Kings in the Corners is a quick placement puzzle played on a 4×4 board. Cards come off the deck one at a time, and every card needs a home before the next appears. The catch is in the markings: kings live only in the four corners, queens in the middle of the top and bottom rows, jacks in the middle of the left and right columns. Number cards go anywhere — including on the marked slots, which is exactly how you get into trouble.
- Fill, then clear — when all 16 slots are taken, remove number cards in pairs adding to 10 (ace = 1). A 10 comes off alone.
- Click or drag — drag the card in play to a slot, or just click the slot. Pair cards by clicking both, or drag one onto the other.
- Win — all twelve royals seated and all forty number cards removed.
Strategy tips that actually win games
- The centre four are your workspace. Park number cards there first — every number card on a marked slot is a royal locked out until you can pair it away.
- Count what's still coming. Four kings, four queens, four jacks. If three queens are already seated, queen slots become safe parking; if none are, keep all four open.
- Pair for freedom, not for volume. When removing, prioritise pairs that free up marked slots over pairs in the centre.
- Mind the 5s and 10s. 5s only pair with each other and 10s come off alone — leaving three 5s stranded late is a classic way to lose.
- Don't rush the resume. After the board fills you can remove several pairs in a row — clearing extra room before dealing again keeps your options wide.
Frequently asked questions
What are the rules of Kings in the Corners solitaire?
Cards are drawn from the deck one at a time onto a 4×4 board. Kings may only be placed on the four corner slots, queens on the middle slots of the top and bottom rows, and jacks on the middle slots of the left and right columns. Number cards (ace to 10) can go on any empty slot. Once the board is full, remove number cards in pairs that add up to ten — an ace counts as 1, and a 10 is removed on its own. You win by seating all twelve face cards and removing the other forty.
How do you lose Kings in the Corners?
Two ways: you draw a king, queen or jack while every one of its marked slots is occupied, or the board fills up with no two number cards adding to ten. Keeping the marked slots clear of number cards for as long as possible is the heart of the game.
Which pairs add up to ten?
Ace + 9, 2 + 8, 3 + 7, 4 + 6, and 5 + 5. Tens are the exception — a 10 is removed by itself. Jacks, queens and kings are never removed; they stay on their slots for the rest of the game.
What is the best strategy for Kings in the Corners?
Treat the twelve marked edge slots as reserved: park number cards in the four centre slots first, and only spill onto the marked slots when you must. When you do have to squat on a face-card slot, prefer the kind you have already seen most of — if two kings are already seated, a corner is a safer parking spot than a jack slot.
Is Kings in the Corners the same as the multiplayer Kings Corner game?
No — the name is shared by two different games. The multiplayer Kings Corner is played with hands and a cross-shaped layout; this one is a single-player patience puzzle on a 4×4 grid, the same version found on popular card game sites.
Can I play Kings in the Corners offline or on my phone?
The game runs entirely in your browser and works on phones, tablets and desktops. Your game in progress is saved automatically, so you can close the tab and pick up where you left off.
More free card games
Like pairing to a magic number? Pyramid Solitaire pairs to 13 across a pyramid. For another quick-thinking puzzle try Addiction Solitaire, or test pure nerve against the deck in Clock Solitaire.