How to play Solitaire

This guide covers Klondike, the game most people simply call Solitaire. Once you know the four areas of the table and a handful of moves, you can play. It takes about five minutes to learn.

The goal

Move all 52 cards onto the four foundation piles. Each foundation holds one suit, built up in order from Ace to King. When all four are complete, you've won.

The four areas of the table

The tableau

The seven columns where most of the game happens. At the start, each column has one face-up card on top of some face-down ones.

The stock

The face-down pile at the top left. You turn cards from it when you need new options.

The waste

Where cards from the stock land, face up. The top one is always available to play.

The foundations

The four piles at the top right, one per suit. Aces start them.

The moves

• Build columns down in alternating colours. Put a card on one that is one rank higher and the opposite colour. A black 6 goes on a red 7.
• Move runs. You can move a whole ordered run from one column to another, as long as its top card fits.
• Turn over face-down cards. When you uncover one, it flips over and becomes playable.
• Fill empty columns with a King. Only a King, or a run starting with a King, can go in an empty column.
• Build the foundations up by suit. Ace first, then 2, then 3, all the way to King.
• Turn the stock when you're out of moves. When it's empty, turn the waste back over and go again.

On this site you can drag cards, or just tap one and it goes to the best legal spot.

Turn 1 or Turn 3

In Turn 1 you turn one card from the stock at a time, so every card is reachable on every pass. It's the relaxed way to play. In Turn 3 you turn three at a time and can only play the top one, which takes more planning. Switch with the Draw button under the table.

Tips for beginners

• Turn over hidden cards early. The face-down cards in the columns are where you get stuck, so prioritise moves that reveal them.
• Work on the longest columns. The column with the most face-down cards needs the most help.
• Don't rush cards to the foundations. A low card in a column might be the only place to put another card.
• Only empty a column if you have a King to fill it. An empty column with no King ready is wasted.
• Use Undo and Hint. Undo to explore an idea. Hint when you're truly stuck.

Other ways to play

Once Klondike clicks, try FreeCell, where every card is face up, or Spider, which uses two decks. The rules page compares all eight games in one place.