\ How to Play Solitaire (Klondike) - Complete Rules & Strategy Guide
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How to Play Classic Solitaire

Getting Started

Let's start with the game layout for traditional solitaire, also known as klondike solitaire.

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How to Play Solitaire: Complete Guide for Beginners

Last updated: December 2025

Solitaire, also known as Klondike Solitaire or Patience, is one of the most popular single-player card games in the world. Whether you're new to the game or looking to improve your skills, this comprehensive guide will teach you everything you need to know about how to play solitaire.

Game Setup: How to Start Solitaire

Required Materials:

  • One standard 52-card deck
  • A flat playing surface (table or digital screen)

Initial Card Layout:

Setting up a game of solitaire is straightforward. Here's how to deal the cards:

  1. Deal 28 cards into 7 tableau piles
  2. First pile: 1 card (face-up)
  3. Second pile: 2 cards (top card face-up, bottom card face-down)
  4. Continue this pattern through the seventh pile (7 cards total, only top card face-up)
  5. Place remaining 24 cards face-down to form the stock pile
  6. Leave space above for four foundation piles
The Objective: How to Win at Solitaire

The goal of solitaire is simple: move all 52 cards to the four foundation piles. Each foundation must be built from Ace to King in the same suit (Hearts, Diamonds, Clubs, or Spades).

Solitaire Rules: How the Game Works

Understanding the rules for each area of the game is essential to playing solitaire successfully.

Tableau Rules

The tableau is where most of the action happens in solitaire:

  • Building Down: Stack cards in descending order (King, Queen, Jack, 10, 9, etc.)
  • Alternating Colors: Red cards can only be placed on black cards, and vice versa
  • Moving Sequences: You can move groups of properly sequenced cards together
  • Kings Only: Empty tableau spaces can only be filled with Kings (or sequences starting with Kings)
  • Revealing Cards: When you move cards, flip the top face-down card in that pile face-up

The game starts with seven tableau piles. You might end up with fewer as you build stacks of cards and place cards into the foundation piles, but you will never have more than seven.

Foundation Pile Rules

Building your foundations is the key to winning:

  • Each foundation must start with an Ace
  • Build up in sequential order: A, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, J, Q, K
  • Only cards of the same suit can be placed in each foundation
  • You cannot move cards out of foundations once placed

Cards must be placed in the foundation piles in ascending order, starting with the ace, and organized by suit. That's the object of the game: to build up the foundation piles with as many cards as possible, hopefully the entire deck!

Stock and Waste Pile Rules

When you can't make moves in the tableau:

  • The stock pile is dealt face down at the start of the game
  • Draw one card at a time from the stock pile
  • Drawn cards go face-up to the waste pile
  • Only the top card of the waste pile is available for play
  • Face up cards in the waste pile can be played into the tableau piles or the foundation piles
  • When the stock is empty, flip the waste pile to create a new stock
  • In standard rules, you can cycle through the deck unlimited times
How to Win at Solitaire: Strategy Tips

Basic Strategy:

  1. Expose Face-Down Cards First: Always prioritize moves that reveal hidden cards. You can expose face down cards in the tableau piles by moving a face up card covering it onto another pile.
  2. Build Evenly: Try to build all tableau piles evenly rather than focusing on one
  3. Empty Columns Carefully: Save empty tableau spaces for Kings when possible. If you don't have any kings face up in your tableau piles, try clicking the stock pile to draw more cards.
  4. Don't Rush to Foundations: Keep low cards in the tableau if you need them for building
  5. Plan Ahead: Think several moves ahead before committing to a sequence

Common Mistakes to Avoid:

  • Moving cards to foundations too early
  • Filling empty spaces with non-Kings (though most online solitaire games won't let you do this)
  • Not considering alternative move sequences
  • Giving up too quickly when stuck
Frequently Asked Questions

Can you put any card in an empty space in solitaire?

No, only Kings can be placed in empty tableau spaces in Klondike Solitaire. This is an important rule that affects your strategy.

How many times can you go through the deck in solitaire?

In standard Klondike Solitaire rules, you can cycle through the deck unlimited times. Some variations limit this to three passes.

What is the difference between solitaire and Klondike?

Klondike is actually the specific name for what most people call "solitaire." Solitaire is a general term for any single-player card game, while Klondike is the most popular version.

Is solitaire a game of luck or skill?

Solitaire requires a mix of luck and skill. While card distribution determines if a game is winnable, skilled players will win significantly more games than beginners.

Ready to play? Play Tennis Solitaire - our unique take on the classic game that adds tennis-style scoring and match play!