How to play Klondike Solitaire
Klondike is the game most people simply call Solitaire. It uses one deck of 52 cards. Seven columns are dealt from left to right with 1 to 7 cards; only the top card of each is face up. The other 24 cards form the stock in the top left corner.
The goal is to move all 52 cards to the four foundations at the top right, one per suit, in order from Ace up to King.
- In the columns, build down in alternating colors: a red 6 goes on a black 7, a black 6 on a red 7.
- You can move a whole run of face-up cards together, as long as its top card fits where it lands.
- When you move the last face-up card off a column, the card below turns over.
- Only a King, or a run that starts with one, can go into an empty column.
- Tap the stock to turn cards onto the waste pile. Its top card can be played. When the stock runs out, tap the empty spot to turn the waste over and go again.
Tap or double-click a card to send it to its foundation or the best column; tap again to try the next spot. Once every card is face up and the stock is empty, the game finishes for you.
Draw 1 or Draw 3?
Draw 1 turns one card at a time, so you can reach every stock card on each pass. Draw 3 turns three and lets you play only the top one, which is the classic rule and a lot harder. Start with Draw 1, then switch in New game.
Klondike strategy tips
- Turn over face-down cards first. Prefer the longest columns; they hide the most cards.
- Do not rush cards to the foundations. A low card in a column can be a landing spot you need later. Aces and twos are always safe to send up.
- Empty a column only when a King is ready. An empty column is useless until a King moves in, so plan which King gets it.
- Choose the right color King. If a red Queen is waiting, bring a black King into the empty column.
- In Draw 3, think about the stock order. Playing one waste card shifts which cards come up on the next pass.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Draw 1 and Draw 3?
In Draw 1 you turn one card from the stock at a time, so every card in the stock is reachable on each pass. In Draw 3 you turn three at once and can only play the top one, so many cards stay out of reach until the order shifts. Draw 3 is the classic rule and is much harder.
Is every game of Klondike Solitaire winnable?
No. Some deals cannot be won however you play, because the cards you need stay buried under others. Most deals could be won by someone who could see every card, but real players win far fewer, and Draw 3 is harder than Draw 1. Unlimited undo helps: try a line of play and take it back if it fails.
What can go into an empty column?
Only a King, or a run of cards that starts with a King. If no King is available, the column stays empty until one appears.
How does scoring work?
With scoring on, the game uses the classic Windows points: 10 for each card put on a foundation, 5 for moving a card from the waste to a column, 5 for turning over a face-down card and minus 15 for taking a card back from a foundation. Turning the waste over costs 100 points in Draw 1 and 20 in Draw 3. The score never goes below zero.
Can I move a card back from a foundation?
Yes. Drag the top card of a foundation back onto a column when it helps you, for example to give a lower card of the other color somewhere to go.
How do I send a card to the foundation quickly?
Tap or double-click it. A card always goes to its foundation first when that is legal; otherwise it moves to the best column. When every card is face up and the stock is empty, the game finishes the rest for you.
Is Klondike the same as Solitaire?
Yes. When people say Solitaire they almost always mean Klondike, the game that came with Windows. Other patience games such as Spider, FreeCell and Pyramid have their own rules.