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Overview

Klondike Solitaire

1 player · 3-15 min per session

Move all cards to the four foundation piles, building each suit from Ace to King.

Players: 1P Session length: 3-15 min

Card

Goal & Core Rules

Move all cards to the four foundation piles, building each suit from Ace to King.

In the tableau, build down in alternating colors (e.g., red 7 on black 8).
Only Kings (or a King-run) may be moved to an empty tableau column.
Foundations build up by suit from Ace to King.
Draw from the stock to the waste; depending on the variant, you draw 1 card (Draw-1) or 3 cards (Draw-3).
You win when all 52 cards are moved to the foundations.

Easy

Draw 1 card at a time, with unlimited redeals from waste back to stock.

Normal

Draw 1 card at a time, but you may recycle the stock only 3 times.

Hard

Draw 3 cards at a time, with only 1 stock recycle available.

Expert

Draw 3 cards at a time, with no stock recycle allowed.

Controls

Mouse

Click a card to select it
Click a target pile to try the move
Click stock: draw to waste
Use the Auto Sort button or menu to send available cards to foundations

Keyboard

The current web build does not provide dedicated keyboard controls.

Touch

Tap a card to select it
Tap a target pile to try the move
Tap stock: draw
Use the Auto Sort button or menu to send available cards to foundations

Beginner Tips

Prioritize revealing face-down tableau cards—information is power.
Avoid moving cards to foundations too early if it blocks building sequences in the tableau.
Create empty columns when possible; they give you flexibility to reorganize.

Advanced Tips

Track both colors: freeing a red card is only useful if its black partner can be placed soon.
In Draw-3, plan waste cycling—sometimes the best move is one that changes the draw order.
Delay committing to a column move if it removes a key ‘parking spot’ for alternating-color builds.

Origins & History

Klondike is the best-known solitaire/patience game. Its earliest published rules under the name ‘Seven-Card Klondike’ appear in Hoyle’s Games (1907). The game reached a massive audience through computer versions, notably Microsoft Solitaire bundled with Windows starting in 1990.

Timeline

1907 Rules for ‘Seven-Card Klondike’ appear in Hoyle’s Games.
1990 A Klondike version (“Microsoft Solitaire”) is included with Windows 3.0, boosting global popularity.

Sources

Klondike (solitaire) — Wikipedia

FAQ

Is every Klondike deal winnable?

No. Depending on the rules and the shuffle, some deals are unwinnable even with perfect play.

Which is easier: Draw-1 or Draw-3?

Draw-1 is usually easier because you see and can access cards more directly.

When should I move cards to the foundation?

Generally when it doesn’t reduce your ability to build and reveal cards in the tableau—tableau flexibility often comes first.