Complete guide
How to play Klondike Solitaire
Build each foundation from Ace to King in the same suit. On the tableau, place cards in descending order while alternating red and black. Turn every hidden card face up and move all 52 cards to the foundations to win.
The objective
Deal a fresh game of classic Klondike instantly — no download, no registration, and no interruption. Choose Draw 1 for a relaxed game or Draw 3 for the traditional challenge.
Move all 52 cards to the four foundation piles. Each foundation follows one suit and builds upward from Ace to King.
The layout
- Stock: the face-down pile used to reveal new cards.
- Waste: cards turned over from the stock; only the available top card can be played.
- Tableau: seven columns where cards build downward in alternating colours.
- Foundations: four suit piles built upward from Ace to King.
How to play Klondike Solitaire
- Tap the stock to reveal cards into the waste pile.
- Build tableau columns downward in alternating colors.
- Move only a King — or a stack beginning with a King — to an empty column.
- Double-click an available card to send it to its foundation.
Draw 1 and Draw 3
Draw 1 turns over one stock card at a time and is the more forgiving mode. Draw 3 reveals up to three cards; only the exposed card is available until cards above it are moved.
Moving cards on desktop and mobile
Drag a face-up card or a valid descending stack to its destination. On touch devices, you can also tap a card or stack and then tap the destination column or foundation.
Double-click or double-tap an available card to send it to a valid foundation automatically.
Simple strategy that wins more games
Reveal hidden tableau cards before making tidy but unhelpful foundation moves. Keep empty columns available for Kings, and scan the full stock before committing to a sequence.
- Prioritize the column with the most face-down cards.
- Move Aces and Twos to the foundations early.
- Keep lower cards in play when they unlock a useful sequence.
- Use Undo to explore a line without losing the deal.
Klondike Solitaire FAQ
What is the difference between Draw 1 and Draw 3?
Draw 1 reveals one stock card at a time and is easier. Draw 3 reveals three cards at a time, fans them across the waste pile, and only the rightmost card is available to play.
Is every Klondike deal winnable?
No. A truly random shuffle can produce an unsolvable deal. The daily game lets everyone compare their result on the same shuffle.
Can I play on a phone or tablet?
Yes. Tap a card or valid stack, then tap its destination. The board scales for touch screens without placing advertising over the cards.
What is the goal of Klondike Solitaire?
Move all 52 cards to the four foundations. Each foundation begins with an Ace and builds upward to the King in the same suit.
How do I move a stack of cards?
Select the first face-up card in a valid descending, alternating-color run, then select the destination column. You can also drag the stack on devices that support dragging.
Why can’t I move a card to an empty column?
Only a King, or a valid sequence beginning with a King, can move into an empty tableau column.
How does scoring work?
You earn points for moving cards to foundations, revealing hidden tableau cards, and moving waste cards into play. Recycling the stock or returning a foundation card costs points.
Can I undo a move?
Yes. Undo restores the previous game state, including cards, score, and move count. You can step backward through up to 40 recent positions.
What is the daily challenge?
The daily challenge uses the same date-based shuffle for every player. Starting it again on the same day gives you the same deal so you can try a better route.
What happens when the stock is empty?
Select the empty stock space to recycle the waste pile. The cards return face down and preserve the correct order for the next pass.
Does the game save my progress?
Your basic statistics are saved in this browser. The current unfinished deal is not stored, so refreshing the page starts the deal again.
Is Klondike Solitaire free to play?
Yes. The game is free, requires no account, and works directly in your browser.