Card Games
How to play Solitaire
Arrange a shuffled deck into four ordered suit foundations.
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How do you play Solitaire?
Build tableau columns downward in alternating colors. Move available aces to foundations and build each suit upward. Turn hidden tableau cards face up when uncovered. Win by moving all cards to the foundations.
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Is Solitaire a good fit for your group?
This game works especially well for groups that want a portable game with quick turns and rules that become clearer after the first deal; the listed 1-player range and 10–30 min playing time should also fit the group. Before setting up, decide whether that matches the experience your group wants today.
Rules version covered here
This guide uses the common casual version played with the materials listed below. Card-game traditions vary, so agree on dealing, scoring, and optional rules before the first hand. For Solitaire, pay particular attention to the stated setup and ending condition below.
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Learn Solitaire in under a minute
About this video
This original mini lesson covers what you need, setup, normal play, the winning condition, and one beginner tip. Continue below for the complete written guide.
INTERACTIVE LEARN-TO-PLAY
Practice Solitaire before the first round
Walk through the setup, try a sample turn, and get a quick answer when play stalls.
Deal seven tableau columns with one through seven cards.
Turn only each column’s top card face up; place the remainder as stock.
Playable example turn
Step 1 of 4
Build tableau columns downward in alternating colors.
What should we do now?
Start with this action: Build tableau columns downward in alternating colors.
Scoring and winning
Win by moving all cards to the foundations.
Common dispute to prevent
Moving cards to foundations too quickly. Agree on any edition-specific variation before the first turn.
The objective
Your goal is to arrange a shuffled deck into four ordered suit foundations. Before play begins, make sure every player can explain how the game ends and what determines the winner. That one check prevents many mid-game disagreements.
What you need
A standard 52-card deck. Lay out every required item before teaching the rules. If pieces, cards, controllers, or play space are missing, resolve that before the practice turn.
How to set up
- Deal seven tableau columns with one through seven cards.
- Turn only each column’s top card face up; place the remainder as stock.
Setup check: Ask one player who did not arrange the game to compare the table, field, or screen with these steps. A fresh look often catches an incorrect starting position.
How to play: step by step
- Build tableau columns downward in alternating colors.
- Move available aces to foundations and build each suit upward.
- Turn hidden tableau cards face up when uncovered.
- Win by moving all cards to the foundations.
Example first round
A useful first-round walkthrough for Solitaire begins this way: Build tableau columns downward in alternating colors. Next, move available aces to foundations and build each suit upward. Continue in normal turn order until the ending condition applies: win by moving all cards to the foundations.
How scoring and winning work
- The result is determined by the guide's stated objective: Arrange a shuffled deck into four ordered suit foundations.
- The final step explains when play stops: Win by moving all cards to the foundations.
- For the most common rules question, use this clarification consistently: In Klondike, only a king or a sequence beginning with a king.
Useful variations
- For younger learners, keep hands visible during a practice deal and remove the score until turn order is familiar.
- For a shorter session, announce a stopping time before starting; 10–30 min is the normal planning range for Solitaire.
- When playing with beginners, demonstrate this strategy before scoring begins: Reveal hidden cards before making less useful moves.
Beginner strategies
- Reveal hidden cards before making less useful moves.
- Keep empty columns available for kings.
Choose one of these ideas for the first game instead of trying to remember every strategy at once. Afterward, identify one decision that changed the result and one move you would test next time.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Moving cards to foundations too quickly.
- Ignoring moves that expose face-down cards.
If an illegal move is discovered, pause and agree on the least disruptive correction. For casual play, consistency and a shared understanding matter more than reconstructing many turns.
Frequently asked questions
Can any card fill an empty column?
In Klondike, only a king or a sequence beginning with a king.
Is every deal solvable?
No, not every random Klondike deal can be won.
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