How to play Klondike Solitaire
Klondike is the world's most popular solitaire card game — the one that shipped with Windows and turned "solitaire" into a household word. The goal is simple: move all 52 cards onto the four foundation piles, building each suit up in order from Ace to King.
The game deals 28 cards into seven tableau columns; only the top card of each column starts face up. The remaining 24 cards form the stock in the top-left corner.
- In the tableau, stack cards in descending order with alternating colors — a red 9 on a black 10, a black 8 on a red 9, and so on. You can move a whole run of correctly stacked cards at once.
- Turning a face-down card happens automatically when you clear everything on top of it.
- Empty columns can only be filled with a King (or a run starting with a King).
- The stock deals cards to the waste pile when you click it. When the stock runs out, click it again to recycle the waste.
- Foundations — each suit has its own marked slot (♠ ♥ ♦ ♣) and builds up in ascending order, starting with the Ace. Tap any playable card to send it there automatically.
Strategy tips that actually win games
- Always uncover face-down cards first. A move that flips a hidden card is almost always better than one that doesn't — hidden cards are what lose games.
- Empty the columns with the fewest hidden cards. Column one has no hidden cards; column seven hides six. Work the short columns early.
- Don't rush cards to the foundations. You may need a low card in the tableau to park other cards on. A good rule of thumb: keep foundations within two ranks of each other.
- Don't empty a column without a King ready. An empty column you can't fill is wasted space.
- Think before drawing. In Draw 3, playing a waste card changes which cards you'll see on the next pass through the stock — sometimes skipping a playable card is the winning move.
- Use undo liberally. Exploring a line and backing out of it is how strong players turn 80% winnable deals into 80% won deals.
Frequently asked questions
How do I win Klondike Solitaire?
You win by moving all 52 cards to the four foundation piles, building each pile up by suit from Ace to King. Uncover face-down tableau cards as early as possible — they are the key to keeping the game moving.
What is the difference between Draw 1 and Draw 3?
In Draw 1 you turn over one card from the stock at a time, which is easier and better for beginners. In Draw 3 you turn over three cards at once but can only play the top one, which is the classic, harder variant.
Are all Solitaire games winnable?
No. Roughly 80% of Klondike deals are theoretically winnable, but even winnable deals can be lost with the wrong moves. Skilled players typically win about a third of their Draw 1 games.
Can I play Solitaire 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.
How does scoring work in Solitaire?
Moving a card to a foundation scores 10 points, moving a card from the waste to the tableau scores 5, and turning over a face-down tableau card scores 5. Moving a card back down from a foundation costs 15 points.
More free card games
Want something different? Try FreeCell, where every deal is winnable, the trick-taking classic Hearts, or roll the dice in Yahtzee.