10 Solitaire Myths Debunked
Solitaire has been played for over 250 years, and in that time, a lot of misconceptions have taken root. Some are harmless, some are wrong, and some actively hurt your game. Let’s set the record straight.
Myth 1: “Every Solitaire Game Is Winnable”
The Truth: Not even close.
In Klondike Solitaire, computer analysis shows that approximately 79-82% of deals are theoretically winnable with perfect play. That means roughly 1 in 5 games is impossible no matter what you do.
The exception is FreeCell, where 99.999% of deals are solvable. But even FreeCell has at least one famously unsolvable deal (#11982).
Bottom line: If you’re losing some Klondike games, it’s not always your fault — some deals were never meant to be won.
Myth 2: “Solitaire Is Just Luck”
The Truth: Strategy matters enormously.
Yes, the initial deal introduces randomness. But consider this:
- Average Klondike players win ~30% of games
- Skilled Klondike players win 60-80% of solvable games
- Expert FreeCell players win 99%+ of games (where luck is zero)
That massive gap between beginners and experts is pure skill. Even in luck-heavy variants like Klondike, choosing when to move cards to foundations, which columns to uncover, and how to use empty spaces produces dramatically different outcomes.
If Solitaire were just luck, everyone would have the same win rate. They don’t.
Myth 3: “There’s Only One Kind of Solitaire”
The Truth: There are over 500 documented variants.
Most people think “Solitaire” means Klondike — the version Microsoft shipped with Windows. But the Solitaire family includes:
- Tableau-building games: Klondike, FreeCell, Yukon
- Multi-deck strategy games: Spider
- Pairing/matching games: Pyramid
- Sequence games: TriPeaks
Plus hundreds more like Canfield, Golf, Forty Thieves, Scorpion, Accordion, and Clock. If you’ve only played Klondike, you’ve barely scratched the surface.
Myth 4: “Always Move Cards to the Foundation Immediately”
The Truth: Sometimes keeping cards in the tableau is strategically correct.
This is one of the most common strategic errors. While the foundations are the goal, moving cards there too eagerly can lock you out of useful moves:
- A red 5 in the foundation can’t serve as a base for a black 4 in the tableau
- Building foundations unevenly (one at 8, another at 2) reduces your tableau flexibility
- In Spider, there are no foundations during play — you build sequences entirely in the tableau
Better approach: Move cards to foundations when both cards of the opposite color and one rank lower are already on foundations. Otherwise, consider keeping them in play.
Myth 5: “Solitaire Is a Waste of Time”
The Truth: Research shows genuine cognitive and mental health benefits.
Studies have linked card games like Solitaire to:
- Improved working memory — holding multiple pieces of information in mind
- Better decision-making — evaluating options and predicting outcomes
- Stress reduction — focusing on a solvable problem reduces anxiety
- Cognitive maintenance — mentally stimulating activities may slow age-related decline
Microsoft Solitaire was inducted into the World Video Game Hall of Fame in 2019 specifically because of its positive cultural impact. Short mental breaks — including card games — have been shown to improve overall productivity.
Myth 6: “Solitaire Was Invented by One Person”
The Truth: No one knows who invented Solitaire.
There’s no single inventor. The earliest known references to Patience-style card games appear in Northern European texts from the 1760s-1780s. The games likely evolved gradually from fortune-telling practices and multi-player card games.
The claim that Napoleon invented Solitaire during his exile (1815-1821) is popular but unsubstantiated. He may have played Patience games, but they existed long before his exile.
Myth 7: “Draw 3 Klondike Is Unfair”
The Truth: Draw 3 is harder but not unfair — it’s the original “full” version.
Draw 1 (turning one card at a time) was actually the simplified variant. Draw 3 is the traditional Klondike difficulty. It’s legitimately harder because you can only access every third card in the stock, but it’s working as designed.
The numbers: Draw 1 has a theoretical win rate of ~40-50% for skilled players; Draw 3 drops to ~30-40%. The difficulty increase comes from restricted stock access, not unfairness.
If Draw 3 frustrates you, play Draw 1 — there’s nothing wrong with choosing the difficulty that matches your enjoyment level.
Myth 8: “You Should Always Play a King to an Empty Column”
The Truth: Only play a King there if it helps your overall strategy.
In Klondike, only Kings can fill empty columns. Many players automatically move any available King to an empty space. But empty columns are valuable resources — filling one should have a specific purpose:
- Does the King have useful cards behind it that need uncovering?
- Will this King-led column help you build toward completing a suit?
- Do you have other productive uses for this space first?
Sometimes it’s better to leave a column empty for a few moves, using it as temporary workspace, rather than filling it with a King that doesn’t advance your game.
Myth 9: “Solitaire Is Only for Old People”
The Truth: Solitaire is one of the most broadly played games across all demographics.
Microsoft reports 35+ million monthly active users globally, spanning every age group. Solitaire consistently ranks among the top mobile game downloads for players aged 18-35. The game’s appeal — short sessions, no social obligation, satisfying strategy — isn’t age-specific.
Solitaire’s association with older demographics comes largely from its presence on Windows computers in the 1990s-2000s. But mobile platforms have introduced the game to entirely new generations of players.
Myth 10: “FreeCell Is Easier Than Klondike”
The Truth: It depends on what you mean by “easier.”
- Win rate: FreeCell is far easier to win (80-99% vs. 30-50%)
- Strategy depth: FreeCell requires deeper, more complex thinking
- Skill ceiling: FreeCell’s skill ceiling is much higher
- Perfect play: Maintaining a FreeCell win streak of 999+ games requires enormous skill and focus
FreeCell is easier to win but harder to master. The game is “easy” only in the sense that you’ll win most games. Playing optimally — minimizing moves, maintaining long win streaks, solving the hardest deals — is extraordinarily difficult.
The Facts in Summary
| Myth | Reality |
|---|---|
| Every game is winnable | ~18-21% of Klondike deals are impossible |
| It’s just luck | Skill gap between beginners and experts: 30% vs. 80% |
| There’s only one Solitaire | 500+ variants exist |
| Always play to foundation | Sometimes keeping cards in tableau is better |
| It’s a waste of time | Genuine cognitive and stress benefits |
| One person invented it | Unknown origin, 1760s+ European evolution |
| Draw 3 is unfair | Harder by design, not broken |
| Always fill empty columns | Empty columns have strategic value |
| Only for old people | 35M+ monthly players across all ages |
| FreeCell is easier than Klondike | Higher win rate, but deeper strategy |
Now that you know the truth, play Solitaire online with the knowledge to beat the myths — and the games.