How to Play Solitaire
Overview
Solitaire (specifically Klondike Solitaire) is the most popular solo card game in the world. The goal is to build all four suits from Ace to King on the foundation piles by moving cards between seven tableau columns in descending alternating colors.
Setup
- Shuffle a standard 52-card deck.
- Deal one card face up — this is your first tableau column.
- Deal six more columns left to right: column 2 gets 2 cards (top face up), column 3 gets 3, up to column 7 with 7 cards.
- The remaining cards form the stock (draw pile) placed face down.
The Tableau
- Build tableau columns in descending order with alternating colors.
- You can move a single card or an entire run of properly sequenced cards.
- Only a King (or a sequence starting with a King) can be placed in an empty column.
- When a face-down tableau card is exposed, flip it face up.
The Foundations
- Four foundation piles, one for each suit (hearts, diamonds, clubs, spades).
- Build from Ace to King in ascending order.
- Move Aces to foundations as soon as they become available.
The Stock (Draw Pile)
When no more tableau moves are available, draw from the stock:
- Draw-1: Turn one card at a time. Easier and more common.
- Draw-3: Turn three cards at once. Only the top card is playable. Tournament standard.
When the stock is depleted, you can turn over the waste pile and go through again.
Winning
Win by moving all 52 cards to the four foundation piles, completing each suit from Ace to King. Not all deals are winnable.
Strategy Tips
- Prioritize revealing face-down tableau cards to increase your options.
- Build foundation piles evenly — don't stack one suit too far ahead.
- Try to create an empty tableau column for King placement.
- In draw-3 mode, plan several moves ahead since you only see every third card.
- Use the undo feature to learn from mistakes.
FAQ
What cards can you move in Solitaire?
You can move any face-up card or sequence in descending alternating color order. Only a King can be placed in an empty column.
What's the difference between draw-1 and draw-3?
Draw-1 turns one card at a time (easier). Draw-3 turns three cards (harder, tournament standard).