How to Play Yukon Solitaire: Rules, Strategy & Tips

How to Play Yukon Solitaire: The Complete Guide

Yukon Solitaire is often described as “Klondike for experts.” It removes the stock pile entirely, deals all cards to the tableau, and introduces a powerful flexible movement rule that creates unique strategic opportunities. If you’ve mastered Klondike Solitaire and want a deeper challenge, Yukon is your natural next step.

With a win rate of approximately 25%, Yukon is genuinely challenging — but the satisfaction of solving a complex Yukon deal by using its unique movement mechanics is unmatched.

Want to play right now? Play Yukon Solitaire free online →

How Yukon Differs from Klondike

If you know Klondike, you’re 80% of the way to understanding Yukon. Here are the key differences:

The two big differences are: no stock pile and flexible group movement.

Setup

All 52 cards from a standard deck are dealt to seven columns:

• Column 1: 1 card (face-up)
• Column 2: 1 face-down, 1 face-up, plus 4 face-up = 6 cards
• Column 3: 2 face-down, 1 face-up, plus 4 face-up = 7 cards
• Column 4: 3 face-down, 1 face-up, plus 4 face-up = 8 cards
• Column 5: 4 face-down, 1 face-up, plus 4 face-up = 9 cards
• Column 6: 5 face-down, 1 face-up, plus 4 face-up = 10 cards
• Column 7: 6 face-down, 1 face-up, plus 4 face-up = 11 cards

The face-down structure is the same as Klondike. The difference is that each column (except column 1) receives 4 extra face-up cards dealt on top. This puts all 52 cards on the table with no stock or waste pile.

Four empty foundation piles sit above the tableau.

How to Play: Step by Step

Step 1: Build Foundations (Same as Klondike)

Move cards to the four foundation piles by suit in ascending order: Ace → 2 → 3 → … → Queen → King

Step 2: Build the Tableau (Same as Klondike)

Place cards in descending rank with alternating colors:

• Black 9 on Red 10 ✓
• Red Queen on Black King ✓

Step 3: Move Groups Flexibly (Yukon’s Unique Rule)

This is what makes Yukon special. You can pick up any face-up card along with all cards on top of it — even if those cards are NOT in proper sequence. As long as the bottom card of the group lands on a valid target (opposite color, one rank higher), the move is legal.

Example: Imagine a column has (from bottom to top): face-down, face-down, Red 8, Black 3, Red Jack, Black 5.

• You can move the Red 8 + Black 3 + Red Jack + Black 5 as a group to a Black 9 column
• The Red 8 lands on Black 9 (valid: opposite color, one rank higher)
• The cards above it (Black 3, Red Jack, Black 5) come along for the ride regardless of their order

This ability to move unsequenced groups is incredibly powerful for accessing buried cards.

Step 4: Reveal Hidden Cards

When you move cards off a face-down card, it automatically flips face-up. Since there’s no stock pile, revealing face-down cards is your primary way to access new cards.

Step 5: Fill Empty Columns with Kings

Only Kings (or groups led by a King) can be placed in empty columns — same rule as Klondike.

Step 6: Win the Game

Build all four foundations from Ace to King by suit.

Winning Strategies

Strategy 1: Reveal Face-Down Cards Above All Else

This is the #1 priority in Yukon. Every hidden card you reveal gives you more options. Since there’s no stock pile, uncovering face-down cards is your only source of new information.

Target columns with the most face-down cards first.

Strategy 2: Use Flexible Movement Aggressively

The flexible movement rule is your most powerful tool. Don’t think of it as “moving junk along with the card you want” — think of it as a way to dig through columns to reach buried cards.

Even if a move seems “messy” (moving an unsequenced pile), it’s often worth it if it reveals a face-down card.

Strategy 3: Build Foundations Gradually

Don’t rush cards to the foundations. In Yukon, you frequently need tableau cards as intermediate landing spots. A premature foundation move can lock you out of the sequence you need to uncover a critical card.

Safe to move early: Aces and 2s (rarely needed in tableau) Be cautious with: 4s, 5s, 6s (often needed as middle-sequence landing spots)

Strategy 4: Plan for Empty Columns

Empty columns are valuable but can only hold Kings. Before emptying a column:

• Do you have a King ready to fill it?
• Will the King help you uncover more face-down cards?
• Is there a better use for the cards currently in the column?

Strategy 5: Focus on the Longest Columns

Columns with the most face-down cards are your biggest bottleneck. Concentrate your early efforts on these columns — if you can’t uncover their hidden cards, you’ll run out of moves.

Strategy 6: Think Several Moves Ahead

Since most cards are visible, Yukon rewards deep tactical planning. Before making a move, trace the chain: “If I move A, that reveals B, which lets me move C, which creates an empty column for King D…”

Common Mistakes

1. Moving to foundations too early. You’ll need tableau cards as stepping stones. Keep 3s, 4s, 5s, and 6s available.
2. Ignoring the flexible movement rule. New Yukon players often play it like Klondike — forgetting they can move unsequenced groups. Use this rule constantly.
3. Not prioritizing face-down reveals. Without a stock pile, revealed cards are your only source of new possibilities.
4. Emptying columns without a King ready. An empty column with no King to fill it is a waste.
5. Focusing only on short columns. The longest columns with the most hidden cards are your priority.

Yukon vs Other Variants

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