Welcome to Solitaire

Solitaire is one of the most popular card games in the world — perfect for playing alone, anytime, anywhere. If you've never played before, don't worry. This beginner's guide walks you through everything from setup to your first winning move, using clear and simple language.

We'll focus on Klondike Solitaire, the classic version most people know simply as "Solitaire."

What You Need

To play physical Solitaire, you need one standard 52-card deck (no Jokers). To play online or digitally, you just need a browser or app — no cards required!

Step 1: Understanding the Cards

A standard deck has four suits: Hearts ♥, Diamonds ♦ (red suits) and Clubs ♣, Spades ♠ (black suits). Each suit has 13 cards: Ace, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, Jack, Queen, and King.

In Solitaire, the Ace is the lowest card and the King is the highest.

Step 2: Setting Up the Game

Here's how to set up a Klondike game:

  1. Deal 7 columns of cards. Column 1 gets 1 card, column 2 gets 2, column 3 gets 3 — all the way to column 7 which gets 7 cards.
  2. Only the top card of each column is face-up. All cards underneath are face-down.
  3. The remaining cards form the stock pile (draw pile) in the upper-left corner.
  4. Leave four empty spaces in the upper-right — these are your foundation piles where you'll build your winning stacks.

If you're playing online or digitally, the game sets this all up for you automatically!

Step 3: Your Goal

Move all 52 cards to the four foundation piles. Each foundation is for one suit, built from Ace up to King in order. When all four foundations are complete — Ace, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, Jack, Queen, King in each suit — you win!

Step 4: Making Your First Moves

Look at the seven face-up cards in your tableau. You can:

  • Move a card to a foundation — if you see an Ace, place it on an empty foundation immediately!
  • Stack cards in the tableau — place a card on another card that is one rank higher and a different color. For example, a red 6 goes on a black 7.
  • Draw from the stock — click or flip the stock pile to reveal new cards you can play.

Step 5: Revealing Hidden Cards

When you move a face-up card away from a column, the face-down card beneath it automatically flips face-up. This is one of the most important parts of the game — revealing hidden cards gives you more options and moves to work with.

Beginner tip: Always try to make moves that flip face-down cards. More revealed cards = more choices = better chance of winning.

Step 6: Using Empty Columns

If you clear all the cards from a column, you create an empty space. Only Kings can go in an empty column. Use empty columns wisely — they're valuable real estate!

Common Beginner Mistakes to Avoid

  • ❌ Moving Aces to the foundation last — move Aces as soon as you find them!
  • ❌ Ignoring face-down cards — always work toward flipping them over.
  • ❌ Placing any card in an empty column — only Kings should go there.
  • ❌ Forgetting the draw pile — if you're stuck, draw a card from the stock.

You're Ready to Play!

Solitaire is a game you learn best by doing. Don't worry about winning your first few games — focus on understanding why each move is made. With practice, you'll naturally start spotting better moves and planning ahead. Most online solitaire games also have an "undo" button, so feel free to use it as you learn!