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How to Play Solitaire

A complete guide to all five Solitaire variants on this site — rules, win rates, and the one tip that matters most for each game.

Klondike Solitaire

Medium1 deck · 52 cardsWin rate: 30–50% (Turn 1)

The most-played card game in history. Deal 28 cards into seven tableau columns (one face-up per column), then draw from the remaining stock to build four foundations from Ace to King. Stack cards in alternating red-black order, descending in rank.

The rules

  1. 1Seven tableau columns hold 1–7 face-down cards with one face-up card on top.
  2. 2Build tableau stacks in alternating colors (red on black, black on red), descending rank.
  3. 3Move any face-up card or sequence to another column following the alternating rule.
  4. 4Draw from the stock one or three at a time (Turn 1 or Turn 3 mode).
  5. 5Move Aces to foundation piles immediately; build each foundation Ace → King in one suit.
  6. 6Flip a face-down card whenever it becomes the top card of a tableau column.

Key tip

Prioritize exposing face-down cards over moving to foundations. Empty columns are very powerful — use them to maneuver Kings and long sequences.

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Spider Solitaire

Hard2 decks · 104 cardsWin rate: ~50% (1-Suit), ~15% (4-Suit)

Two decks, ten columns, and the goal of building eight complete King-to-Ace runs of the same suit to remove them from the board. Spider is harder than Klondike because you must manage 104 cards without foundations to fall back on.

The rules

  1. 1Ten tableau columns hold all 104 cards; four columns start with 6 cards, six with 5.
  2. 2Build tableau sequences descending in rank. Off-suit sequences are legal but limit mobility.
  3. 3Only in-suit (same suit) sequences can be moved as a group.
  4. 4When all columns have at least one card, deal 10 new cards from the stock (one per column).
  5. 5Complete a King-to-Ace run in a single suit to remove it from the board.
  6. 6Win by removing all eight complete runs.

Key tip

In 4-Suit Spider, avoid mixing suits in a column whenever possible — off-suit moves feel like progress but create locked sequences that can't be moved efficiently.

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FreeCell Solitaire

Medium1 deck · 52 cardsWin rate: 99.999% of deals are winnable

All 52 cards are face-up from the start — no hidden information. Four free cells let you temporarily park cards, and four foundation piles grow Ace-to-King. Nearly every deal is solvable; losing is almost always a blunder, not bad luck.

The rules

  1. 1Eight tableau columns, all cards face-up. Four free cells. Four foundation piles.
  2. 2Build tableau columns descending in rank, alternating red and black.
  3. 3Move one card at a time to a free cell, another tableau column, or a foundation.
  4. 4Move sequences of cards if enough free cells and empty columns are available.
  5. 5Build foundations Ace → King in each suit.
  6. 6Win when all 52 cards are on the four foundations.

Key tip

Think several moves ahead — FreeCell rewards planning. Don't fill all four free cells at once; you'll get stuck with no legal moves and have to undo.

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Pyramid Solitaire

Hard1 deck · 52 cardsWin rate: 0.5–2% (standard rules)

28 cards arranged in a seven-row pyramid, plus a stock. Remove pairs of uncovered cards that sum to 13 (Jack=11, Queen=12, King=13 solo). One of the toughest classic variants — only about 1 in 50 standard deals is winnable.

The rules

  1. 128 cards form a pyramid: row 1 has 1 card, row 7 has 7, each overlapping two below.
  2. 2A card is available if no other card covers it.
  3. 3Remove pairs of available cards summing to 13: A+Q, 2+J, 3+10, 4+9, 5+8, 6+7.
  4. 4Kings (value 13) are removed alone.
  5. 5Draw from the stock one at a time; the top waste card is also available to pair.
  6. 6Win by clearing all 28 pyramid cards (stock cards need not be cleared).

Key tip

Work from the bottom of the pyramid upward — lower cards block more cards than upper ones. Don't pair high-value cards (tens, Jacks) too eagerly; you may need them to unlock deep cards.

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TriPeaks Solitaire

Easy1 deck · 52 cardsWin rate: ~90% with good play

Three overlapping peaks of cards, a stock, and a waste pile. Play cards one rank higher or lower than the waste top — no color or suit restrictions. Build long chains for bonus points. The most beginner-friendly of the five.

The rules

  1. 128 cards form three four-row peaks; 24 stock cards dealt face-down.
  2. 2A card is available if no other card overlaps it.
  3. 3Play any available card that is one rank above or below the current waste card.
  4. 4Rank wraps: Ace is adjacent to both 2 and King.
  5. 5Draw from the stock when you have no available play.
  6. 6Win by clearing all 28 peak cards before the stock runs out.

Key tip

Think about chain continuation before each move. If two cards are both playable, choose the one that keeps a longer chain going — chain length directly drives your score.

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Which variant should I start with?

If you've never played Solitaire before, start with TriPeaks. It's the most forgiving — about 90% of deals are winnable with decent play, the rules are simple (one rank up or down), and games finish in 3–5 minutes.

For the classic experience, Klondikeis what most people picture when they think “Solitaire.” Turn 1 mode gives you a 30–50% win rate — challenging but achievable.

If you want pure skill with no luck, play FreeCell. Nearly every deal is solvable. If you lose, it's because of a wrong decision — and that makes every win feel earned.

Ready for the hardest test? Pyramid's brutal win rate means most games end in failure. That 1-in-50 win feels extraordinary.

Solitaire strategy guide →10 tips that actually work →