Loading...
Last updated
Strategy Tips for Klondike Solitaire
While luck plays a significant role in Klondike Solitaire, skilled players consistently win more games than beginners. The difference comes down to making the right choices about which cards to move and when. These strategy tips will help you improve your win rate and finish more games.
1. Always Play Aces and Twos Immediately
There is never a disadvantage to moving Aces and Twos to the foundation as soon as they appear. These low cards cannot be used for building sequences on the tableau, so sending them to the foundation frees up space without sacrificing any strategic options.
2. Expose Hidden Cards First
Prioritize moves that flip over face-down cards in the tableau. The more cards you can see, the better decisions you can make. When choosing between two equally valid moves, always pick the one that reveals a hidden card. Columns with the most face-down cards should generally be your first target.
3. Keep Columns Even
Try to distribute cards evenly across tableau columns. Having one very long column and several empty ones limits your flexibility. Balanced columns give you more options for rearranging cards and creating new sequences.
4. Be Strategic with Empty Columns
Empty tableau columns are extremely valuable — only Kings can fill them. Do not rush to fill an empty column with the first King you see. Consider which King will be most useful. Ideally, choose a King that has cards of the opposite color sequence already available to build on it, or one that will help you uncover face-down cards in another column.
5. Think Before Moving to the Foundation
While the goal is to build foundation piles, moving cards there too aggressively can backfire. A card on the foundation cannot be used for tableau building. For example, if you move a red 5 to the foundation, you lose the ability to place a black 4 on it in the tableau. A good rule of thumb: do not move a card to the foundation if it is more than two ranks ahead of the lowest foundation of the opposite color. For instance, if the lowest red foundation is a 3, avoid sending black cards higher than a 5 to the foundation.
6. Build with the Right Color in Mind
When you have a choice of which card to place (for example, two red 7s available to place on a black 8), consider what lies beneath each card and which color sequence you will need going forward. Think several moves ahead: which placement opens up the most future possibilities?
7. Manage the Stock Pile Wisely
In Draw 3 mode, you can only access every third card in the stock. To reach a buried card, you may need to play cards above it first. Keep track of where key cards are in the stock cycle. In Draw 1 mode, you see every card each pass through the stock, so focus on tableau moves first and use the stock when tableau options are exhausted.
Avoid cycling through the stock mindlessly. Each time you pass through, take note of the order of cards so you can plan future passes more effectively.
8. Do Not Move Cards Without Purpose
Every move should have a reason behind it. Randomly shuffling cards between tableau columns wastes time and can create problems. Before making a move, ask yourself: does this reveal a hidden card, create an empty column, or set up a move to the foundation? If the answer is no, consider waiting.
9. Prefer Longer Sequences When Moving
When you can move a sequence of cards to another column, moving a longer sequence is often better than a shorter one because it exposes more hidden cards. However, balance this against the risk of creating overly long columns that limit your options.
10. Know When a Game Is Unwinnable
Not every Klondike deal can be won. If you have cycled through the stock multiple times without making progress and no tableau moves are available, the game is likely stuck. Rather than continuing to loop through the deck, it is better to start a new deal and apply these strategies from the beginning.
Strategy Summary
- Play Aces and Twos to foundations immediately
- Prioritize revealing face-down cards
- Distribute cards evenly across columns
- Use empty columns strategically for Kings
- Do not over-build foundations early
- Choose card placements based on future moves
- Track cards in the stock pile
- Make purposeful moves only
- Move longer sequences when beneficial
- Recognize unwinnable games and move on
Common Strategy Questions
Should I always move Aces to the foundation immediately in Klondike Solitaire?
Yes, always move Aces and Twos to the foundation immediately. These low cards cannot be used for building sequences on the tableau, so sending them to the foundation frees up space without sacrificing any strategic options. For higher cards (3 and above), pause and consider whether you might need them for tableau building before moving them up.
When should I use an empty column in Klondike Solitaire?
Only place a King in an empty column, and be selective about which King you choose. The best King to place is one that has cards of the opposite color sequence already available to build on it, or one that will uncover face-down cards in another column. Avoid filling an empty column impulsively — keeping it open gives you temporary storage flexibility.
Is Draw 1 or Draw 3 easier in Klondike Solitaire?
Draw 1 is significantly easier than Draw 3. In Draw 1 mode, you see every card each pass through the stock, giving you access to all 24 stock cards. In Draw 3 mode, you can only access every third card, reducing your options dramatically. The win rate for Draw 1 is roughly 30-40% compared to 10-15% for Draw 3 with optimal play.
What is the best first move in Klondike Solitaire?
The best first move depends on the specific deal, but the priority should be: first, move any available Aces to the foundation; second, make moves that expose face-down cards in the longest tableau columns; third, look for moves that create the longest possible sequences. Avoid drawing from the stock until you have exhausted all tableau moves.
Klondike Solitaire Quick Facts
- Klondike Solitaire has been included in every version of Microsoft Windows since Windows 3.0 in 1990, making it the most widely distributed card game in computing history.
- Approximately 79% of all Klondike Solitaire deals are mathematically solvable when played with perfect strategy, according to computer analysis of millions of random deals.
- Klondike Solitaire is the most-played single-player card game in the world, with an estimated 35 million players in the United States alone.
- The name 'Klondike' comes from the Klondike region of Canada's Yukon Territory, where prospectors played the game during the 1896 Gold Rush.
- A standard Klondike Solitaire game uses one 52-card deck and deals 28 cards into 7 tableau columns, leaving 24 cards in the stock pile.
- In Draw-3 Klondike Solitaire, the win rate drops to roughly 10-15% compared to 30-40% in the easier Draw-1 variant, even with optimal play.
- Klondike Solitaire was originally created by Microsoft intern Wes Cherry in 1989 as a way to teach users how to drag and drop with a mouse.