Published: August 3, 2026 | Last updated: August 3, 2026
TL;DR
- Solitaire (Klondike) is a single-player card game played with a standard 52-card deck, where the goal is to build four foundation piles by suit from Ace to King (Bicycle Cards, 2026).
- The game is set up by dealing seven tableau piles: the first pile has 1 card, the second has 2, and so on up to 7, with only the top card of each pile face up (Cool Old Games, 2026).
- You can move cards between tableau piles in descending order and alternating colors (red on black or black on red). Only Kings can fill empty tableau spaces (Bicycle Cards, 2026).
- The stock pile (remaining cards) is drawn either one or three cards at a time, and playable cards can be moved to the tableau or foundations (Arkadium, 2024).
- Key strategies include moving Aces to foundations immediately, revealing face-down cards early, and using empty columns wisely with Kings (Simple Game Guide, 2025).
- Popular solitaire variations include Spider Solitaire, FreeCell, Pyramid, and Golf, each with unique rules and challenges (Bicycle Cards, 2026).
- You can play solitaire game online, on your phone, or with a physical deck of cards — the rules remain the same across all platforms.
What You Need to Play Solitaire
Before you learn how to play solitaire game with cards, you need to gather the right equipment. The beauty of solitaire is that it requires almost nothing special.
Equipment Required:
- A standard 52-card deck (jokers removed) (Cool Old Games, 2026).
- A flat playing surface — a table or desk works perfectly.
- Optional: A timer if you want to track your speed, though solitaire is traditionally played without time pressure.
That’s it. No scorepad, no tokens, no board. Just you and the cards.
Solitaire Game Setup: Step by Step
The setup is the most important part of learning how to play solitaire game. A proper setup ensures you can actually play the game. Here’s how to set up solitaire step by step.
Step 1: Shuffle the Deck
Thoroughly shuffle your 52-card deck to ensure a random distribution (Solitaire.com, 2025).
Step 2: Deal the Tableau
Starting from left to right, deal cards into seven piles (columns) as follows (Bicycle Cards, 2026):
| Column | Cards Dealt | Face-Up Cards | Face-Down Cards |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st pile | 1 card | 1 | 0 |
| 2nd pile | 2 cards | 1 | 1 |
| 3rd pile | 3 cards | 1 | 2 |
| 4th pile | 4 cards | 1 | 3 |
| 5th pile | 5 cards | 1 | 4 |
| 6th pile | 6 cards | 1 | 5 |
| 7th pile | 7 cards | 1 | 6 |
Dealing Pattern:
- Place the first card face up on the far left (Cool Old Games, 2026).
- Deal one face-down card on each of the remaining six piles.
- Return to the second pile from the left. Deal one face-up card on it, and deal one face-down card on each pile to its right.
- Continue this pattern until every pile has a face-up card on top (WikiHow, 2026).
The result: seven piles with an increasing number of cards from left to right, with only the top card of each pile face up (Bicycle Cards, 2026).
Step 3: Create the Stock Pile
Place the remaining cards face down in a pile above the tableau. This is your stock or draw pile (Arkadium, 2024).
Step 4: Leave Space for Foundations
Leave four empty spaces above the tableau for the foundation piles — one for each suit (Hearts, Diamonds, Clubs, Spades) (Cool Old Games, 2026).
Step 5: Leave Space for the Waste Pile
Leave space next to the stock pile for the waste pile (also called the talon or discard pile), where unusable drawn cards are placed (Arkadium, 2024).
Solitaire Game Rules: How to Play Step by Step
Now that your solitaire game is set up, it’s time to learn how to play solitaire game step by step.
The Goal of Solitaire
The ultimate objective is to move all 52 cards to the four foundation piles, one pile per suit, in ascending order from Ace to King (Bicycle Cards, 2026). When you’ve built all four foundations, you’ve won the game (Cool Old Games, 2026).
Understanding the Game Areas
Solitaire has four distinct areas:
- Tableau — The seven piles of cards in the center of the table (Cool Old Games, 2026). This is where most of the action happens.
- Foundations — Four empty piles above the tableau where you build suits from Ace to King (Arkadium, 2024).
- Stock (Draw Pile) — The face-down pile of remaining cards (Cool Old Games, 2026).
- Waste (Talon/Discard Pile) — Where you place cards drawn from the stock that cannot be played (Arkadium, 2024).
How to Move Cards in Solitaire
There are three types of moves you can make in solitaire:
1. Moving Cards Between Tableau Piles
You can move a card (or a group of face-up cards) from one tableau pile to another if (Bicycle Cards, 2026):
- The card you’re moving is one rank lower than the card you’re placing it on.
