How to Play Solitaire

Klondike Solitaire — the classic card game, free online

Solitaire (also called “Patience”) is the card game many of us grew up playing with a real deck at the kitchen table. This free website plays it exactly the same way, but the computer shuffles and deals for you — and you can never lose a card under the couch.

What You’ll Need

• A computer, laptop, or tablet with an internet connection
• A mouse, trackpad, or touchscreen — no download, no account, and no cost
• About 10–15 minutes for your first game

The Game Board
When the page opens, you’ll see the board already dealt. It has three parts, shown below:

Getting Started

1. Go to solitr.com in your web browser. The game deals itself automatically — no “start” button needed.
2. Look at the seven columns at the bottom (the Tableau). Only the bottom card in each column is face-up — that’s the only one you can play right away.
3. Click the face-down Stock pile (top left) any time you want to turn over a new card to play.
4. Your goal is to move cards around until you can build all four Foundations from Ace up to King.

Moving a Card
This is the one rule that matters most in Solitaire: in the columns, you can only stack a card onto one that is exactly one number higher, and the opposite color.

To move a card, click and hold it, drag it onto the card you want to stack it on, and let go. If the move isn’t allowed, the card will simply slide back — you can’t make a mistake that hurts your game, so feel free to experiment.

Filling the Foundations
The four boxes in the top right are the Foundations — one for each suit. You win by moving every card there, in order, starting with the Ace.

5. As soon as an Ace becomes available, click and drag it up to an empty Foundation slot.
6. Keep building that suit upward — 2, 3, 4, and so on — whenever the next card becomes available.
7. When all four Foundations are complete (Ace through King), you’ve won the game!

Tips for Success

• There’s no clock and no penalty for taking your time — think through each move calmly.
• Click “Undo” (top right) any time you want to take a move back.
• Click “New Game” whenever you’d like to start over with a fresh deal.
• An empty column can hold a King (and only a King) — this is a handy trick to remember.

If Something Goes Wrong

• Stuck with no moves? Keep clicking the Stock pile to cycle through more cards — there are often more options than they first appear.
• Card won’t move where you want? It probably breaks the “one lower, opposite color” rule — check the picture above.
• Page looks strange or frozen? Simply reload the page and click “New Game.”

Every game of Solitaire is a little different, and that’s exactly why it’s such good, relaxing practice for planning ahead and spotting patterns. Enjoy!