How to Play Solitaire: Setup, PDF Rules, and Strategies

Klondike uses a standard 52-card deck (or you can play Solitaire online for free). Below, we’ll walk you through the setup and rules, and you can download our PDF if you want a cheat sheet.

Klondike Solitaire Objective

To win Solitaire, you must sort all cards into the four foundation piles, organized by suit and built from Ace to King.

Solitaire Set Up

• Deal seven columns from left to right to form the tableau. The first column gets one card, the second gets two, and so on until the seventh column has seven cards, with the top card in each column face up.
• Use the remaining 24 cards to form the stockpile (or draw pile) and leave space for the waste pile to the right of the stock.
  • If you’re playing with real cards, it’s easiest to place the stockpile in front of you below the tableau.
  • Online Solitaire games typically put the stockpile above the top left corner of the tableau.
• Leave room above the tableau for the four foundation piles.

How to Play Solitaire

Solitaire can be broken down into three simple rules: arrange cards, build foundations, and draw from the stock.

Start by arranging cards in the tableau and moving aces to the foundation piles as they appear. Then, use the stockpile to draw new cards and continue play, building sequences in the tableau and moving cards to the foundations until all cards are sorted and you win.

Step 1: Arrange cards.

• You can move any face-up card. At the beginning of the game, only the top card of each column is moveable.
• In the tableau, you can place a card on another that is one rank higher and the opposite color, so a 10♦ can go on a J♠. Uncovered cards are flipped face-up.
• Cards sequenced in descending order, alternating color (J♠, 10♦, 9♣ ) can move as a group.
• Cards can move:
  • Between tableau piles
  • From the waste pile to the tableau or foundation
  • From the tableau to a foundation
  • From a foundation pile back to the tableau
• Only Kings can fill empty columns.

Step 2: Build the foundation piles.

• An Ace of each suit starts each foundation pile. Move Aces as soon as they’re available.
• Once an Ace is in place, build the pile in ascending order (A, 2, 3, 4…K) by suit.

Step 3: Draw from the stockpile.

• Flip a card from the stockpile face-up into the waste pile when you run out of moves. This card can be played on a tableau pile or foundation pile.
  • If you are playing Turn 1 (easier), flip one card at a time.
  • If you are playing Turn 3 (harder), flip three cards at a time. Only the top waste card is playable. Since you can’t access every card when flipping through the stockpile, it’s more challenging to reach buried cards and plan your moves in the tableau and foundations.
• When all cards are flipped face-up into the waste pile, you can turn them back over to restart the stockpile. Repeat this process as many times as needed.

Keep moving cards and building your foundation piles until you run out of moves or win the game by completing all four foundation piles.

Strategies to Start Your Winning Streak

While the rules are simple, choosing the right moves can make or break your Solitaire game. Keep these strategies in mind for the best chances of winning.

• Prioritize moves that flip a facedown card: You need every card to win Solitaire, and the more you uncover, the more options you’ll have for building sequences and foundation piles. Prioritize moves that reveal hidden tableau cards first.
• Move cards from the waste pile thoughtfully: Don’t just place cards in the tableau because you can. Consider how each move affects future plays. Moving a card to the tableau without a plan can block future moves and limit your options later in the game.
• Keep red and black suits in balance when sending cards to the foundation. When moving cards to the foundation piles, try to keep red and black suits balanced. If you build up one color too fast, it can limit your sequencing options in the tableau.
• Don’t clear a column unless you have a plan for that empty space. There are only seven tableau columns, so an empty column reduces your space for maneuvering cards. Only clear a column if you have a King ready to move there.

Playing Today on SolitaireStreak

Now that you know how to play Solitaire, put your skills to the test on SolitaireStreak! We help you customize your experience with different background colors, card designs, and game features to build the game your way. Start your winning streak today!

Solitaire Rules FAQs