The original klondike solitaire card game that everyone has played.
Klondike Solitaire game info
Klondike Solitaire is the original card game that no doubt you already know how to play! Together with Spider Solitaire and FreeCell, Klondike Solitaire is the most well-known solitaire game. It was popularised originally by being part of Windows 3.0 when it was released in 1990. Originally it was included to help teach people how to use a mouse correctly, but surely became one of the most popular little games to fill up a few minutes around the globe. It's quite relaxing and offers a good chance of winning with some basic playing techniques.
- Family: Klondike Solitaire Games
- Decks: One deck (52 cards)
- Game time: Short
- Chance of winning: Medium
Goal
The goal of the game is to move all the cards to the set of foundation cells in the top right. Each pile must start with an Ace. All the other cards must be placed in ascending numerical order (with a matching suit) on top of the appropriate foundation pile. So for example an Ace of Spades would have to be followed by the Two of Spades which would be followed by a Three of Spades and so on.
Layout & deal
Klondike Solitaire is played with a standard deck of 52 cards with all jokers removed. The tableau has 7 piles. The first pile is dealt 1 card, the second pile 2 cards, and so on. Only the top card in each pile is face-up. The rest of the cards go face-down into the stock. The waste and foundation are empty at the start.
Allowable moves
After you have dealt out the set-up you will have 22 cards remaining. These are turned over in groups of three (klondike draw 3) for a harder game or one by one for an easier game (klondike draw 1). The cards are turned over onto the previous cards so they can be used if you move a card to the layout or foundation. You can either pass through the remaining deck of cards once for a harder game or as many times as you like for an easier game. The most common choice for players is to turn over groups of three cards while allowing yourself to pass through the deck as many times as you like.
You can move a card to another column in the layout if it is one lower and in an alternate color to the card being moved. So for example you can move a black 6 onto a red 7.
Groups of cards can be moved between the columns of cards in the layout. They must be placed in descending numerical order and with alternating colors (e.g. Red King, Black Queen, Red Jack, Black 10, Red 9).
Only a King or a group of cards beginning with a King can be placed on an empty cell in the layout area.
Turn over any face down cards in the columns as soon as they are free.
Turn the deck over, located in the top left, to reveal more cards.
Keep playing until you can't find any more moves or until you win by moving all the cards to foundations.
Scoring
For each card moved from the waste to the tableau, you get 5 points. For each card in the tableau which is flipped, you get 5 points. For each card moved to the foundation (from the tableau or from the waste) you get 10 points. Moving a card from the foundation to the tableau will cost you 15 points.
Variants
In Double Solitaire you play solitaire against the computer, completing a deal as fast as possible. FreeCell Klondike is a cross between FreeCell and Klondike. Wild West Solitaire follows the same rules as Klondike, with only one difference: you can place any card (rather than just the King) on an empty column. The layout of Agnes 2 resembles the Klondike layout, however in Agnes 2 all cards in the tableau are face-up.
How to win Klondike Solitaire
Okay, so now you are familiar with the rules, here are tricks to help you win klondike solitaire.
- The most obvious tip is to immediately move Aces when they are available, hopefully freeing up a useful card.
- When you have a choice of either moving a card in the layout or bringing a card down from the remaining deck cards, it is better to choose to move cards in the layout. The only exception to this might be if you remember the previous card (or in the three card deal version) becomes useful to you once the current card is used.
- Don't immediately place any cards that are three or higher onto the foundation as they can sometimes be useful for placing new cards into the layout, unless of course putting a card on the foundation frees up a new card in one of the columns.
FAQ
How to set up Klondike Solitaire? Start with dealing cards to the 7 tableau piles, one card to the first pile, two cards to the second pile, and so on. Make sure that all cards are face-down, except the top cards in each pile. Put the rest of the cards into the stock.
How to win at Klondike Solitaire? Always move cards you will not need anymore immediately to the foundation, e.g. you will never need Aces and Twos so you can just move them to the foundations if possible. Watch out with moving higher ranked cards (Threes and higher) immediately to the foundation, because sometimes you need them further in the game. A last tip is to move cards in the tableau when possible, and prefer this over bringing a card down from the waste to the tableau.
