How to Play Solitaire (Klondike)
Klondike is the most well-known solitaire card game in the world. Often simply called "Solitaire," it has been played for over 200 years and was made famous by its inclusion in early versions of Windows.
Objective
Move all 52 cards to the four foundation piles, building each foundation in sequence from Ace to King, sorted by suit.
Setup
- Deal 7 columns (the "tableau"): column 1 gets 1 card, column 2 gets 2, and so on up to 7.
- Only the top card of each column is face-up; all others are face-down.
- The remaining 24 cards form the stock (draw pile).
- Four empty spaces are the foundations (one per suit).
Rules
Tableau Rules
- Cards are placed in descending order with alternating colors.
- Example: a black 6 can go on a red 7. A red Queen on a black King.
- Only a King (or a sequence starting with a King) can be placed on an empty column.
- You can move a sequence of properly-ordered face-up cards as a group.
Foundation Rules
- Build each foundation from Ace up to King in the same suit.
- Example: Ace of Hearts, then 2 of Hearts, 3 of Hearts, etc.
Stock Rules
- Click the stock to flip one card to the waste pile.
- The top card of the waste can be played to tableau or foundation.
- When the stock is empty, click it to recycle the waste pile back into the stock.
Winning Strategies
- Expose face-down cards — Prioritize moves that reveal face-down cards in the tableau.
- Build evenly — Try to keep foundation piles at similar heights. Rushing one suit too far ahead can block moves.
- Don't rush Aces — Sometimes keeping low cards in the tableau gives you more flexibility.
- Empty columns are gold — An empty column acts as extra workspace. Only fill it with a King strategically.
- Think ahead — Before making a move, consider what it unlocks. Sometimes the obvious move isn't the best one.
Win Rate
Not all Klondike games are winnable. Studies suggest roughly 79% of Klondike deals are solvable with perfect play. Don't be discouraged if you can't win every game!
Play Solitaire Online
Our free online Klondike Solitaire features click-to-move controls, move counting, and a clean dark-mode interface.
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