Free Online Klondike Solitaire: Play the Classic Game

Ready to enjoy the most popular card game in the world? Play Klondike Solitaire online for free! Enjoy unlimited games with helpful features like hints and undos to customize your gameplay. Whether you are looking to relax or challenge your brain, you can start sequencing cards right now.

What is Klondike Solitaire?

When most people simply say "Solitaire," they are actually referring to Klondike Solitaire. This iconic card game is the standard version that has been pre-installed on computers for decades. In many parts of the world, particularly across Europe, this classic brain-teaser is also widely known as Patience.

How to Play Klondike Solitaire

If you want to master the game, you first need to understand the board layout and the rules of movement.

The Objective

Your ultimate goal is to move all 52 cards from the main playing area into the four foundation piles located at the top of the screen. Each of these four piles represents a specific suit (Hearts, Spades, Clubs, and Diamonds). You must build these foundation stacks in ascending order, starting with the Ace and finishing with the King.

The Playing Area

A standard game is divided into three primary zones:

• The Tableau: This is the main cascading layout of seven card columns. The first column holds one card, the second holds two, and so on up to seven. Only the very bottom card of each stack is dealt face-up.

• The Stock Pile: Located in the top left corner, this is your reserve deck. You will draw from these leftover cards when you run out of moves on the main board.

• The Foundation: The four empty slots at the top right where you will construct your winning, suit-specific stacks.

Rules and Available Moves

Moving cards correctly is the key to unlocking the board. Here is how you can manipulate the cards:

• Building the Tableau: You can place a card (or a stack of cards) onto another card in the tableau only if it is the opposite color and exactly one rank lower. For example, a black 7 of Spades can be placed on top of a red 8 of Hearts.

• Revealing Hidden Cards: As you move face-up cards around the board, you will expose the face-down cards beneath them. Once exposed, these cards are automatically flipped over and can be used in play.

• Moving to the Foundation: Whenever you uncover an Ace, move it to an empty foundation slot. As you play, you can continuously move the next sequential card of that same suit (like a 2 of Spades onto the Ace of Spades) into the foundation.

• Utilizing Empty Columns: If you completely clear one of the seven tableau columns, you can only move a King (or a sequence starting with a King) into that empty space.

Klondike Turn 1 vs. Turn 3: Which Should I Play?

When drawing from the stock pile, you generally have two choices that directly impact the game's difficulty:

• Turn 1 (Easy): You draw one single card from the stock pile at a time. Every card you draw is available to play, making this a great option for beginners.

• Turn 3 (Hard): You draw three cards at a time, but you can only play the topmost card. If you manage to play that first card, the second one becomes available, and so on. This limits your options and requires much more strategic planning.

Note: In our free online version, we allow unlimited passes through the stock pile for both variations!

What Are the Odds of Winning Klondike Solitaire?

If you occasionally get stuck, don't worry 0 not every game is winnable! Based on statistical data from nearly 2.9 million randomized games, the odds of winning a standard Turn 1 Klondike game are exactly 33.0%.

Because Turn 3 Klondike restricts your access to the stock pile, it is significantly harder. The win rate for the 3-card draw variation drops down to just 11.1%.

The History: Why is it Called "Klondike"?

The general concept of playing cards alone dates back to Germany and France in the 1780s, where it was aptly named Patience because of the focus required to win.

So, where does the modern name come from? "Klondike" pays homage to the famous Canadian Gold Rush of the late 1890s. Thousands of prospectors traveled to the remote Klondike region of the Yukon territory in search of fortune. During the grueling, freezing months of isolation, miners played this specific variation of solitary cards to pass the time—cementing the name "Klondike Solitaire" into history forever.

Looking for More Card Games?

If you love the classic Klondike experience, you might want to try scaling up the challenge with Double Klondike or Triple Klondike - which use multiple decks and massive tableaus!

Alternatively, test your skills with other popular solitaire variations like:

• FreeCell

• Spider Solitaire

• Pyramid Solitaire

• TriPeaks Solitaire