What Is Solitaire?
Solitaire — also known as Klondike solitaire — is the world’s most popular single-player card game. Played with a standard 52-card deck, the goal is to sort every card into four foundation piles, one for each suit, in ascending order from Ace through King. The game has been a staple of casual gaming for well over a century, and its inclusion in early versions of Microsoft Windows introduced it to hundreds of millions of players around the globe.
Despite its reputation as a simple time-killer, solitaire is a game of genuine skill. Studies suggest that roughly 80 percent of Klondike deals are theoretically winnable, yet the average win rate for most players hovers between 25 and 30 percent. The gap between what is possible and what players achieve is where strategy, patience, and careful decision-making come into play.
Understanding the Solitaire Layout
Before you make your first move, it helps to know the names and roles of each area on the playing field.
The Tableau
The tableau is the main playing area and consists of seven columns of cards. Column one has one card, column two has two cards, column three has three, and so on up to column seven, which has seven cards. Only the top card of each column is dealt face-up; all other cards remain face-down. The tableau is where most of the strategic action takes place.
The Foundation
The foundation is made up of four empty piles, typically located above the tableau. Each pile is reserved for one suit — hearts, diamonds, clubs, and spades. You build these piles in ascending order, beginning with the Ace and ending with the King. Moving all 52 cards to the foundation is the win condition.
The Stock (Draw Pile)
After dealing the tableau, the remaining 24 cards form the stock pile. The stock sits face-down and serves as your reserve supply. You draw from the stock when you have no more useful moves on the tableau.
The Waste (Discard Pile)
When you flip a card from the stock, it goes to the waste pile face-up. Only the top card of the waste is available for play. If you cycle through the entire stock without making a move, you can turn the waste pile over and go through it again (rules vary on how many times you may do this).
Card Order and Suit Colors
Understanding card rank and color is essential for making valid moves.
Rank order (low to high): Ace, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, Jack, Queen, King.
Suit colors:
- Red suits: Hearts (♥) and Diamonds (♦)
- Black suits: Clubs (♣) and Spades (♠)
On the tableau, you stack cards in descending rank and alternating colors. For example, a black 7 can be placed on a red 8, and a red Queen can be placed on a black King. On the foundation, you stack cards in ascending rank within the same suit.
Step-by-Step Guide to Playing Solitaire
Step 1 — Deal the Cards
Shuffle a standard 52-card deck and deal seven columns across the tableau. The first column gets one card, the second gets two, and so on. Flip the top card of each column face-up. Place the remaining 24 cards face-down as the stock pile. For a detailed walkthrough of the dealing process, see our guide on how to set up solitaire.
Step 2 — Scan for Aces and Low Cards
Before you start drawing from the stock, look at the face-up cards on the tableau. Move any Aces directly to the foundation. If you see a 2 that matches a foundation Ace, move it there as well.
Step 3 — Build on the Tableau
Arrange face-up cards on the tableau by placing them in descending order with alternating colors. You may move a single card or an entire sequence of correctly ordered cards from one column to another. Whenever a face-down card is uncovered, flip it face-up.
Step 4 — Fill Empty Columns
When a tableau column becomes completely empty, only a King (or a sequence starting with a King) may be placed there. Empty columns are powerful strategic tools, so use them wisely.
Step 5 — Draw from the Stock
When no more moves are available on the tableau, draw cards from the stock. In Draw 1 mode, flip one card at a time. In Draw 3 mode, flip three cards at a time and only the top card is playable. Play the drawn card to the tableau or foundation if possible; otherwise, it stays on the waste pile.
Step 6 — Cycle the Stock
After you have gone through the entire stock, turn the waste pile face-down to create a new stock and continue drawing. Some rule sets allow unlimited redeals; others limit you to one or two passes.
Step 7 — Build Up the Foundation
Continue moving cards to the foundation whenever possible. Build each foundation pile from Ace to King within its suit. The game is won when all four foundation piles are complete.
Valid Moves in Solitaire
- Tableau to tableau: Move a face-up card (or a correctly ordered sequence) onto another card of the next-higher rank and opposite color.
- Tableau to foundation: Move a card from the tableau to the matching foundation pile if it continues the ascending sequence.
- Waste to tableau: Play the top card of the waste pile onto a valid tableau column.
- Waste to foundation: Move the top waste card directly to the appropriate foundation pile.
- King to empty column: Place a King (or a King-led sequence) into any empty tableau column.
- Flip face-down cards: When a face-down card is the topmost card in a tableau column, flip it face-up.
How to Win
You win solitaire when all 52 cards have been moved to the four foundation piles, each organized from Ace through King within a single suit. If you reach a state where no legal moves remain and the stock has been exhausted, the game is lost.
Common Mistakes Beginners Make
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Moving cards to the foundation too early. It is tempting to send every card to the foundation the moment you can, but removing a mid-rank card from the tableau can block important sequences later. A good rule of thumb: promote cards to the foundation when they will not be needed for tableau building.
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Ignoring face-down cards. Your primary objective should always be uncovering hidden cards. The more face-down cards you reveal, the more options you have.
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Filling empty columns carelessly. An empty column is one of the most valuable resources in solitaire. Do not fill it with a random King unless doing so uncovers face-down cards or advances your overall position.
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Forgetting to scan the full tableau. Before drawing from the stock, double-check every column for available moves. It is easy to miss a play, especially in the early game when the tableau is crowded.
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Playing too fast. Solitaire rewards thoughtful play. Take a moment before each move to consider whether it will open up future possibilities or create dead ends.
Tips for Beginners
- Start with Draw 1. Draw 1 mode gives you access to every card in the stock and is significantly easier than Draw 3. It is the best way to learn the game.
- Prioritize uncovering face-down cards. Every face-down card you reveal is a new opportunity. Make moves that flip hidden cards whenever you can.
- Build evenly across the tableau. Avoid stacking all your cards on one or two columns. Spread your sequences across the tableau to maintain flexibility.
- Think before you King. When you have a choice of Kings for an empty column, pick the one that will uncover the most face-down cards or create the most useful sequence.
- Use undo sparingly. Many digital versions offer an undo button. While it can help you learn, relying on it too heavily will prevent you from developing genuine decision-making skills.
- Track which cards have appeared. Paying attention to which cards you have seen from the stock helps you anticipate what is coming and plan ahead.
Start Playing
Solitaire is easy to learn but endlessly rewarding to master. With a clear understanding of the layout, the rules, and a few foundational strategies, you are well on your way to becoming a stronger player. Set up a game, take your time, and enjoy the challenge.