Download the appDOWNLOAD
top banner

Solitaire Game

Solitaire is a popular single-player patience card game that’s been played for generations. The game is often called 'patience' in Europe and 'Klondike' in North America. It involves arranging all 52 cards to create four different card piles in a sequence and alternative colours.

The Solitaire game has witnessed a rise in popularity and playtime with online availability. Online platforms allow players to enjoy this famed patience game anywhere and anytime without a physical deck of 52 cards.

Solitaire online also allows players to compete against other players around the globe. As a result, card game enthusiasts can enjoy an immersive experience by connecting with players worldwide.

Solitaire, undoubtedly, is a great way to pass the time, sharpen one's mind and increase focus. It requires strategy, patience, and continuous practice to win the game. This game is a sure-shot way to hours of entertainment, independent of the physical or digital version of the game.

With that said, let’s learn more about the game and its multiple aspects.

Solitaire Card Game Objective

The objective of the Solitaire Card game is to arrange all cards in sequential and alternative colour order from Ace to King in minimum time or number of moves. It is played with a standard deck of 52 cards and starts with seven piles of cards, with the first pile having one card and the last having seven cards.

To win the Solitaire game, you must move the cards around as per the game rules to build up the foundation piles, moving the cards from the tableau piles. The game ends once you successfully transfer all the cards from the tableau columns to the foundation piles.

Solitaire online offers the same objective and gameplay as the traditional game but with the added convenience of playing on a digital platform. As a result, players can enjoy the game anytime, anywhere on the go

Solitaire online also offers a variety of game modes, such as Klondike and Spider Solitaire, providing a range of challenges for players of all skill levels.

Solitaire Game Setup

The Solitaire Card Game setup is divided into five aspects.

Discard/remove the jokers or instructional cards before shuffling and playing the card game physically. The cards are automatically rearranged and distributed in two separate piles when playing the game online. Two piles are kept empty for card distribution further along the game.

There are a total of four different piles in the game and they are:

Tableau

Tableau is the collection of seven rows of piles where the cards are automatically distributed systematically. Each row consists of a set of cards wherein the top card in each row of the tableau is a face-up card. The remaining cards in the piles are face-down.

The number of cards in each row increases by one from left to right. The first row has only one face up card. The second row has two cards with the top card placed face up. The third row has three cards with the top card being face up. This arrangement continues until there are seven rows of piles in total with the last row having seven cards with its top card placed face up.

The player arranges these cards in descending order with alternative colours (black-red/red-black). It means the lowest-ranking card, Ace, will be on the beginning of the pile. On the other hand, the highest-ranking card, King, will be at the end of the tableau.

Foundations

Foundations are the four empty piles in the top right corner of the table or screen. There is a respective pile for each card suit. The cards are arranged in these piles in ascending order according to their suits, starting with Aces and ending with Kings.

Stock Pile

Stock is a single pile of face-down cards kept in the top-left corner. It opens three cards or one card (depending on the game format/setting) at a time and the player can use those cards to arrange them in the tableau.

Waste Pile

The pile of face-up cards next to the Stockpile is called the Waste Pile. The cards are drawn from the Stockpile and shown in the waste pile. You can use any of these cards and move them in the tableau.

How to Play Solitaire Card Game: Game Rules

As discussed before, the objective of the player is to arrange the cards in the foundation pile in an ascending order, starting from Ace and ending with King, suit-wise in a solitaire card game.

A player needs to follow the game rules to play the Solitaire Card Game. Let's discuss them one by one.

  • When you start a game, check if any face-up cards on the tableau pile are Ace. If yes, move them to the foundation pile right away before rearranging any other cards. The Ace card automatically moves to the foundation pile in games on certain online applications.
  • The next step is to move the face-up card to another pile in the tableau if you cannot transfer it to the foundation pile. It is imperative to remember that the card you’re moving must be of lower rank and a different colour than the face-up card of the stack it is moved to.

Note: You can also move a pile of cards in a single move if the cards are arranged in descending sequence and alternating colours together.

  • Once you move the face-up or top card to the foundation or another pile in the tableau, the face-down card beneath the card you repositioned will automatically turn face-up. Move the newly revealed face-down card to the foundation or another pile in the tableau as per sequence.
  • While playing the game, you may be unable to move the top card to another pile in the tableau or the foundation. Open the face-down cards from the Stock in such a situation by clicking on them.
  • The click action on Stockpile will open the first three cards or the top card (depending on the website or variation of the Solitaire game online) to the Waste pile. Move the desired card from the Waste Pile to the tableau or the foundation. Click on the Stockpile to open more cards until you see your desired card in the Waste pile.

