Klondike Solitaire FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers to the most common questions about Klondike Solitaire, from basic rules to advanced strategy and scoring.

What is the difference between Solitaire and Klondike?

"Solitaire" is a broad category of single-player card games, also known as "Patience" in British English. Klondike is the specific solitaire variant that most people mean when they say "Solitaire." It became the default association largely due to its inclusion in Microsoft Windows starting in 1990. Other solitaire variants include Spider, FreeCell, Pyramid, and many more.

Can every game of Klondike Solitaire be won?

No. Not every deal of Klondike Solitaire is winnable, even with perfect play. Research and computer analysis suggest that approximately 79% of Klondike deals (using Draw 1 rules with unlimited redeals) are theoretically solvable. The remaining deals are unwinnable regardless of the choices made. With Draw 3 rules, the solvable percentage is lower, estimated around 30–40% depending on the specific rule set.

What is the difference between Draw 1 and Draw 3?

In Draw 1 (also called "Turn 1"), you flip one card at a time from the stock pile to the waste pile. Every card becomes accessible during each pass through the deck. In Draw 3 (also called "Turn 3"), three cards are flipped at once, and only the topmost card is playable. This makes Draw 3 significantly more challenging because you can only access every third card without playing the ones above it first.

What can I place in an empty tableau column?

Only a King or a sequence of cards beginning with a King can be moved into an empty tableau column. This is a standard Klondike rule. Some variants allow any card to fill an empty column, but this is not traditional Klondike.

How is Klondike Solitaire scored?

Scoring varies by implementation, but the classic Microsoft Solitaire scoring system works as follows:

• Waste to tableau: 5 points
• Waste to foundation: 10 points
• Tableau to foundation: 10 points
• Turning over a tableau card: 5 points
• Foundation back to tableau: −15 points
• Recycling the waste pile (Draw 3 only): −20 points per recycle after the first

In timed mode, points are also deducted based on the elapsed time, encouraging faster play.

How many cards are in the stock pile at the start?

After dealing the seven tableau columns (which uses 28 cards), there are 24 cards remaining in the stock pile. The total is always 52: 28 in the tableau plus 24 in the stock.

Can I move cards back from the foundation to the tableau?

In many digital implementations, yes — you can move the top card of a foundation pile back to the tableau if it fits a valid sequence. This can be a useful strategy when you need a card to bridge a gap in the tableau. However, some rule sets and competitive formats do not allow this move. In scored games, moving a card from the foundation to the tableau typically incurs a penalty.

What is the average win rate for Klondike Solitaire?

The average human win rate varies widely depending on skill level, the draw mode, and whether unlimited redeals are allowed. Casual players often win around 10–20% of Draw 3 games. Experienced players using optimal strategy can win around 30–40% of Draw 3 games and 40–60% of Draw 1 games. Computer solvers using perfect information can push the theoretical upper bound to roughly 79% for Draw 1 and about 35% for standard Draw 3.

Why is it called "Klondike"?

The game is named after the Klondike region in Canada's Yukon Territory, which was famous for the Klondike Gold Rush of 1896–1899. The card game was reportedly popular among prospectors in the region. The connection between the game and the gold rush remains somewhat anecdotal, but the name has been associated with this solitaire variant since the late 19th century. Learn more on our history page.

What happens when the stock pile runs out?

When you have drawn through the entire stock pile, you can flip the waste pile over to reconstitute the stock. The cards are not reshuffled; they return in the same order. In standard Klondike, you can redeal the stock an unlimited number of times. Some variants limit the number of redeals to one or two passes through the deck, which increases the difficulty significantly.

Is there a way to tell early if a game is unwinnable?

There is no reliable early indicator that a game is unwinnable. Even deals that look difficult at the start can sometimes be solved. However, if you cycle through the entire stock multiple times without making any progress — no new cards can be played and no tableau moves are available — the game is almost certainly stuck. At that point, starting a new game is your best option.