The oldest traces of people playing cards come from 10th-century China, and since then, more and more fascinating games have been invented. One of the most outstanding ones for a single player is definitely Solitaire. It helps us to relax, stimulate our brain, improve our strategic thinking, and forget about everyday problems for a while.
How long has Solitaire been around, and who invented it? Like the cards themselves, Solitaire games have traveled through centuries and across continents. Keep on reading to learn more about Solitaire history!
Who Invented the Card Game Solitaire? When Did It Emerge?
The exact origin of Solitaire is still unclear, but it was most likely created in , , or Scandinavia by an unknown inventor. It was probably developed from a fortune-telling game, as cards had particular meanings, and their combinations were interpreted to predict the future, similar to tarot.
And when was Solitaire invented? Its first recorded mention comes from an 18th-century German text entitled Das Neue Königliche L’Hombre-Spiel, which translates to “The New Royal L’Hombre” (L’Hombre was a 17th-century card game of Spanish origin). The text was a collection of instructions for playing many different games, and it included the Solitaire rules.
Solitaire is the name used for the game in the USA and Canada, but in most of Europe, it was known as Patience. Interestingly, in Scandinavia and Eastern Europe, it was referred to as Kabale, originating from the word cabal, which means “secret” or “mystery.”
Both the names Solitaire and Patience come from the French language, similar to the names of some game variants (like Le Cadran) or even from a basic Solitaire glossary (such as “tableau”). A large portion of the early literature describing it also comes from , so even though the first record comes from , it is very likely that Solitaire comes from that country.
Nonetheless, many books on Solitaire games were also printed in Sweden in the early 19th century, so it is also possible that the origin of Solitaire is there. The truth is still undiscovered!
The Rise of Solitaire Popularity in the 19th Century
Solitaire noticeably rose in popularity in the 19th century. One theory is that at that time, cards were becoming more commonly used for fortune-telling. It was believed that winning at Solitaire meant that the player’s wish would come true.
Another theory is that Solitaire and other card games became more popular in the 19th century due to technological developments. Thanks to industrial revolutions and urbanizations, people were able to spend less time working while achieving similar results and gained more free time. Therefore, they were searching for new ways to entertain themselves, and Solitaire was one of them.
Interestingly, women started to write books about Solitaire (or Patience) in the 19th century. Some of the most famous ones include Games of Patience for One or More Players by Mary Whitmore Jones and Illustrated Games of Patience by Lady Adelaide Cadogan.
They were useful handbooks explaining the rules and showing the layouts of multiple Solitaire varieties.
Historical Figures Who Enjoyed Solitaire
Here are some of the famous historical figures who are said to have enjoyed playing Solitaire games:
- Napoleon Bonaparte: A famous French emperor who was exiled to Saint Helena Island at the end of his life. It is claimed that he played a lot of Solitaire there to kill boredom and stimulate his tactical mind. There is even a Solitaire variant named after him – Napoleon at St Helena (also called Josephine Solitaire.
- Richard Albert Canfield: A prominent American businessman and art collector. He also was commemorated by naming a game after him – Canfield Solitaire.
- Winston Churchill: A British statesman, military officer, and Prime Minister of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is said to have played one of the most challenging versions of the game, which is also now called after him – Churchill Solitaire.
The Renaissance of Solitaire – 20th Century Digital Editions
The initial digital adaptations of Solitaire were designed for such computers as Commodore 64 or Amiga 500 in the 1980s. However, the true renaissance of the game started when it appeared in the Microsoft Windows operating system.
Microsoft was considering including a few games in the basic version of Windows 3.0 in 1990. They decided to add Minesweeper and also Solitaire, as they had an intern already working on it. The concept of using a mouse and performing a drag-and-drop movement was still new at that time, so Solitaire helped the s familiarize themselves with it.
As they developed their new system, they created an updated version of the game as well. Windows 95 Solitaire gained huge popularity, and since then, Microsoft has included Solitaire games in every Windows operating system they released.
Apart from the Spider Solitaire.
Interestingly, in 2019, Microsoft Windows Solitaire was added to the World Video Game Hall of Fame. Well-deserved recognition!
How Does Solitaire History Develop in the 21st Century?
Nowadays, with common access to the Internet, many players enjoy playing Solitaire online. Interestingly, now it doesn’t just have to be a single-player experience – you can also play Solitaire socially and take part in various competitions to test your skills.
What’s more, as most people now use smartphones, Solitaire also made its way to mobile apps. You can simply the game on your mobile device and play it wherever you are, often also without an internet connection.
Now that you know the history of Solitaire, visit Solitaire.com and play this fascinating game straight from your browser, or our app on your phone or tablet!