Note: You must continue to click on the Stockpile and open the face-up playing cards in a free solitaire game online until you can transfer the cards to the foundation or tableau pile.

  • In some cases, you might need to start a new pile on one of the empty rows of the tableau while playing the Solitaire game online. It is permissible only after you transfer the highest card, king, to the top position, following which the pile of the tableau follows the general ranking rule to move the card.
  • Keep playing the moves explained above until you’ve completed the sequence for all four suits of the cards and arranged them in descending order in a pile of the tableau and moved them to the foundation.

Solitaire Game Variations

The Solitaire game has many variations, each with unique rules and challenges. One of the most popular variations is the Klondike Solitaire card game, popularly referred to as the classic version of the Solitaire game.

Other popular variations of the Solitaire card game include Spider Solitaire, Freecell, Pyramid Solitaire and more. Each variation has a different gameplay technique and strategy, providing players with challenges and entertainment.

Solitaire online allows players to play these and other versions anywhere and anytime, including in the comfort of their homes. Players can explore and enjoy the various versions of this game, which offers endless hours of entertainment and fun.

1. Klondike Solitaire

Klondike Solitaire is the classic version of the Solitaire card game and is one of the most popular variations. It is played with a standard deck of 52 cards and involves moving cards around to build stacks in ascending order. v

The game starts with seven card piles, with the first pile having one card and the last having seven cards. The player must move cards around to create the necessary sequences and move them to the foundation piles in the correct order.

Klondike Solitaire is a challenging game that requires strategy and patience to win. Technology advancement has allowed players to enjoy the Klondike Solitaire anytime and anywhere on their digital devices.

2. Spider Solitaire

Spider Solitaire is one of the most challenging and popular variations among players. It is a popular variation of the Solitaire card game that’s played with two decks of cards.

Spider Solitaire features two card decks for the gameplay and ten tableau piles in the layout. It involves creating ten stacks, in which the first four piles have six cards while the remaining stacks have five cards. The top card in each column of the tableau is a face-up card.

In this Solitaire Card Game variation, players place cards in descending order within the same suit in tableau piles. In Klondike, you've to arrange cards in alternated coloured suits. However, you'll need to reposition the cards in Spider Solitaire according to their designs in descending order.

Once you position the cards in descending order, the stack moves to the foundation pile. A total of eight stacks are shifted to the foundation pile to win the game.

3. FreeCell Solitaire

Freecell Solitaire is a variation of Solitaire played with a standard deck of 52 cards. It involves creating four foundation piles for each suit in ascending order.

Apart from the eight tableau and four foundation piles, it has four storage piles to keep cards when playing this famed version of Solitaire card games. Four columns in the tableau generally have seven face-up cards, while the remaining have six cards.

You can only move one card at a time in Freecell Solitaire online. The goal is to move all cards to the four foundation piles as per their suit.

One of the main reasons for the popularity of Freecell Solitaire is that it allows the free movement of cards, which provides better control and strategic options to the player. As a result, the game becomes more challenging, requires both skill and strategy and is more fun to play.v

4. Pyramid Solitaire

As the name suggests, Pyramid Solitaire gets its name from the layout of the cards dealt on the tableau, which is shaped like a Pyramid. It uses a standard deck of 52 cards to play the game.

Pyramid Solitaire card game online involves building a pyramid of cards, with each row having an additional card and the final row having seven cards. Its objective is to remove all cards by pairing them with other cards to get a combined value of 13.

Another interesting fact about the Pyramid Solitaire card game is that the card suits do not matter to the pairs. Players can draw only one card at a time from the Stock to find a match for cards laid on the pyramid.

5. Golf Solitaire

Played with a deck of 52 cards, this variation gets its name from the game layout, where the system lays out the cards in the shape of a golf course and each card represents a 'hole.'

The objective of the Golf Solitaire online game is to move all cards to the foundation pile. Cards are placed automatically on each other in ascending or descending order with the same suit.

The game involves creating seven columns of cards with the top card of each column facing up while the remaining cards are placed in a draw pile. It is advisable to strategically move cards from the columns to the foundation pile to avoid getting stuck with the unusable cards.

