Solitaire Rules (Klondike - Turn 1)

Objective:

Move all 52 cards to the four Foundation piles, one for each suit (♥, ♠, ♦, ♣), in ascending order from Ace to King.

Setup:

• Tableau: 28 cards are dealt into 7 piles. The first pile has 1 card, the second 2, and so on, up to 7. The top card of each tableau pile is face-up; the rest are face-down.
• Stock: The remaining 24 cards form the Stock pile, face-down.
• Waste: Cards drawn from the Stock that cannot be played immediately go face-up to the Waste pile.
• Foundations: Four empty piles, ready to receive Aces as they become available.

Gameplay:

Moving Cards:

• Tableau Piles:
  • You can move a face-up card from one tableau pile to another if the target card is of the opposite color and one rank higher (e.g., a red 7 on a black 8).
  • A sequence of face-up cards (already in correct descending order and alternating colors) can be moved as a single unit to another tableau pile, following the same rule.
  • When a face-down card in a tableau pile is exposed by moving the card(s) above it, it is turned face-up automatically.
  • An empty tableau pile can only be filled with a King (or a sequence starting with a King).
• Foundation Piles:
  • You can move the top card from a Tableau pile or the Waste pile to a Foundation pile if it's an Ace of that suit (to start a new foundation) or if it's the next card in ascending order for that suit's foundation (e.g., a 2 of Hearts on an Ace of Hearts).
  • Once on a Foundation, cards cannot be moved back to the Tableau or Waste.

Stock and Waste Pile:

• Click the Stock pile to deal one card at a time to the Waste pile.
• The top card of the Waste pile is always available for play to the Tableau or Foundations.
• When the Stock is empty, all cards from the Waste pile are automatically moved back to the Stock, face-down, allowing you to cycle through them again.

Winning the Game:

The game is won when all 52 cards are successfully moved to their respective Foundation piles in the correct order.

Frequently Asked Questions - Solitaire

How do you win at Solitaire?

To win at Solitaire (Klondike), you must move all 52 cards to the four foundation piles, building each suit from Ace to King. Focus on exposing face-down cards in the tableau, keep foundation piles balanced, and use the waste pile strategically. Look for opportunities to move cards to foundations early, and try to create empty tableau columns to place Kings.

What is the difference between Klondike Solitaire and regular Solitaire?

Klondike IS the most common version of "regular" Solitaire. When people say "Solitaire," they usually mean Klondike. This version uses a 7-column tableau with cards dealt in increasing numbers (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7), and you draw one card at a time from the stock pile. Other variations include Spider Solitaire, FreeCell, and Pyramid Solitaire.

Can you move multiple cards at once in Solitaire?

Yes, in Klondike Solitaire you can move sequences of cards that are properly ordered (descending rank with alternating colors) as a single unit between tableau piles. For example, you can move a red 6, black 5, red 4 sequence together to place on a black 7. However, you can only move one card at a time to foundation piles.

What cards can go on an empty space in Solitaire?

Only a King (or a sequence starting with a King) can be placed on an empty tableau column in Klondike Solitaire. This is one of the key strategic elements - empty spaces are valuable because Kings are high-value cards that can help you organize long sequences and expose more face-down cards.

Is online Solitaire the same as physical card Solitaire?

Yes, our online Solitaire follows the exact same rules as traditional physical card Solitaire (Klondike). The only differences are convenience features like automatic card placement, undo moves, and move counting. The strategy, rules, and winning conditions are identical to playing with a physical deck of cards.

What is a good win rate for Solitaire?

A good win rate for Klondike Solitaire (Turn 1) is around 25-35% for experienced players. The theoretical maximum win rate is estimated to be around 82% if you could see all cards and play perfectly. Beginners typically win 10-20% of games. Our game tracks your statistics so you can monitor your improvement over time.

What are the best Solitaire strategies?

Key Solitaire strategies include: 1) Always move Aces and Twos to foundations immediately, 2) Prioritize moves that expose face-down cards, 3) Build evenly across all foundation piles, 4) Create empty columns for Kings when possible, 5) Think several moves ahead before making decisions, and 6) Don't rush to move cards to foundations if they might be useful in the tableau.

Can I play Solitaire on mobile devices?

Yes! Our Solitaire game is fully optimized for mobile devices including smartphones and tablets. The game automatically adjusts to your screen size and supports touch controls. You can play the same full-featured Solitaire game on iPhone, Android, iPad, and any modern mobile browser without downloading an app.

Is this Solitaire game really free?

Absolutely! Our Solitaire game is completely free to play with no hidden costs, subscriptions, or premium features. You don't need to register, download anything, or provide payment information. Play unlimited games directly in your browser for free.

How do you deal cards in Solitaire?

In Klondike Solitaire, 28 cards are dealt into 7 tableau columns: 1 card in the first column, 2 in the second, 3 in the third, and so on up to 7 cards in the seventh column. Only the top card of each column is face-up. The remaining 24 cards form the stock pile, which you draw from one card at a time during gameplay.