How to play
Klondike Solitaire Strategy: Rules, Foundations, and Stock Play
Tap to read the full guide
How to play
Klondike Solitaire Strategy: Rules, Foundations, and Stock Play
Tap to read the full guide
Rules quick reference
Klondike uses one standard 52-card deck. Seven tableau columns are dealt with one through seven cards; only the top card of each column starts face up. The remaining twenty-four cards form the stock. Four foundations build ace through king by suit. The waste pile holds cards drawn from the stock.
| Action | Standard rule | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Build on tableau | Descending rank, alternating colours | A red 6 may sit on a black 7 |
| Empty column | Accepts a king only | Empty space is scarce and precious |
| Foundation | Ace first, then same suit ascending | Clearing all four wins the sitting |
| Stock draw | Turn 1 or Turn 3 onto the waste | Only the top waste card can move |
| Recycle | Empty stock flips the waste face-down again | Cycling costs moves but reveals buried cards |
A movable tableau stack must itself be a descending alternating-colour run of face-up cards. Face-down cards stay buried until the card above them leaves. Revealing hidden cards is usually more valuable early than neat-looking colour chains that cover nothing new.
Opening priorities
Prefer moves that turn a face-down card. A transfer that only tidies an already open column can wait. Build toward foundations when the ace or next rank is free and doing so does not bury a key connector on the tableau.
In Turn 3, think one cycle ahead. Playing the top waste card can expose the second and third; refusing a mediocre play may be correct if it keeps a later cycle healthier. Empty columns should usually wait for a king that unlocks buried cards, not the first available king in sight.
Common mistakes
Filling an empty column too early. A king with nowhere useful beneath it turns working space into another blocked pile.
Chasing foundations blindly. Moving every possible card up can remove landing places you need for uncovering the tableau.
Ignoring the waste cycle. In Turn 3 especially, count how many draws remain before recycle and which ranks will surface.
Restarting at the first snag. Awkward positions teach move order. Ask which face-down card matters most, what blocks it, and where that blocker can go.
Frequently asked questions
- What can go in an empty Klondike column?
- Only a king, or a movable descending alternating-color stack headed by a king. Unlike FreeCell or Spider, empty space is reserved for kings.
- What is the difference between Turn 1 and Turn 3?
- Turn 1 draws one stock card at a time onto the waste. Turn 3 draws up to three cards; only the top waste card is playable. Turn 3 deals are usually harder because deeper waste cards stay buried until you cycle the stock.
- Can I move cards down from a foundation?
- Yes in this table version. Pulling a foundation card back to the tableau can unblock a colour build, but it costs a move and should be rare.
- Is every Klondike deal winnable?
- No. Some shuffles cannot be solved even with perfect play, especially in Turn 3. Strong play improves the win rate, but restarting a dead layout is normal.