Learn how to play classic Klondike Solitaire, including the setup, tableau rules, stock pile, foundations, legal moves, and beginner tips.
How to Play Solitaire
Solitaire is a classic single-player card game where the goal is simple: move every card from the tableau and stock into the four foundation piles. You can play classic Solitaire on Solitaire Arcade while you learn the rules.
Most people are talking about Klondike Solitaire when they say "Solitaire". It is the familiar version with seven tableau columns, a stock pile, a waste pile, and four foundations. The rules are easy to learn, but good play comes from patience, timing, and knowing when not to rush a card to the foundation.
The Goal of Solitaire
The aim is to build four foundation piles, one for each suit.
Each foundation starts with an Ace and builds upward in order: Ace, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, Jack, Queen, King.
You win when all 52 cards have been moved to the foundations.
Solitaire Setup
Classic Klondike Solitaire uses one standard 52-card deck.
The board has four main areas: the tableau, stock, waste, and foundations.
Tableau
The tableau is the main playing area. It has seven columns.
The first column has one card, the second column has two cards, the third has three cards, and so on until the seventh column has seven cards. Only the top card in each column starts face up. The rest are face down.
Stock
The stock is the face-down pile of remaining cards. After the tableau is dealt, 24 cards are left in the stock.
You draw from the stock when you need more cards.
Waste
Cards drawn from the stock move to the waste pile. The top card of the waste pile may be played to the tableau or to a foundation if it has a legal move.
Foundations
The four foundation piles start empty. Each foundation is built by suit from Ace to King.
How to Play Solitaire Step by Step
Start by looking at the face-up cards in the tableau. These are the cards you can move straight away.
You can move a face-up card onto another tableau card if it is one rank lower and the opposite colour. For example, a black 9 can be placed on a red 10. A red Queen can be placed on a black King.
When you move a face-up card and reveal a face-down card underneath, turn that face-down card over. Revealing hidden cards is one of the most important parts of the game.
If you uncover an Ace, move it to an empty foundation pile. Then build that foundation upward by suit as more cards become available.
When there are no useful tableau moves, draw from the stock. In Draw 1 Solitaire, one card is turned over at a time. In Draw 3 Solitaire, three cards are turned over at a time, and only the top available waste card can be played.
If you empty a tableau column, only a King can fill that space. You may also move a valid sequence that starts with a King into an empty column.
The best way to practice is to play Solitaire online and work through a few hands while these rules are fresh.
Important Solitaire Rules
You can only move face-up cards. Face-down cards must stay where they are until uncovered.
Tableau cards build downward in alternating colours. Foundations build upward by suit.
A valid sequence can be moved together if it already follows the correct alternating-colour order. For example, a red 8, black 7, and red 6 can move together onto a black 9.
Empty tableau columns can only be filled with a King or a sequence starting with a King.
Aces and low cards usually belong in the foundations early, but higher cards should not always be rushed. Sometimes a card is more useful in the tableau because it helps reveal hidden cards or build a better sequence.
Draw 1 vs Draw 3 Solitaire
The main difference is how many cards are turned from the stock.
Draw 1 Solitaire turns over one card at a time. It is more forgiving because every stock card becomes available in order.
Draw 3 Solitaire turns over three cards at a time. This makes the game more strategic because some cards may be covered by the cards above them in the waste pile. You often need to think about stock order and plan several moves ahead.
For most beginners, Draw 1 is the better place to start. Draw 3 is a stronger challenge once you are comfortable with the basic rules. Read Draw 1 vs Draw 3 Solitaire to choose a mode, and Best Draw 3 Solitaire Strategies for waste-pile habits. If you want a different challenge after Klondike, try our How to Play FreeCell guide, How to Play Spider Solitaire guide, or How to Play Tri Peaks guide.
Beginner Solitaire Tips
Focus on revealing face-down cards. The more cards you uncover, the more options you have.
Work on the longer tableau columns first when you can. They hide more cards, so clearing them often gives you better control of the board.
Move Aces and 2s to the foundations early. These cards rarely help in the tableau once they are available for the foundation.
Do not automatically move every card to the foundation. Mid-rank cards can be useful for building tableau sequences, especially when you are trying to uncover hidden cards.
Create empty columns carefully. An empty column is powerful, but only if you have a King ready to use it.
Before drawing from the stock, check the tableau. A quiet-looking tableau move may reveal a card that changes the whole hand.
For more depth on timing and tableau work, read our Klondike strategy basics article.
Common Solitaire Mistakes
One common mistake is moving cards to the foundation too quickly. A legal foundation move is not always the best move.
Another mistake is filling an empty column with the first King you see. If possible, choose the King that helps reveal the most hidden cards or supports the strongest sequence.
Players also get stuck when they cycle the stock too quickly. In Draw 3 especially, the order of the waste pile matters. Slow down and notice which cards become available after each pass. For Draw 3-specific depth, see Best Draw 3 Solitaire Strategies.
Quick Solitaire FAQ
Is Solitaire the same as Klondike?
Usually, yes. "Solitaire" can refer to many single-player card games, but classic Solitaire most often means Klondike Solitaire.
How do you win Solitaire?
You win by moving all 52 cards to the four foundation piles, building each suit from Ace to King.
Can any card go into an empty tableau column?
No. Only a King, or a sequence that starts with a King, can be moved into an empty tableau column.
Is Draw 1 or Draw 3 easier?
Draw 1 is easier because you turn over one stock card at a time. Draw 3 is harder because card access depends more heavily on waste-pile order.
Should I always move cards to the foundation?
No. Aces and 2s are usually safe to move, but higher cards can sometimes be more useful in the tableau. Good Solitaire play is about knowing when to build foundations and when to keep cards available.
Play Solitaire
Now that you know the basic rules, the best way to learn is to play a few hands of Solitaire. Start with Draw 1 Solitaire, focus on revealing hidden cards, and build the foundations steadily when the timing is right.