- The colors alternate (red on black, or black on red).
- Example: A black 5 can be placed on a red 6 (Bicycle Cards, 2026).
2. Moving Cards to Foundations
You can move a card to a foundation if:
- The foundation is empty and the card is an Ace (Cool Old Games, 2026).
- The card is the next rank in the suit (e.g., a 2 of Hearts on an Ace of Hearts).
- Example: You can move a 2 of Clubs onto an Ace of Clubs (Bicycle Cards, 2026).
3. Drawing from the Stock
When you can’t make any more moves on the tableau, draw cards from the stock pile (Arkadium, 2024):
- Decide at the start whether you’ll draw one card or three cards at a time.
- If drawing three, only the top card is playable; if you play it, the card below becomes available (Bicycle Cards, 2026).
- If a drawn card cannot be played, place it face-up on the waste pile (Arkadium, 2024).
Special Rules
Kings Fill Empty Spaces
Only a King can be placed in an empty tableau column (Bicycle Cards, 2026). When you move a King to an empty space, you can move the entire face-up sequence that starts with that King.
Revealing Face-Down Cards
When all face-up cards are removed from a tableau pile, the top face-down card is turned face-up and becomes available for play (Bicycle Cards, 2026).
Moving Multiple Cards
If you have a sequence of face-up cards in descending order with alternating colors, you can move the entire sequence as a unit (Bicycle Cards, 2026).
Stock Recycling
When the stock pile is empty, the waste pile becomes the new stock (Arkadium, 2024). Turn the waste pile face down without shuffling and continue drawing.
How the Game Ends
You Win: When all 52 cards are moved to the four foundation piles (Cool Old Games, 2026).
You Lose: When the stock is exhausted and you cannot make any more moves (Arkadium, 2024).
Solitaire Game Strategies: How to Win More Often
Learning how to play solitaire game is one thing — learning how to win is another. Here are the best strategies to improve your odds.
1. Move Aces to Foundations Immediately
As soon as an Ace becomes available, move it to a foundation. This frees up space and starts building your suits (Simple Game Guide, 2025).
2. Reveal Face-Down Cards First
Your priority should always be to turn over face-down cards in the tableau (Simple Game Guide, 2025). This opens up more cards for play.
3. Build Foundations Simultaneously
Don’t focus on completing one suit before starting another. Build all four foundations at the same time to keep your options open (Arkadium, 2024).
4. Use Empty Columns Wisely
An empty tableau column is valuable — use it to temporarily store a King (and its sequence) to reorganize your cards (Simple Game Guide, 2025).
5. Think Ahead
Before making a move, consider how it affects future moves. Moving a card might block access to cards underneath it.
6. Don’t Rush to Foundations
Sometimes it’s better to keep a card on the tableau to help build sequences, rather than moving it to a foundation too early (Solitaire Castle Royal, 2026).
7. Maximize Playable Cards
The more face-up cards you have in play, the more moves you can make. Revealing face-down cards should always be your top priority (Arkadium, 2024).
Different Ways to Play Solitaire
The classic solitaire (Klondike) is just one of many solitaire games. Here are some other popular variations.
| Variation | Description | Key Difference |
|---|---|---|
| Klondike | The classic game described above. | Standard 7-tableau layout, draw 1 or 3 cards (Bicycle Cards, 2026). |
| Spider Solitaire | Played with 2 decks (104 cards) and 10 tableau piles. The goal is to build complete suits of 13 cards to remove them from play (Bicycle Cards, 2026). | Uses 2 decks, builds down in the same suit. |
| FreeCell | All 52 cards are dealt face-up into 8 tableau piles. The goal is to build foundations by suit. | All cards are face-up from the start, uses free cells for temporary storage. |
| Pyramid | Cards are arranged in a pyramid shape. The goal is to remove pairs that add up to 13. | No foundations — remove matching pairs instead. |
| Golf | 7 tableau piles of 5 cards each, all face-up. The goal is to clear the tableau by playing cards one rank higher or lower than the discard pile. | Played by matching ranks, not building suits. |
| Accordion | Cards are dealt in a single row. The goal is to compress the entire deck into one pile by matching cards of the same suit or rank (Bicycle Cards, 2026). | No tableau or foundations — just one row of cards. |
How to Play Solitaire Game Online and on Phone
In the digital age, you don’t need a physical deck to play solitaire. Here’s how to play solitaire game online and how to play solitaire on phone.
Online Solitaire
- Visit websites like Arkadium, Coolmath Games, or Solitaire.com.
- The game is automatically shuffled and dealt for you.