The popularity of Golf Solitaire is because it allows players to 'cheat' by taking a mulligan, meaning they can undo their last move. It is imperative to use these mulligans wisely since each player gets only a limited number of these.

6. Yukon Solitaire

The Yukon Solitaire variation is also played with a standard deck of 52 cards. It involves creating four foundation piles, starting with an Ace and ending with a King. The remaining cards end up in a draw pile.

In this game, players must move the cards after thorough consideration from the draw pile and seven columns to the foundation piles while avoiding getting stuck with unusable cards.

When you enjoy Yukon Solitaire gameplay online, you can use all the cards to form a seven-tableau pile at the beginning of the game. Players can move groups of face-up cards within the tableau irrespective of their sequence.

However, differences exist between the Solitaire card game and the Yukon Solitaire game variation and they are:

  • Yukon Solitaire does not contain stock and talon piles.
  • Creating columns is not restricted to alternate suits, meaning you can arrange the column in any suit.

7. Forty Thieves Solitaire

The Forty Thieves Solitaire game involves two standard decks of 52 cards. It gets its name from the 40 cards distributed in the tableau, which consists of 10 columns with four face-up cards in each column.

The objective of Forty Thieves Solitaire is that the players have to use two decks of cards to create all eight suits in the foundation pile, from ace to king. The system arranges the cards in the Stock and the players can use it to draw the cards only after the game begins.

Unlike all other Solitaire variations, you need to move cards as per their respective suits and the empty tableau piles can be filled with any card in this variation.

Forty Thieves Solitaire is a game enjoyed by beginners and experienced players alike. It tests logic and problem-solving abilities, making it an ideal way to pass the time and exercise your mind.

8. Canfield Solitaire

Canfield Solitaire uses one standard deck of 52 cards in which the user has to create four foundation piles, each of a different suit, starting from Ace to ending with King.

However, there is a major difference between Canfield Solitaire and all the other versions of Solitaire card games. Here, the first card played on the foundation pile forms the base for the remaining stacks in the foundation.

The system randomly assigns a card to the first foundation deck and this card will act as the base for all the other cards. The game setup consists of a reserve pile of 13 cards of which the top card is a face-up card while the remaining cards are face-down.

The game begins with a single card placed in the foundation pile. The remaining cards get distributed into the tableau piles. The first card is a face-up card, while the rest are face-down.

Players can move cards between the tableau piles to create descending sequences of alternating colours. Moreover, they can fill the empty tableau piles in the Canfield Solitaire game with any card.

It is a challenging game that requires careful planning and strategic thinking and is a great way to improve problem-solving and decision-making skills. The digital format and added features of the game have made it a game, which players of all skill levels can enjoy.

9. Tripeaks Solitaire

Tripeaks Solitaire is one of the most popular variations of the classic Solitaire card game. It is also known as Three Peaks, Triple Peaks, or Tri Towers. The game objective is to remove all the cards from the three peaks, or pyramids, by creating a sequence of cards that goes either up or down, regardless of suit.

At the beginning of Tripeaks Solitaire, a single card is placed at the top of each pyramid and only the top card of the waste pile is available for play. The remaining cards are dealt face-down into a draw pile, which the players can draw and place on the pyramids or the waste pile.

Tripeaks Solitaire is a fast-paced, challenging game due to the strategy and careful planning required to play the game.

Solitaire Game Strategy: Winning Tips

Solitaire Online is a patience and strategy card game where winning chances get better with continuous and focused practice. However, there are a few tips to help you with the game strategy that can help you improve your win rate. So, let’s get started:

  • Try to uncover hidden cards as much as possible before you start moving cards around the board. It will help you strategise better and decide what moves you can perform to win at the earliest.
  • Try to score extra 5 points by avoiding moving the cards directly from the waste pile to the foundation.
  • You must move all four Aces to the foundation at the earliest. It is because their presence in the tableau pile will restrict you from moving the remaining cards as per your desired game strategy.
  • Don’t start the empty pile in the tableau without the king. You’d be wasting the moves and won't be able to start the pile without a King.
  • Ensure the King you place in an empty pile starts forming a tableau as it will lead to more movements, take extra space and restrict you from achieving the best score.
  • To finish the game sooner and at the earliest, try to move the cards from the pile having the most face-down cards first.
  • Don’t use undo on every move or most of the time in the game. Undoing a move will only increase your number of moves, lower your score and might even lead to missing some opportunities that can help you finish the game better.

