Quick Reference: Klondike Solitaire Rules
Looking for a fast refresher on Solitaire rules? You’re in the right place. Here’s a concise guide to the classic Klondike Solitaire rules—ideal for players who already know the basics and just need a quick reminder.
Setup
- Use a standard 52-card deck (no jokers).
- Deal seven tableau piles: the first pile gets one card, the second gets two, and so on up to seven. Only the top card in each pile is face-up; the rest are face-down.
- The remaining cards form the stock pile.
- Four empty foundation piles are set aside for each suit.
Objective
- Move all cards to the foundation piles, building up each suit from Ace to King.
Moves
- Tableau: Build down in alternating colors (e.g., red 7 on black 8). Only face-up cards can be moved. You can move a sequence of cards if they follow descending order and alternating colors.
- Empty Tableau: Only Kings (or a valid sequence starting with a King) can be moved to an empty tableau pile.
- Stock/Waste: Click the stock to deal one card at a time to the waste pile. When the stock is empty, you may recycle the waste back to the stock (depending on your game’s rules).
- Foundations: Build up by suit from Ace to King.
- Auto-Move: Double-clicking a card may auto-move it to a foundation if allowed.
Winning
- The game is won when all cards are sorted into the four foundation piles by suit, from Ace to King.
Common Variations
- Some games allow unlimited passes through the stock; others limit you to three.
- Some versions deal three cards at a time from the stock instead of one.
Quick Tips
- Uncover face-down cards in the tableau as soon as possible.
- Don’t rush to move cards to the foundation—sometimes you’ll need them in the tableau.
- Use empty tableau spaces wisely for Kings and sequences.
Need more details? Check out our How to Play Solitaire guide for a full step-by-step walkthrough.
Other Solitaire Variants
Klondike is the most popular Solitaire game, but it’s far from the only one. Each variant changes the rules, layout, or strategy — try them all for free:
- Klondike Solitaire – The classic version with alternating-color sequences and a stock pile.
- FreeCell Solitaire – All 52 cards are visible from the start. Use four free cells as temporary storage to plan your moves. Nearly every deal is winnable.
- Spider Solitaire – Uses two decks and requires building same-suit sequences. Available in 1-suit, 2-suit, and 4-suit difficulty modes.
- Pyramid Solitaire – A math-based game where you clear a pyramid by pairing cards that add up to 13.
- TriPeaks Solitaire – Clear three peaks by chaining cards that are one rank higher or lower. Fast rounds and a high win rate.
- Yukon Solitaire – Similar to Klondike but with no stock pile. All cards are dealt face-up, and you can move groups of cards even if they aren’t in sequence.