How to play Klondike Solitaire
Also known as: Solitaire, Patience
Klondike Solitaire rules: deal seven columns, build down in alternating colours and move every card to the four foundations from ace to king. Tips to win more.
- Type
- Card game
- Players
- 1
Klondike is the most famous solitaire game, a card game for one player that uses a standard 52-card deck. The goal is to sort all cards into four piles, one for each suit, in order from ace to king. To do this you rearrange cards in seven columns on the table, building downward in alternating red and black colours. Many people know Klondike simply as solitaire or patience, because a version was included with personal computers for many years. It is a calm game that rewards attention and planning, but luck also matters: some deals cannot be won however well you play. A round usually takes only a few minutes.
Our verdict
Klondike is the ideal short break: one deck, no partner and a clear goal. It trains concentration, ordering and planning several moves ahead, and the moment when the last cards fly to the foundations is satisfying. Choosing between drawing one or three cards changes the difficulty, so beginners and experienced players can both find a challenge. It is also a pleasant way to learn the structure of a deck, its suits and its ranks, for children starting with card games.
What works
- Needs only one standard deck
- Short and relaxing
- Adjustable difficulty
What does not
- Some deals are impossible to win
- No interaction with other players
How to play Klondike Solitaire
Deal seven columns, called the tableau. The first column has one card, the second two and so on to seven, with only the top card of each column face up. The remaining cards form the stock. Your goal is to build four foundations, one per suit, from ace up to king. In the tableau, you may place a card on another card that is one rank higher and of the opposite colour, such as a red six on a black seven. You may move a group of ordered face-up cards together. When you move away the last face-up card of a column, turn over the card beneath it. Only a king, or a group starting with a king, may fill an empty column. When you are stuck, turn cards from the stock one at a time or three at a time, depending on the version, and play the top card of the waste pile if you can. You win when all 52 cards are on the foundations.
Tips for new players
- Turn over face-down cards in the tableau as early as possible.
- Prefer moves from the longest columns, which hide the most cards.
- Do not move a card to the foundation too early if you still need it in the tableau.
- Keep an empty column only when you have a king ready to place there.
Good for
Klondike Solitaire: common questions
Can every game of Klondike Solitaire be won?
No. Some deals cannot be solved, especially when drawing three cards at a time.
What is the difference between draw one and draw three?
In draw one you turn one card from the stock at a time. In draw three you turn three and can only play the top one, which makes the game harder.
What can be placed in an empty column in Klondike?
Only a king, or an ordered group of cards that begins with a king.
Klondike Solitaire belongs to its owners. Playdonya is not connected to them and does not sell this game; the cover is our own illustration.
