Klondike Solitaire Rules
Klondike is the patience game most people mean when they say “solitaire”. You play alone with one deck, and the goal is to move every card onto four piles, one per suit, from ace up to king. It is calm, quick to set up, and a good way to practise looking a few moves ahead.
On this page 7 sections
Quick facts
| Players | 1 |
|---|---|
| Cards | One standard 52-card deck, no jokers |
| Goal | Build all four suits from A to K on the foundations |
| Card order | A (low), 2, 3 … 10, J, Q, K (high) |
The layout
The table has four areas:
- Tableau: seven columns of cards in the middle. This is where most of the play happens.
- Foundations: four empty spaces, usually at the top right, one for each suit.
- Stock: the face-down pile of leftover cards.
- Waste: where cards from the stock are turned face up.
Setting up
- Shuffle the deck well.
- Deal seven columns from left to right. The first column gets 1 card, the second 2, and so on up to 7 cards in the last column. That uses 28 cards.
- Only the last card dealt to each column is face up. All the cards under it are face down. Overlap the cards so you can see how many are in each column.
- Place the remaining 24 cards face down as the stock.
Legal moves
Building on the tableau
On the tableau you build columns down in rank and in alternating colours. A red 9 can go on a black 10, then a black 8 on the red 9, and so on.
Example of a valid column: K♠Q♥J♣10♦9♠
- You can move one face-up card, or a whole run of face-up cards that are already in correct order, from one column to another.
- When you move the face-up cards off a face-down card, turn that card face up. Revealing hidden cards is the key to winning.
- Only a king (or a run starting with a king) can be moved into an empty column. Some casual versions allow any card, but standard rules say kings only.
Building the foundations
Each foundation starts with an ace. Then add the 2, 3, 4 and so on of the same suit, up to the king. For example: A♥2♥3♥4♥
You can move a card to a foundation from the top of the waste pile or from the face-up end of any tableau column. Most rules also let you move a card back from a foundation to the tableau if it helps, though some strict versions do not.
Using the stock
When you run out of useful moves, turn cards from the stock onto the waste pile. Only the top card of the waste pile can be played.
- Draw one: turn one card at a time. Easier, and good for beginners.
- Draw three: turn three cards at a time, and only the top one is playable. Harder, because some cards stay buried.
When the stock is empty, turn the waste pile over to make a new stock and go through it again. Casual play allows unlimited passes. Stricter rules limit you, for example to three passes with draw three, or one pass with draw one.
Winning and losing
You win when all 52 cards are on the four foundations. You lose (or give up) when there are no more moves and the stock can no longer help. Not every deal can be won, even with perfect play, so do not be discouraged by a run of losses.
Some computer versions keep a score, giving points for moving cards to the foundations and turning over hidden cards. At home, most people simply count wins.
Tips to win more often
- Reveal face-down cards first. Prefer moves that turn over a hidden card, especially in the longest columns on the right.
- Do not rush to the foundations. Moving a low card up is usually good, but a 5 or 6 on the tableau might be needed to hold a 4 or 5 of the other colour.
- Empty a column only when you have a king ready. An empty column without a king to fill it is wasted.
- Choose your king carefully. If two kings could go into an empty space, think about which queens are available to follow.
- Check the stock before committing. In draw-one games, it can help to look through the stock first so you know what is coming.
- Think one or two moves ahead. Before every move, ask what it opens up.
Enjoy solitaire but want a game with more planning against an opponent? Try our free rummy game, which you can also play alone against the computer.
Other solitaire games
Klondike is one of many patience games. Spider uses two decks and builds same-suit runs; FreeCell gives you four free cells and almost every deal can be solved with careful play; Pyramid pairs cards that add up to 13. The basic habits (look ahead, open up hidden cards, keep options free) help in all of them.
FAQ
How many cards go in each column in Klondike?
The seven columns get 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 cards from left to right, with only the top card of each column face up. The other 24 cards form the stock.
What can go in an empty column in solitaire?
In standard Klondike only a king, or a run of cards starting with a king, can be moved into an empty column.
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 at a time and can only play the top one, which makes the game harder.
Can every game of Klondike be won?
No. Some deals cannot be solved however well you play, so losing a game is not always a sign of a mistake.