Understanding Solitaire Language
Every game has its own vocabulary, and solitaire is no exception. Whether you are reading rules for a new variant, following a strategy guide, or discussing games with other players, understanding solitaire terminology is essential. This glossary covers every important term you are likely to encounter, organized alphabetically for easy reference.
A
Ace
The lowest-ranked card in most solitaire games, valued at 1. Aces typically serve as the starting card for foundation piles. In some variants, Aces have special rules, such as being moved to the foundation automatically.
Alternating Color
A building rule that requires cards to alternate between red (Hearts, Diamonds) and black (Spades, Clubs) as they are stacked. This is the standard tableau building rule in Klondike Solitaire.
Autoplay
A feature in digital solitaire games that automatically moves cards to the foundations when it is safe to do so — meaning the move cannot negatively affect future play.
B
Base Card
The card that starts a foundation pile. In most solitaire games, the base card is an Ace, but some variants use a different rank as the starting card.
Block
A situation where no useful moves are available and progress is stalled. A complete block with no legal moves remaining means the game is lost.
Build
To place cards on top of one another according to the game’s rules. Building can be ascending (increasing rank), descending (decreasing rank), by suit, by alternating color, or by any combination of these rules.
C
Cascade
A column of overlapping cards where each card is partially visible beneath the card on top of it. The term is used especially in FreeCell and other games where the full spread of cards in a column is visible.
Cell
A single-card holding space, most prominently featured in FreeCell. Each cell can hold one card at a time and serves as temporary storage during play.
Column
A vertical arrangement of cards on the tableau. Columns are the primary workspace in most solitaire games. The terms “column,” “pile,” and “cascade” are sometimes used interchangeably depending on the variant.
D
Deal
The process of distributing cards from the deck into the game’s starting layout. Each solitaire variant has its own specific dealing pattern. The term “deal” also refers to a specific arrangement of cards — for example, “this deal is winnable.”
Deck
A standard set of 52 playing cards (or 104 in double-deck games) used to play solitaire. A standard deck contains four suits (Hearts, Diamonds, Clubs, Spades) with 13 ranks each (Ace through King).
Discard
To remove a card from active play. In some solitaire variants, discarded cards are placed in a separate discard or waste pile and may or may not be retrievable.
Down Card
A card that is placed face-down on the tableau, hiding its rank and suit. Down cards must typically be uncovered by removing the cards on top of them before they can be turned face-up and played. Also called a face-down card.
Draw
To take a card from the stock pile and move it to the waste pile or directly into play. The number of cards drawn at a time varies by variant — Klondike commonly uses draw-one or draw-three rules.
F
Face-Down
A card placed with its back showing, hiding its identity. Face-down cards cannot be played until they are turned face-up.
Face-Up
A card placed with its front showing, revealing its rank and suit. Only face-up cards can be moved or built upon.
Foundation
The destination piles where cards must be placed to win the game. In most solitaire variants, foundations are built up in suit from Ace to King. Completing all four foundations is the standard win condition.
Free Cell
A temporary holding area for a single card, featured prominently in the FreeCell variant. Free cells provide flexibility for maneuvering cards around the tableau.
G
Game Number
A unique identifier assigned to a specific deal in digital solitaire. Game numbers allow players to replay the same deal or share it with others for comparison.
H
Hand
The cards remaining in the stock pile that have not yet been dealt or drawn. In some variants, the term refers to a complete round of play.
I
In-Suit
Cards that belong to the same suit. Building in-suit means placing cards of the same suit on top of each other. Spider Solitaire, for example, requires completed sequences to be in-suit for removal.
K
King
The highest-ranked card in a standard deck, valued at 13. In many solitaire variants, Kings have special significance — they are the only cards that can be placed in empty tableau columns in Klondike, and they complete the foundation sequence.
L
Layout
The initial arrangement of cards on the table after dealing. Each solitaire variant has a distinct layout that defines the starting position of all cards.
M
Move
A single action taken by the player, such as transferring a card from one pile to another. Moves are often counted and tracked as a performance metric in digital solitaire games.
Multi-Card Move
Transferring a group of cards together as a unit, typically a sequence of cards in proper descending order. The legality of multi-card moves varies by variant and is often constrained by available free cells and empty columns.
