Read the Klondike (Turn Three) rules if you’re new to playing Solitaire
WHAT IS CLASSIC CARD SOLITAIRE (Klondike)?
Card solitaire, often simply referred to as solitaire, is a popular single-player card game. The goal of solitaire is typically to move all the cards to a foundation, following specific rules and a particular layout. The game has various versions, but the most well-known is Klondike solitaire.
In Klondike solitaire, a standard deck of 52 playing cards is shuffled, and then seven stacks of cards are laid out on the tableau. The first stack has one card, the second has two, and so on, with the seventh stack having seven cards, all face down except for the top card. The remaining cards form the draw pile.
The objective is to build four foundation piles, one for each suit, in ascending order from Ace to King. Cards can be moved between the tableau columns, and there are specific rules for how cards can be placed on top of one another, usually alternating colors (red and black) and descending in rank.
Players can also draw cards from the draw pile to help in building the tableau or to move cards to the foundation piles. The game is won when all cards are successfully moved to the foundation piles in the correct order.
Solitaire is a classic and timeless game that has been a pre-installed feature on many computer operating systems, contributing to its widespread popularity. While Klondike is the most well-known version, there are numerous other variations, such as Spider Solitaire, FreeCell, and Pyramid Solitaire, each with its own set of rules and challenges.
Here are the basic steps to play the popular version of solitaire, Klondike solitaire. This version is commonly played with a standard 52-card deck.
Objective
The goal is to move all the cards to four foundation piles, each starting with an Ace and ending with a King, sorted by suit.
Setup
- Shuffle the deck of cards.
- Deal seven piles of cards, each with the number of cards corresponding to the pile number (e.g., the first pile has one card, the second has two, and so on). Only the top card of each pile is face-up.
Gameplay
- Examine the tableau and move cards to reveal face-down cards. Uncover Aces and move them to the foundation piles if possible.
- Build tableau columns in descending order, alternating colors. For example, you can place a black 10 on a red Jack.
- Move sequences of cards in descending order and alternating colors from one tableau column to another. You can move a sequence of cards if they are in descending order and have alternating colors.
- If a tableau column is empty, only a King or a sequence starting with a King can be placed in that column.
- Continue building tableau columns and moving cards until you can’t make any more moves.
Draw Pile
- If you can’t make any more moves on the tableau, draw cards from the draw pile.
- Use the drawn cards to build tableau columns or move cards to the foundation piles.
Foundation Piles
- Move Aces to the foundation piles.
- Build each foundation pile in ascending order, following the same suit.
Winning
The game is won when all cards are moved to the foundation piles in the correct order.
Remember, these are general guidelines for Klondike solitaire, and there are variations of solitaire with different rules. The rules may also vary slightly depending on where you are playing, whether it’s a physical card game or a digital version.