Klondike Solitaire is part of Higgster’s Games Compendium, a free app of 22+ games available for android and ios devices.
What Is Klondike Solitaire?
Klondike Solitaire is the most popular version of solitaire. The goal is to move all the cards to the four foundation piles, sorted by suit (hearts, spades, clubs, diamonds) and in order from Ace to King. You start with a messy layout of cards, some face up and some hidden. Using logic, patience, and a little luck, you work to uncover and organize the entire deck.
The Setup
The game uses a standard 52-card deck with no jokers.
- The Tableau (main play area):
7 columns of cards are laid out. The first column has 1 card, the second has 2, and so on — with only the top card in each column face up. - The Stock (draw pile):
The remaining cards form a draw pile in the upper-left corner. - The Waste (discard pile):
As you draw cards, they go here — usually one or three at a time (changeable in the settings menu, the cog in the top-right corner) - The Foundations (goal piles):
Four piles, one for each suit, where you’ll build ascending sequences from Ace to King.
How to Play Klondike Solitaire
- Look for Aces and low cards.
Move any Aces up to the foundation piles as soon as you can. Then start building each suit in order (2, 3, 4…). - Uncover face-down cards in the tableau.
Try to reveal hidden cards by clearing the ones on top. Only face-up cards can be moved. - Build descending sequences by alternating colors.
In the tableau, cards are stacked in descending order and must alternate red and black suits.
Example: 7♠ can go on 8♦. - Move whole stacks or single cards.
You can move a sequence of cards if it follows the alternating color rule — or just move one card at a time. - Normally, only Kings can fill empty columns.
If you clear a column, you can only move a King (or a stack starting with a King) into that space. (This can be turned off in the settings menu) - Use the stock wisely.
Draw cards from the stock when no moves are available — but don’t rush it. Think a few steps ahead to avoid blocking yourself.
How to Win
You win when all four foundation piles are complete, each running Ace through King in their respective suits. 🎉
Tips & Strategy
- Expose hidden cards early.
Uncovering face-down cards opens up new moves and gives you more options. - Don’t rush to the stock.
Exhaust all tableau moves before drawing from the stock. Sometimes the right move is already on the board. - Be strategic with Kings.
Don’t move a King to an empty space unless you’re sure it’ll help uncover or organize more cards. - Think a few moves ahead.
Solitaire rewards foresight. Don’t just move a card because you can — ask if you should. - Don’t give up too early.
Sometimes a small shuffle or moving a single card opens up the whole board.
Klondike Solitaire is part of Higgster’s Games Compendium, a free app of 22+ games available for android and ios devices.