O
Off-Suit
Cards that do not share the same suit. An off-suit build places cards of different suits on each other. In Spider Solitaire, off-suit builds cannot be moved as a group.
P
Pack
Another term for a full deck of cards. “Single-pack” games use 52 cards; “double-pack” games use 104 cards.
Pair
Two cards of the same rank. In some variants like Pyramid Solitaire, pairs of cards that sum to 13 are removed together.
Patience
The European name for solitaire, used widely in the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and other countries. The term reflects the calm, deliberate mindset the game requires.
Pile
A generic term for any group of cards stacked together in the game — including tableau piles, foundation piles, the stock pile, and the waste pile.
R
Rank
The numerical or face value of a card. In a standard deck, ranks run from Ace (1) through 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, Jack (11), Queen (12), to King (13).
Redeal
Picking up the waste pile, turning it over, and using it as a new stock. Some solitaire variants allow one or more redeals; others allow unlimited redeals; and some allow none at all.
Reserve
A separate pile or set of piles in certain solitaire variants that holds cards available for play but not part of the tableau. Reserve cards can usually be played to the tableau or foundations but cannot be built upon.
Run
A sequence of cards in consecutive rank order, either ascending or descending. A run may be restricted to a single suit or may allow alternating colors, depending on the game’s rules.
S
Sequence
An ordered series of cards arranged by rank. Sequences can be ascending (Ace to King), descending (King to Ace), by suit, by alternating color, or by other rules specific to the variant.
Shuffle
Randomizing the order of cards before dealing. The shuffle determines the game’s deal and significantly influences difficulty and winnability.
Solitaire
A category of card games designed for a single player. The word derives from the French word for “alone.” In North America, “solitaire” often refers specifically to Klondike Solitaire.
Stack
A pile of cards placed on top of each other. Stacks can be face-up, face-down, or a combination. The term is often used interchangeably with “pile.”
Stock
The pile of remaining cards after the initial deal. Cards are drawn from the stock during play, either one at a time or in groups (commonly three). Also called the “hand,” “draw pile,” or “talon” in some traditions.
Suit
One of the four categories of cards in a standard deck: Hearts (♥), Diamonds (♦), Clubs (♣), and Spades (♠). Hearts and Diamonds are red; Clubs and Spades are black.
Supermove
A concept primarily associated with FreeCell. A supermove is the ability to move multiple cards at once by using empty free cells and empty columns as intermediate staging points. The maximum number of cards you can move in a single supermove is calculated as (1 + empty free cells) × 2^(empty columns).
T
Tableau
The main playing area where the majority of card manipulation takes place. The tableau consists of multiple columns (or piles) of cards where building and rearranging occurs. In Klondike, the tableau has seven columns; in Spider, it has ten.
Talon
An alternative name for the stock or waste pile, used primarily in European solitaire traditions.
Turn
The act of flipping a card from face-down to face-up. Also used to describe drawing cards from the stock — for example, “turn one” or “turn three” describes how many cards are flipped from the stock at a time.
U
Undo
A feature in digital solitaire that allows the player to reverse one or more moves. Undo is a valuable learning tool but is often disabled in competitive or scored modes.
Unwinnable
A deal that cannot be completed regardless of the moves made. Some solitaire deals are inherently unwinnable due to the random arrangement of cards. The percentage of unwinnable deals varies by variant.
W
Waste
The pile where cards drawn from the stock are placed face-up. Only the top card of the waste pile is typically available for play. When the stock is exhausted, the waste pile may be recycled as a new stock (redeal). Also called the “talon” or “discard pile.”
Winnability
The percentage of deals that can theoretically be won with perfect play. Winnability varies significantly by variant: FreeCell is nearly 100% winnable, while Klondike is estimated at roughly 80%.
Wrap
A building rule in some solitaire variants that allows sequences to continue past the King back to the Ace, or past the Ace back to the King, treating the rank order as circular rather than linear.
Using This Glossary
Bookmark this page as a reference whenever you encounter an unfamiliar solitaire term. As you explore new solitaire variants, you will find that most games share this core vocabulary — learning it once gives you a head start on understanding the rules of any new game you try.