How to play Yukon Solitaire
Yukon is Klondike with the training wheels off — and, oddly, a better win rate. All 52 cards hit the table at the deal, there is no stock to lean on, and the signature rule: any face-up card can be moved, together with everything stacked on top of it, in whatever jumbled order it sits.
- Moving groups — only the bottom card of the group must fit: opposite color, one rank below the destination card.
- Empty columns — Kings (or groups starting with a King) only.
- Foundations — build each suit up from Ace to King. Fill all four to win.
- Hidden cards — piles 2 through 7 hide one to six cards; flipping them is the whole game.
Strategy tips that actually win games
- Uncover, uncover, uncover. Every move should either flip a face-down card or set one up. The column with six hidden cards is the game's real boss.
- Embrace messy moves. Burying a useful card under a jumbled group is fine — unlike Klondike, you can always haul it back out.
- Don't rush the foundations. Low cards in play are landing spots. Send them up only when they stop earning their keep.
- Save empty columns for Kings with baggage. The best King to move is the one dragging hidden-card cover along with it.
- Untangle late, not early. First flip everything; sorting the chaos into ordered runs is the endgame, not the opening.
Frequently asked questions
How is Yukon Solitaire different from Klondike?
Two ways: there is no stock — all 52 cards are dealt at the start — and you may move ANY face-up card along with every card sitting on top of it, even if they are in no particular order. Only the bottom card of the moved group has to fit the destination.
What are the rules for moving cards in Yukon?
Pick up any face-up card (everything above it comes along) and drop it on a card of the opposite color, one rank higher. Empty columns accept only Kings. Foundations build up by suit from Ace to King, exactly like Klondike.
Are Yukon Solitaire games winnable?
Most are — estimates put winnable Yukon deals above 80%, and unlike Klondike you can always see progress being made because nothing is hidden in a stock. Hidden tableau cards are the only unknowns.
What is the best strategy for Yukon Solitaire?
Flip face-down cards as early as possible, starting with the columns hiding the most. Because groups move regardless of order, bold multi-card moves that expose a hidden card are usually right even when they bury other things — you can dig them out later.
Can I play Yukon 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.
More free card games
Prefer the original? Play Klondike Solitaire. Ready for a bigger challenge? Take on Spider Solitaire — or the always-fair FreeCell.