What is Klondike Solitaire?

Klondike Solitaire is the most common form of Solitaire — a single-player card game played with a standard 52-card deck. The goal is to build four foundation piles, one per suit, from Ace to King. It's the version Microsoft has shipped under the name "Solitaire" with every copy of Windows since 1990, which is why most people use the names interchangeably.

How many cards are used in Klondike Solitaire?

A standard 52-card deck. Four suits of thirteen cards each, Ace through King. No jokers, no wild cards. Twenty-eight cards go into the seven tableau columns on the initial deal; the remaining twenty-four form the stock pile.

Are all Klondike Solitaire games winnable?

No. Latif Salum's 2008 mathematical analysis estimated the theoretical solvability of randomly dealt Klondike Solitaire games at around 82% with perfect knowledge — meaning roughly one deal in six is unwinnable no matter how skillfully you play. In real play, where most cards start face-down, even strong players win 30–50% of Turn-1 games.

What's the difference between Turn 1 and Turn 3 Klondike?

Turn 1 draws one card at a time from the stock; every card is immediately playable. Turn 3 draws three cards stacked at once, with only the top card playable. Turn 3 is the original Microsoft Windows ruleset and is significantly harder — win rates drop from roughly 40% on Turn 1 to around 15% on Turn 3 for the same player.

Why is it called Klondike Solitaire?

The name comes from the Klondike Gold Rush of 1896–99 in Yukon, Canada. The seven-column layout was likely popularized by prospectors during long winters in mining camps. The broader family of single-player card games is called "Patience" in the UK and most of Europe; the name "Klondike Solitaire" stuck in North America.

Who invented Klondike Solitaire?

Klondike's origin is unclear — Patience-style single-player card games existed in Europe by the late 1700s. The modern version's fame is owed to Wes Cherry, the Microsoft intern who wrote the original Windows Solitaire in 1989. Microsoft bundled it with Windows 3.0 in 1990, originally to help users learn to drag and drop with a mouse.

What's the best opening move in Klondike?

It depends on the deal, but two heuristics always apply. First, send any visible Ace or 2 to its foundation immediately — they never help you in the tableau. Second, when you have a choice of moves, take the one that flips a face-down tableau card. Hidden information is the central problem in Klondike Solitaire; every face-up card is one more decision you can make.

Can you undo a move in Klondike Solitaire?

Yes — Mr. Solitaire allows unlimited undo and redo within a game. Using undo doesn't invalidate your leaderboard time, but it does add to your move total, so practiced players use it sparingly. Some Vegas-style scoring rulesets penalize undos heavily; Mr. Solitaire's standard scoring does not.

Does Mr. Solitaire offer Klondike Solitaire scoring and leaderboards?

Yes. Mr. Solitaire tracks moves, elapsed time, and a standard Klondike score on every game. Sign in with a Google account to save stats across devices, and play the daily challenge — one fixed deal that every player sees on a given day — to compete on the leaderboard. Guest play is unlimited and free; you only need an account if you want stats synced.

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How to play Klondike Solitaire

The original Microsoft Solitaire ruleset, with Turn 1 and Turn 3 modes, daily challenges, and a leaderboard.

Klondike Solitaire is the version of Solitaire most people mean when they say Solitaire — the one Microsoft has shipped with Windows since May 1990. The rules look simple enough: shuffle a deck, deal seven columns, build four foundations from Ace to King. The catch is that most of the cards start face-down, every move is irreversible without undo, and roughly one deal in six can't be won at all.

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Klondike is just the start. Mr. Solitaire has 21 free games — here are some favourites.

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Klondike Solitaire — Play Free Online

How to play Klondike Solitaire

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