How to Play Solitaire

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Solitaire is a board game that is easy to learn but has enough depth to keep improving at. This guide walks you through the rules, the controls and the key tips beginners need to play confidently within a couple of rounds. You can play right here on this page — the game is embedded above.

— The basics

What is Solitaire?

Solitaire — also known as Klondike — is the single most played card game in the world, and this free online version brings the full experience to your browser. The goal is to move all 52 cards to the four foundation piles, building each suit in order from Ace up to King. Along the way you reorganise the seven tableau columns into neat alternating-colour runs.

Solitaire is the perfect mix of luck and skill. Every deal is solvable far more often than not, but careful planning is what separates a quick win from a stuck board. It is a calm, focused game that suits a five-minute coffee break just as well as a longer relaxing session. No account, no download — your game starts the moment the page loads.

— Step-by-step controls

How to play — the steps

Step 1: Click a card to select, click destination to move
Step 2: Tableau: alternating colors descending
Step 3: Foundations: same suit, A → K
Step 4: Click the deck to draw

— Beginner tips

Beginner tips for Solitaire

Always free up face-down cards first — turning them over opens new moves.
Do not rush Aces and 2s to the foundation if they still help the tableau.
Empty a column only when you have a King ready to move into it.
Draw from the deck when you are stuck — a fresh card often unblocks the board.
Think before every move; one wasted draw can cost you the game.

— Advanced strategy

Level up — advanced Solitaire strategy

The single highest-value strategic concept in Klondike Solitaire is "column priority". Not all face-down cards are equal — the face-down cards in the longest columns are statistically the hardest to reach, and they are the ones most likely to leave you stuck if they reveal a card you cannot place. Expert players prioritise revealing face-down cards in the longest columns first, even when shorter columns have easier face-downs to reach. The logic is mathematical: if a long column hides a card you need access to and you do not reach it before running out of moves elsewhere, the game becomes unwinnable. Spending early effort to crack open long columns is the single change that most improves win rates.

The second crucial concept is "foundation discipline". The instinct is to send every Ace and 2 to the foundation pile the moment they appear, because that feels like progress. The expert understanding is the opposite: low cards in the foundation are unrecoverable, while low cards in the tableau can still serve as building blocks for sequences. Sending a 2 to the foundation too early can leave a key 3 in the tableau with no smaller card to sit on, which deadlocks part of the board. The correct rule is to only send a card to the foundation when it is no longer useful in the tableau — usually meaning the card immediately below it (in the foundation order) is also already in the foundation. This discipline alone moves intermediate players into the advanced bracket.

— Where to play

Play Solitaire free right now

You can play Solitaire free on GameJadoo — no download, no sign-up, works on any modern phone, tablet or computer. The game is embedded above so you can start playing while the guide is still open, or visit the full Solitaire game page for related guides, achievements and share options.

— Frequently asked questions

How to play Solitaire — FAQ

Is Solitaire hard to learn?

No. Solitaire is designed so anyone can pick it up in under a minute. The full ruleset above is short, the controls are intuitive, and most players are playing confidently by their second or third round.

Do I need to install anything to play Solitaire?

No. Solitaire runs directly in your web browser using HTML5. There is no installer, no download, no plugin — just open the page and play.

Can I play Solitaire on my phone?

Yes. Solitaire works on phones and tablets with touch controls. The controls scale to any screen size, and you can play in portrait or landscape.

What is the best strategy for Solitaire?

Start with the basics — Always free up face-down cards first — turning them over opens new moves. As you get more comfortable, the tips section above covers the advanced techniques that separate casual play from personal-best runs.