- Simply click and drag cards to move them.
- Most online versions offer undo, hints, and scoring.
Solitaire on Phone
- Download a solitaire app from the App Store (iOS) or Google Play Store (Android).
- Popular apps include Solitaire Pro, Klondike Solitaire, and Microsoft Solitaire Collection.
- Tap to select cards and tap again to place them.
- Many apps offer daily challenges and leaderboards.
The rules are exactly the same whether you’re playing with physical cards or on a screen.
How to Play Solitaire for Kids
Solitaire is a great game for kids to develop concentration and strategic thinking. Here’s how to play solitaire for kids:
Simplify the Rules:
- Draw one card at a time from the stock (instead of three).
- Explain the alternating colors rule with simple examples (e.g., “red goes on black, black goes on red”).
- Help them identify Aces as “the cards that start the foundation piles.”
Make It Fun:
- Use a timer and challenge them to beat their own time.
- Celebrate when they reveal a face-down card.
- Play “open solitaire” where all cards are face-up to teach the concepts first.
Troubleshooting Common Solitaire Mistakes
| Problem | Cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Stuck with no moves | You drew cards you couldn’t play and exhausted the stock. | Try different strategies next game — reveal face-down cards earlier (Simple Game Guide, 2025). |
| Can’t build foundations | You moved cards to foundations too early. | Keep cards on the tableau longer to help build sequences (Solitaire Castle Royal, 2026). |
| Empty tableau with no King | You moved the last card without replacing it with a King. | Remember that only Kings can fill empty spaces (Bicycle Cards, 2026). |
| Cards not alternating colors | You placed a red card on a red card. | Check colors before moving — they must alternate (Bicycle Cards, 2026). |
| Can’t move multiple cards | The sequence is not in perfect descending order with alternating colors. | Only complete sequences can be moved as a unit (Bicycle Cards, 2026). |
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you play solitaire game step by step?
Shuffle a standard 52-card deck, deal seven tableau piles with increasing cards, place the remaining cards as the stock, and move cards between tableau piles in descending order with alternating colors while building four foundation piles from Ace to King (Bicycle Cards, 2026).
How do you play solitaire game for beginners?
Start with drawing one card at a time from the stock, focus on revealing face-down cards, move Aces to foundations immediately, and don’t worry about speed — focus on understanding the rules first (Simple Game Guide, 2025).
How do you play solitaire game with cards?
Shuffle the deck, deal seven piles with only the top card face up, use the remaining cards as the stock, and move cards between piles in descending order with alternating colors while building foundations from Ace to King (Cool Old Games, 2026).
What are the rules of solitaire card game?
The goal is to build four foundation piles by suit from Ace to King. Cards can be moved between tableau piles in descending order with alternating colors. Only Kings can fill empty tableau spaces. Draw from the stock when no moves are available (Bicycle Cards, 2026).
How do you play solitaire game online?
Visit a solitaire website like Arkadium or Coolmath Games, and the game will be automatically set up for you. Simply click and drag cards to move them. The rules are identical to physical solitaire (Arkadium, 2024).
What are different ways to play solitaire?
Popular variations include Spider Solitaire (2 decks, 10 piles), FreeCell (all cards face-up, free cells), Pyramid (matching pairs that add to 13), and Golf (matching ranks, not suits) (Bicycle Cards, 2026).
How do you play solitaire on phone?
Download a solitaire app from your app store, tap to select cards, and tap again to place them. Apps often include hints, undo, and daily challenges. The rules are the same as physical solitaire.
What is the best strategy for solitaire?
Move Aces to foundations immediately, reveal face-down cards as quickly as possible, build all four foundations simultaneously, use empty columns for Kings, and think ahead before making moves (Arkadium, 2024; Simple Game Guide, 2025).
Key Takeaways
- Solitaire (Klondike) is played with a standard 52-card deck. The goal is to build four foundation piles by suit from Ace to King (Bicycle Cards, 2026).
- Set up the game by dealing seven tableau piles with increasing cards (1 to 7), with only the top card face up (Cool Old Games, 2026).
- Move cards between tableau piles in descending order with alternating colors (red on black, black on red). Only Kings can fill empty spaces (Bicycle Cards, 2026).
- Draw from the stock when no moves are available — either one or three cards at a time (Arkadium, 2024).
- Key winning strategies: move Aces to foundations immediately, reveal face-down cards early, and use empty columns for Kings (Simple Game Guide, 2025).
- Popular variations include Spider Solitaire, FreeCell, Pyramid, and Golf (Bicycle Cards, 2026).
- You can play solitaire online, on your phone, or with a physical deck — the rules remain the same.