Solitaire Klondike Rules

Objective

Guide every card into the four foundation piles, building each one from Ace to King in perfect suit order. Klondike plays like a quiet little puzzle where every flip might unlock a whole cascade of moves. You shift columns, uncover hidden cards, and try to keep enough rhythm to clear the entire layout before the stock runs dry.

Material

Standard 52-card deck Ranks: K (high) → … → 2 → A (low)

K♠ Q♠ J♠ 10♠ 9♠ 8♠ 7♠ 6♠

Setup

Tableau Layout

Lay out seven tableau columns that grow from left to right:

1: 1 card (face-up) 2: 2 cards (top card face-up) 3: 3 cards (top card face-up) 4: 4 cards (top card face-up) 5: 5 cards (top card face-up) 6: 6 cards (top card face-up) 7: 7 cards (top card face-up)

Only the top card of each column is face-up; the others stay hidden until revealed.

You’ll place the remaining 24 cards in the stock pile, ready to flip through whenever you need a lifeline.

Example face-up line

7♠ K♥ A♦ 5♣ J♥ 2♠ Q♦

How to Play

Tableau Building

Build down in alternating colors:

Valid: 7♥ on 8♠ Valid: Q♠ on K♦ Invalid: same color or wrong rank.

Moving Card Groups

You can move whole sequences if properly alternating:

8♠ → 7♥ → 6♣ → 5♦ (can move together onto 9♥)

Flipping Face-Down Cards

When a column’s top card is removed: Flip the next face-down card → becomes playable.

Foundations

Build A → K in-suit: A♥ → 2♥ → … → K♥ Once placed, foundation cards normally cannot return.

Empty Columns

Only Kings (any suit) can fill an empty tableau column.

Stock & Waste

Two variants:

Draw 1: Flip one card. Easier, usually limited to 3 cycles.

Draw 3: Flip three cards at once. Only top card playable. Harder.

If you play the top card, the next card in the trio becomes available.

Scoring (Standard)

Waste → Tableau = +5 Waste → Foundation = +10 Tableau → Foundation = +10 Flip face-down card = +5 Undo foundation move = -15 Recycle stock (Draw 3) = -100

Speed bonus applies at game end.

Strategy Tips

Early Game

• Prioritize flipping face-down tableau cards. • Move Aces to foundation ASAP. • Create empty columns early—massively increases flexibility.

Tableau Management

Build long alternating sequences for mobility. Avoid burying low cards (especially Aces & Twos). Don’t rush cards to foundations if they’re needed to unblock columns.

Stock Strategy

Draw 1: Slow, flexible, always look for tableau moves first.

Draw 3: Memorize card groups-of-three. Plan ahead to reach needed cards. Cycle efficiently.

Using Empty Columns

Great place to reposition a King and build under it. Don’t waste an empty space on a weak King with no follow-up cards.

Foundation Timing

Move low cards early, hesitate on mid-range cards (7+). Sometimes keeping a card in the tableau allows better future moves.

Ending the Game

Complete all 4 foundations with 13 cards each → Win. If no moves remain and stock is exhausted (or cycles forbidden) → Loss.

Win Rates (Average)

Draw 1 unlimited: ~80% Draw 1 (3 passes): ~35% Draw 3 unlimited: ~11% Draw 3 (1 pass): ~0.5%

Variants

Thoughtful Solitaire: All tableau cards dealt face-up. Easthaven: 3 cards dealt to each column from stock, all face-up. Westcliff: 10 tableau columns, easier layout. Vegas: Earn money per card moved to foundation; stock passes limited. Double Klondike: Two decks, 9 tableau columns, 8 foundations.