How to win at Solitaire: a Klondike strategy that works
6 min read ·
Klondike is the solitaire most people simply call Solitaire: seven columns, a stock to draw from, and four foundations to build from Ace to King. It's a game of hidden information, so the best players aren't luckier; they make the moves that reveal the most.
Every deal on Puzzimo is checked by a solver before it reaches you, so each game can be won. Here's how to find the way.
The rules
- Build each foundation by suit from Ace to King. Moving all 52 cards there wins.
- In the seven columns, stack cards down in alternating colours: a red 6 on a black 7.
- Only a King (or a run starting with a King) can go into an empty column.
- Draw from the stock when you're stuck: one card at a time in Draw 1, three in Draw 3, as many times through as you like.
Turn over face-down cards first
Twenty-one cards start face down in the columns, and they hide the cards you need. Almost always, the best move is the one that turns a card over. When you have a choice, take it from the column with the most face-down cards: that's where the most useful cards are buried.
Empty columns are for Kings
Only a King can fill an empty column, so emptying one without a King ready to move in just wastes a space. Before you clear a column, know which King goes there, and prefer a King that brings a long run or uncovers a card when it moves.
When two Kings could take a space, choose the one whose colour suits the cards waiting for it: a red King needs black Queens, a black King red ones.
Don't rush the foundations
Aces and twos should go up straight away. After that, think before moving a card to its foundation: a low card in a column can still hold the next card of a run. Sending a red 5 up too early can leave a black 4 with nowhere to go.
Draw 1 and Draw 3
In Draw 1 you see every stock card in turn, so you can plan freely. In Draw 3 you turn three cards and can only play the top one, so the order matters: playing one card from the waste shifts which cards you'll see on the next pass. In Draw 3, sometimes the best move is to play a waste card just to change the order of the next cycle.
A move checklist
- Play any Ace or 2 to the foundations.
- Make moves that turn over face-down cards, starting with the tallest columns.
- Move runs between columns only if it uncovers a card or frees a space for a King.
- Draw from the stock when the columns have no useful move.
- Move cards up to the foundations when it doesn't block a run you still need.
Practise
On Puzzimo, tap a card to send it to the best spot or drag it where you want. Undo draws on your shared undo balance (three free a day). Results are ranked by time, and there's a daily deal for everyone. On a phone, the Landscape button gives bigger cards.
Frequently asked questions
What's the best first move in Solitaire?
Play any Aces and twos, then look for a move that turns over a face-down card, preferably in the column with the most hidden cards.
Should I always move cards to the foundation?
Not always. Aces and twos, yes. Higher cards are sometimes more useful in the columns, where they can hold the next card of a run.
Is Draw 3 harder than Draw 1?
Yes. In Draw 3 you can only play the top of every three cards, so many stock cards are out of reach on each pass. Planning the order of the waste becomes part of the game.