How to Play Solitaire (Klondike) and Win More Often
Learn the rules of classic Klondike solitaire, how to set up the cards, and smart strategies that help you win more games, whether you play with real cards or online.
In this guide
Klondike is the game most people mean when they say "solitaire." It became a household name when it came preinstalled on Windows computers in the 1990s, but it has been played with real cards for well over a century. It is calm, quick and endlessly replayable, and with a few strategies, you can win a lot more often.
The goal
Move all 52 cards into four foundation piles, one for each suit, building up from Ace to King.
Setting up the cards
- Shuffle a standard 52-card deck.
- Deal the tableau. Lay out seven piles from left to right. The first pile has one card, the second has two, and so on up to seven cards in the last pile. Only the top card of each pile is face up; the rest are face down. This uses 28 cards.
- Place the stock. The remaining 24 cards go face down in a pile. This is the stock.
- Leave room for the foundations. Four empty spaces above the tableau will hold the Ace-to-King piles.
How to play
Building in the tableau
In the seven tableau piles, you build down in alternating colors. For example, you can place a red 9 on a black 10, then a black 8 on that red 9.
- You can move a single face-up card or a whole run of face-up cards as a unit.
- When you move cards and expose a face-down card, flip it face up.
- Only a King (or a run starting with a King) can be placed in an empty tableau space.
Building the foundations
Whenever an Ace becomes available, move it to a foundation space. Then build up by suit: Ace, 2, 3 and so on up to King, all in the same suit.
Using the stock
When you run out of moves, turn cards from the stock onto a face-up waste pile. The top card of the waste pile can be played to the tableau or a foundation. There are two common versions:
- Draw one: Turn one card at a time. Easier and great for beginners.
- Draw three: Turn three cards at a time, and only the top one is playable. Harder and more strategic.
When the stock runs out, many versions let you flip the waste pile over and go through it again. House rules and apps vary on how many times you can do this.
You win when...
All 52 cards are on the four foundations. You lose when you have no moves left and cannot go through the stock again.
Strategies to win more often
1. Always play Aces and 2s right away
There is never a reason to keep an Ace or 2 in the tableau. Move them to the foundations as soon as you can.
2. Prioritize uncovering face-down cards
Your biggest problem in Klondike is hidden cards. When choosing between moves, pick the one that flips a face-down card. Focus on the piles with the most face-down cards first, since they are hardest to clear.
3. Do not empty a column without a King ready
An empty space is only useful if you can fill it with a King. Clearing a column with no King available can waste valuable flexibility.
4. Choose your King carefully
When you have an empty spot and more than one King available, think about which one helps you. If you have a red Queen waiting, a black King is the better choice.
5. Do not rush cards to the foundations
It sounds backward, but moving a card to a foundation too early can hurt you. Middle cards like a 6 or 7 may be needed in the tableau to hold lower cards of the opposite color. A good rule: build foundations evenly across suits.
6. Use the stock thoughtfully
Before drawing from the stock, make every useful tableau move first. In draw-three games, remember that playing a card from the waste pile changes which cards appear on your next pass.
How often can you win?
Not every Klondike deal can be won, even with perfect play. Researchers who have studied the game estimate that a large majority of deals, around 80 percent, are winnable if you could see every card. In real play, with hidden cards, win rates are much lower, especially in draw-three. Many apps offer "winnable deals only" modes if you want guaranteed solvable games.
Common Klondike terms
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Tableau | The seven main piles where you build down |
| Foundations | Four piles built up by suit from Ace to King |
| Stock | The face-down pile of undealt cards |
| Waste | The face-up pile of cards drawn from the stock |
The bottom line
Klondike is simple to learn and deeply satisfying to master. Play your Aces early, focus on uncovering hidden cards, save empty spaces for Kings and build your foundations evenly. Whether you play with a worn deck at the kitchen table or on your phone, it is one of the best ways to unwind for ten quiet minutes.
