How to Play Klondike Solitaire
Klondike is the classic solitaire most people simply call Solitaire. Build the four foundations up from Ace to King by suit, using seven columns where cards go down in alternating colors. Choose easy draw-one or the classic draw-three game.
- Players
- Just you
- Cards
- Standard 52 cards
- Game length
- 5–15 min
- Difficulty
- Easy
The goal
Move all 52 cards to the four foundations, one for each suit, building each one up in order from Ace to King.
The layout
- Tableau: seven columns. The first has one card, the second two, and so on up to seven. Only the top card of each column is face up.
- Stock: the remaining 24 cards, face down. Turned cards go onto the waste pile next to it.
- Foundations: four empty spaces at the top right.
Moving cards
- In the tableau, place a card on a card one rank higher of the opposite color: a red 9 on a black 10, a black 4 on a red 5.
- You can move a whole built stack from one column to another, as long as its bottom card fits.
- When you move the last face-up card off a face-down card, that card turns over.
- Only a King, or a stack starting with a King, may go into an empty column.
- Move the top card of the waste or of any column to its foundation when it is the next card up.
The stock: draw one or draw three
Tap the stock to turn cards onto the waste. With draw one you turn one card at a time; with draw three you turn three, and only the top one can be played. When the stock is empty, turn the waste over to make a new stock. You may go through the stock as many times as you like.
Playing on this site
- Tap a card to send it to the best place automatically, or drag it (with any cards on top of it) onto a highlighted pile.
- Aces and other cards that are safe to play go up to the foundations by themselves.
- Use Undo as often as you like, and Hint when you are stuck.
Strategy tips
- Turning over face-down cards matters most. Prefer moves that free a hidden card, especially in the longer columns.
- Do not empty a column unless you have a King ready to move into it.
- Be careful about sending cards to the foundations too early: you may need them to hold other cards in the tableau.
Frequently asked questions
Is Klondike the same as regular Solitaire?
Yes. Klondike is the game most people know as Solitaire or Patience, and the one that came with many computers.
Should I choose draw one or draw three?
Draw one is easier and more relaxing, because every card in the stock is available each pass. Draw three is the classic, more challenging version.
Card games have many house rules. This page describes the most common way Klondike Solitaire is played, and the version you play on Card Sunday. Does your family play differently, or have you spotted a mistake? Tell us and we will check it.