These tips, if followed, can help you improve your game strategy and increase your chances of winning the Solitaire card game.

Are Poker and Solitaire the Same?

Although Poker and Solitaire are card games that involve strategy and skill, considerable differences exist between both games. The first difference is that poker is a multiplayer game player game while solitaire is a single-player game. With that covered, let’s start learning the differences between them.

  • Solitaire is a single-player card game in which the player rearranges the cards according to the predetermined rules to win the game. On the other hand, Poker is a multiplayer game which involves multiple betting rounds in a single game and a comparison of cards. The player with the best hand wins the betting round.
  • Solitaire only requires strategic thinking and problem-solving skills, while Poker focuses on bluffing, risk-taking, psychological tactics, fundamental mathematical skills and strategic thinking and problem-solving skills.
  • Solitaire is usually a beginner-friendly game, while people with basic knowledge of card games or card-ranking players Poker. It is unideal for amateur-level gaming.
  • The objective of the Solitaire game is to sort the card into foundation piles in ascending order. However, a player aims to win the pot money (kept in the middle of the table) in Poker, collected by numerous bets people make.
  • Solitaire is played on digital devices, while you play Poker on digital devices and offline (in casinos) at a large scale.

In conclusion, Poker and Solitaire are different games that differ in their rules, gameplay and as such require a distinct set of skills to be a winner.

With that, we have covered every aspect of the Solitaire card game. Let's start playing the game right away.

Solitaire Game- FAQs

Q. What's the best solitaire game?
icon

There are three most popular Solitaire games that people usually play, including the Klondike, Spider, and FreeCell. All these Solitaire card games are easy to learn and fascinating to play. Choosing one as a favourite would be an injustice to another. However, if you are a 90's kid who played a free online Solitaire game on your computer, then Klondike can be your ultimate match. (also see - 3 2 5 card game )

Q How to play Solitaire game?
icon

Solitaire is a one-person game where you don't require any other people apart from yourself to play the game. You have to arrange the cards into seven tableau columns, with each one having one card above another and the remaining cards are under the stockpile. The objective of the Solitaire game is to take cards from the seven piles to the foundation stack (Ace cards of each suit are placed to form a chain of cards starting from ace to king).

Q How to play Solitaire game with cards?
icon

You learn how to play the Classic Solitaire game using the 52 cards deck. Here, the player has to arrange the cards into seven piles and finally place them into foundational rows. These represent four unique suits, starting from Ace to King. All these cards have to be arranged numerically according to their ranks.

Q Where can I play solitaire game for free?
icon

You can play free online Solitaire game on multiple card gaming platforms. These offer regular online matches to encourage more users to play the game. You can also play free and real money games of online card games such as Poker on PokerBaazi and add another set of skills to your bag and win real money!

Q Which Solitaire game is the hardest?
icon
A Solitaire card game is a one-person game where you need to consistently develop strategies to win the game; otherwise, every match will be tough to beat. However, some Solitaire games are challenging to win, including Solavant, Four thieves, Canfield, and scorpion.

Q What is the easiest Solitaire game?
icon

Most Solitaire games are easy to play; they just require consistent practice to win the match. If you are a beginner and try a Solitaire card game for the first time, start with Klondike, Free cell, Spider, and Yukon Solitaire. (also read- how to play poker)

Q What is easy to play poker or Solitaire?
icon

Both poker games and Solitaire card games are very different from each other. To play poker, you need to arrange five cards that form the highest rankings against each other. In contrast, to play Solitaire online, you have to take a card from the seven piles and arrange them in the foundational stack from ace to king in an ascending order. So, both games are extremely unique to be compared; however, you can try them and form your review.

Q What is the best free online Solitaire app?
icon

There are various free online apps that you can download both on iOS and Android through the Apple app store or Play store, respectively. Here you will get multiple applications to play Solitaire online games absolutely free like free poker.

Q Is there a free online Solitaire game?
icon

Yes, there are many free online games of Solitaire available online that offer various versions of Solitaire to play. You can download it on your phone through the Apple app store or Play store, depending on the phone you are using.
Play Solitaire For Free: The best platform to play Solitaire for free is on the Microsoft Solitaire collection. You can play the most famous variations of Solitaire games such as Klondike, Pyramid, Spider, Freecell and Tripeaks all at one place for free.

POkerBaazi
Poker Variation
Important Gaming Pages
POkerBaazi
Poker Accessiores
POkerBaazi
Online games
PokerBaazi