How to play Klondike
Twenty-eight cards are dealt into seven columns: one card in the first column, two in the second and so on, with only the top card of each column face up. The other 24 cards form the stock.
- Goal: move all 52 cards to the four foundations at the top right, one suit each, from Ace up to King.
- Columns: place a card on one that is one rank higher and of the other colour – a red 6 on a black 7. You can move a whole face-up run at once.
- Empty column: only a King (with any cards below it) can fill it.
- Stock: tap it to turn cards onto the waste pile. When it runs out, tap the empty spot to turn the waste over and go through the stock again.
The three levels
| Level | Cards per draw | Passes through the stock |
|---|---|---|
| Easy | 1 | Unlimited |
| Normal | 3 | Unlimited |
| Hard | 3 | 3 |
How the points add up here
A card to a foundation earns 10 points, a card from the waste to a column 5, and every face-down card you turn over 5. Taking a card back down from a foundation costs 15 points, and with draw three every new pass through the stock costs 20. A win adds a time bonus: the faster you finish, the bigger it is.
Five habits of good solitaire players
- Play Aces and Twos at once. They are never needed in the columns.
- Free the longest hidden piles first. A move that turns over a face-down card is usually worth more than one that does not.
- Do not empty a column without a King to put there. An empty column that only a King can fill is a wasted space until one turns up.
- Do not rush the middle cards home. A red 5 on its foundation cannot hold a black 4 in a column any more – sometimes you need it a little longer.
- Watch the stock order at draw three. If you play nothing from the waste, the next pass shows the same cards again. Playing one card shifts every group of three that follows, which can bring a card you need to the top.
Undo and hints
You can undo two moves per deal, and ask for one hint every 20 seconds. The hint lights up a useful move – a card that can go home, a move that turns over a hidden card, or the stock when nothing on the table helps.
Frequently asked questions
Can every game of solitaire be won?
No. Some Klondike deals cannot be won however well you play, and with draw three more deals get stuck than with draw one. If a deal feels hopeless, start a new one – or play Easy, where you draw one card at a time.
What is the difference between draw one and draw three?
With draw one, every card of the stock becomes playable in turn. With draw three you turn three cards and can only play the top one, so most cards stay locked until a later pass – which makes the game much harder.
Why can I only undo twice?
To keep it a game of skill: with unlimited undo you could try every card until something works. Two undos per deal forgive a slip of the finger without solving the game for you.
Can I play the same deal as a friend?
Yes. Every deal has a six-character code under the table. Send it to a friend; they type it in “New game” and get exactly the same cards, so you can compare times and moves.
Does solitaire work without internet?
Yes. Once the page has been opened with internet, the game works fully offline – on a plane, too. Your game in progress is kept on your device.