How to Play Klondike Solitaire

The complete guide to the world's most popular card game

What is Klondike Solitaire?

Klondike is the classic solitaire card game most people simply call "Solitaire." Played with a single standard 52-card deck, the goal is to sort all cards into four Foundation piles — one per suit — in ascending order from Ace to King.

Game Layout

A Klondike game starts with the following areas:

Tableau (7 columns): Cards are dealt into seven columns. Column 1 gets 1 card, column 2 gets 2, and so on up to 7. Only the top card of each column is face-up.
Stock pile: The remaining 24 cards are placed face-down. Click or tap to draw cards from here.
Waste pile: Drawn cards land here, face-up. The top card is available to play.
Foundations (4 piles): Start empty. Build each pile from Ace to King in a single suit (♠ ♥ ♦ ♣).

Rules

Building the Tableau

Place cards in descending order with alternating colors. For example, a black 8 goes on a red 9.
You can move a single card or an entire sequence of correctly ordered, face-up cards as a group.
When you clear or move all face-up cards from a column, the next face-down card flips over automatically.

Using the Stock

Click the Stock pile to draw cards into the Waste pile.
In Draw 1 mode, one card is turned over at a time.
In Draw 3 mode, three cards are turned at once but only the top card is playable.
When the Stock runs out, it resets from the Waste pile (in unlimited-pass games).

Building the Foundations

Start each Foundation pile with an Ace, then add cards of the same suit in ascending order: A, 2, 3 … Q, K.
Once all four Foundations are complete (Ace through King), you win!

Empty Columns

Only a King (or a group of cards starting with a King) can be placed into an empty Tableau column. This is a key strategic choice — use it wisely.

Strategy Tips

Expose Face-Down Cards

Prioritize moves that uncover hidden cards in the Tableau. More visible cards means more options.

Don't Rush to the Foundation

Sometimes keeping a low card on the Tableau is more useful than sending it to a Foundation immediately.

Use Empty Columns Wisely

Save empty columns for Kings. Placing non-King cards there wastes the space.

Play Aces and Twos Early

Low cards rarely help on the Tableau — move them to Foundations right away.

Think Ahead with Draw 3

Pay attention to the order of cards in the Waste. Planning your draws gives you more access.

Build Evenly

Keep Foundation piles at similar heights. A single tall pile can block useful Tableau moves.

Draw 1 vs Draw 3

Draw 1 is the easier mode — you see every card in the Stock one at a time. Great for beginners and casual play.

Draw 3 is the traditional, more challenging mode. Three cards are turned at once, and only the top one is immediately playable. You'll need to plan your draws more carefully.

Can Every Game Be Won?

No. Studies estimate that roughly 79% of Klondike deals are winnable with perfect play in Draw 1 mode. In Draw 3 mode the percentage is lower. Don't be discouraged — it's part of the challenge!

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