How to Play Russian Solitaire: Rules, Setup, & Winning Tactics

If you are looking for a game that will truly test your patience and strategic planning, look no further than Russian Solitaire. Often considered one of the most difficult solitaire variants in existence, it is a brutal but rewarding twist on the classic Yukon Solitaire.

Here is everything you need to know to play, survive, and eventually win.

The Setup

The tableau setup for Russian Solitaire is identical to Yukon:

1. The game uses a standard 52-card deck.
2. Cards are dealt into 7 tableau columns.
3. The first column gets 1 card, the second gets 2, and so on (just like Klondike).
4. The remaining 21 cards are then dealt face-up onto the columns, starting from the second column.
5. There is no stockpile. Every single card is on the board from the very beginning.

The Brutal Rules of Russian Solitaire

The goal is standard: build four foundation piles by suit, from Ace to King.

However, moving cards in the tableau is where Russian Solitaire earns its fearsome reputation.

• You can move any face-up card (and all cards stacked on top of it) as a group. The cards do not need to be in order.
• The Catch: You can only place a card onto another card if it is one rank higher and of the EXACT SAME SUIT.

Example: You can only move a 6 of Spades onto a 7 of Spades. In Yukon, you would move it onto a 7 of Hearts or Diamonds.

This single rule change makes the game incredibly restrictive.

Expert Survival Tactics

Because you are forced to build in-suit, your options are severely limited.

1. Expose Face-Down Cards Immediately

Your absolute top priority is flipping over the face-down cards. Because every move requires the exact same suit, having cards trapped face-down will paralyze you. Prioritize any move that uncovers a hidden card.

2. Plan 3 Moves Ahead

Before you move a card to an empty column (which only accepts Kings), ensure you aren’t burying a card you will need later. In Russian Solitaire, reversing a mistake is almost impossible without an "Undo" button.

3. Don’t Rush to the Foundation

Sometimes, keeping a lower card in the tableau is better than moving it to the foundation, because it might be the only card available to hold a sequence you need to move.

Russian Solitaire has a low win rate, so don’t get discouraged. When you finally clear the board, it is one of the most satisfying victories in all of card gaming!