About Solitaire
Klondike is the patience game almost everyone means when they say solitaire — the one Microsoft shipped with Windows 3.0 in 1990, not as entertainment but to teach people how to drag a mouse. It worked so well that it outlived the lesson.
One deck, seven tableau piles, four foundations. The goal is to move all fifty-two cards to the foundations, each built up by suit from ace to king. Between you and that is the stock, the face-down cards in the tableau, and the fact that not every deal is solvable.
How to play
- Build the four foundation piles up by suit, ace first, king last.
- In the tableau, stack cards down in alternating colours — a red six goes on a black seven.
- Only a king can be moved into an empty tableau column.
- Turn cards from the stock when you run out of moves. Flip a face-down tableau card whenever you uncover it.
Controls
- Click and drag
- Move a card or a stack to another pile.
- Double click
- Send a card straight to its foundation when it is playable.
- Touch
- Drag with a finger, or tap twice to auto-play a card.
Tips
- Uncovering face-down cards beats everything else. A move that flips a new card is almost always better than one that does not.
- Do not send every ace and two to the foundations immediately. Low cards are useful in the tableau for parking opposite-colour cards.
- Empty a column only when you have a king ready. An empty column with no king to fill it is dead space.
- Prefer moves from the column with the most face-down cards. That is where the game is actually blocked.
- Before you draw from the stock, check every tableau move. The stock will still be there; a missed flip may not be recoverable.
Frequently asked questions
Are all solitaire games winnable?
No. Roughly 80% of Klondike deals are theoretically solvable with perfect play and full information, and far fewer are won in practice.
What is the difference between draw one and draw three?
Draw one turns a single stock card at a time and is much easier. Draw three turns three and only the top one is playable, which restricts the order you can reach them.
Can I move a stack of cards at once?
Yes, as long as the stack is already in correct descending, alternating-colour order.
Is it free?
Yes, it runs in the browser above with no download or sign-up.