One of the most famous classic card games, Solitaire, also known as Patience, is now available for free online play. This popular single-player card game has won the hearts of countless game lovers worldwide and still attracts more and more enthusiasts. It’s the same classic solitaire you enjoyed on your PC, now ready to be played anytime, anywhere on your phone or tablet.
The aim of Klondike Solitaire is simple yet captivating. You need to place all the cards in four foundation piles, each representing a different suit, in order starting from Ace to King. The game counts your moves and measures the time it takes for you to finish, adding a competitive edge as you strive to beat your previous best games.
Read on to learn more about how to play online Solitaire and acquire some useful tips!
Key Takeaways
- Klondike Solitaire, also known as Patience, is a popular single-player card game available for free online. Its origins were first recorded in the late 18th and early 19th centuries.
- The goal of Klondike Solitaire is to place all the cards in four foundation piles, each divided by suit, in ascending order from Ace to King.
- Understanding the rules of Solitaire is crucial for a fun experience. The game has four different types of piles – The Stock, The Waste, The Foundations, and The Tableau.
- At the start, each tableau pile has a certain amount of facedown cards depending on its position, and the top card of each pile is faced up. The rest of the cards form the stockpile.
- You are permitted to turn up to three cards simultaneously from the stock onto the waste pile. These cards can then be moved onto any tableau or directly onto the foundations.
- Solitaire offers a competitive element, as the game tracks not only the number of moves you make but also the time it takes you to finish a game.
- It is worth following certain strategies to maximize your chances of winning.
- There are over 500 variants of solitaire now, so you can try out other games after mastering the traditional solitaire.
What Are the Origins of Solitaire?
Solitaire is most likely of German or Scandinavian origin. Its first appearances were recorded in the late 1700s and early 1800s. At first, it may have been used mostly for fortune-telling but then evolved into an entertaining strategy game.
After being introduced in Rhineland, it became popular also in , and that’s why some solitaire have a French origin (like tableau meaning “table”). It is said that Napoleon played this card game a lot during his exile, and that’s why Forty Thieves Solitaire is sometimes called Napoleon at St Helena.
Solitaire games had their renaissance in the late 20th century when they were transferred to a digital format and included in Microsoft Windows.
Nowadays, there are over 500 varieties of solitaire, so you can test various possibilities and constantly face new fascinating challenges. As most of them are available to play online for free, you can easily access them and enjoy the gameplay.
What Are the Rules of Solitaire?
To guarantee a fun experience while playing the most popular single-player card game in the world, it’s crucial to have a grip on the rules of solitaire. It can seem tricky at first but becomes more manageable once you understand the fundamental mechanics.
The Different Piles
What sets solitaire apart from other card games are the four different types of piles used. These include:
- The Stock: The pile of facedown cards situated in the upper left or right corner.
- The Waste: The face-up pile located next to the stock.
- The Foundations: The four piles in the upper right or left corner.
- The Tableau: The arrangement of seven piles that make the main table, numbered from 1 to 7, with increasing numbers of cards in each.
The Setup
In the beginning, each tableau pile houses a certain number of facedown cards depending on its position, and the top card of each pile is faced up. The rest of the cards form the stockpile. The setup may differ slightly depending on whether you’re playing on Android, iOS, or a traditional solitaire set.
The Objective
The ultimate goal of Solitaire is rather straightforward. You need to move all the cards onto the Foundation piles. Each Foundation pile represents a suit, and the cards must be arranged in ascending order starting with Ace through King.
Allowed Moves
Throughout the game, you’re allowed to turn up to three cards simultaneously from the stock onto the waste pile. You can then move these cards onto either any tableau or directly onto the foundations. You can also move cards between tableau piles to turn over more facedown cards.
Time and Moves
One of the unique aspects of the online rules of solitaire is that the games track not only the number of moves you make but also the time it takes you to finish a game.
This timing and move tracking adds a compelling competitive element to the game as you strive to complete a round quicker and in fewer moves with each subsequent attempt.
Solitaire Tips and Strategies
When you familiarize yourself with the basic rules of the solitaire card game, it is also worth knowing some tips and strategies to maximize your chances of winnings:
- Reveal facedown cards first: Flipping hidden cards will create more opportunities for building sequences, so you should always prioritize that.
- Distribute the cards between piles: Don’t try too hard to complete a single pile, as by leaving them separated, you will have a wider selection of sets to maneuver around.
- Don’t transfer cards to the foundation too fast: Sometimes, it’s better to keep cards longer in the tableau, as they can help you do some rearrangements to reveal hidden cards faster.
- Avoid empty columns unless you have a king: Don’t clear a tableau column unless you have a king ready to fill it.
- Use the stockpile wisely: Focus on moving cards within the tableau first, and use the stockpile only when you cannot do any more movements.
- Plan your moves carefully: Don’t rush your moves, but play strategically so that every card maneuver opens up more possibilities.
- Move cards from columns with many hidden cards: As revealing facedown cards may help you make progress, you should prioritize columns with many of them.
- Use undo if necessary: Many online solitaire games allow you to undo your moves, so when you make a mistake, go back and fix it so as not to block your progress.
Other Types of Solitaire
When you already know how to play solitaire online, you may be interested in its other interesting variations. There are already over 500 of them, and probably even more will emerge, but so far, some of the most popular ones are as follows:
Klondike Turn 3 Solitaire
Similarities: Klondike Turn 3 Solitaire follows the same basic rules as traditional Klondike solitaire, where you build tableau piles by alternating colors and foundation piles by suit.
Differences: Instead of drawing one card at a time from the deck, you draw three at once, adding a layer of difficulty and requiring more strategy.
Spider Solitaire
- Similarities: Spider Solitaire uses tableau columns where cards are built down in descending order and by suit.
- Differences: The game is played with two decks of cards, and you need to build complete sequences from King to Ace before removing them. Unlike traditional solitaire, suits matter when building sequences.
FreeCell Solitaire
- Similarities: FreeCell Solitaire involves moving cards between tableau columns and building foundation piles by suit in ascending order.
- Differences: All cards are visible from the start, giving players full information. The challenge lies in strategic planning and using the four “free cells” to temporarily store cards.
Yukon Solitaire
- Similarities: In Yukon Solitaire, players build tableau columns in descending order and alternate colors.
- Differences: All cards are dealt at the beginning, and you can move groups of face-up cards, even if they’re not in a fully descending sequence. Also, no draw pile is used.
Canfield Solitaire
- Similarities: In Canfield Solitaire, Players build sequences in the tableau alternating colors and move cards to foundation piles.
- Differences: The reserve pile is unique to this game, where 13 cards are dealt face-up, and only the top card can be played. The foundation starts with one card, and the other piles must be built up from this rank.
The Bottom Line
We’ve taken you through the ins and outs of free online Solitaire, from the game’s setup to the strategic moves that can improve your game. It’s clear that the real beauty of Solitaire lies in its simplicity and the strategic depth hidden within.
As we’ve seen, every pile has a role to play and understanding these roles is key to mastering the game. With its mix of luck and strategy, Solitaire is never the same game twice. So whether you’re a seasoned player or a beginner, there’s always a new challenge waiting for you. Who knows? You might just find your next favorite pastime.Don’t hesitate to dive in and play free Solitaire online now on our website or mobile app!