A Complete Overview of 20+ Var Advanced Tips

Quick Answer: There are over 150 documented solitaire variants, but most players encounter about 20 major ones. They fall into four main mechanic categories: building games (Klondike, Spider, FreeCell), pairing games (Pyramid, Golf), reserve-based games (Canfield, Forty Thieves), and network games (Accordion). Each category offers a fundamentally different kind of challenge.

The world of solitaire is far larger than most players realize. The classic Klondike game that shipped with Windows is just one of more than 150 documented patience variants collected by card game historians. This guide provides a comprehensive overview of 20+ solitaire variants grouped by their core mechanic, so you can quickly find games that match your interests and skill level.

Category 1: Foundation-Building Games (Sequence-Based)

Foundation-building games share a common goal: move all cards to four (or more) foundation piles in ordered sequences. This is the mechanic most people associate with solitaire.

Klondike

Difficulty: Moderate | Win Rate: ~43% (Turn 1) | Decks: 1

The most-played solitaire game in the world. Seven tableau columns, alternating-color descending sequences, one stock pile. Cards move to four foundations Ace→King by suit. The defining elements are the face-down hidden cards and the stock pile management.

Play Klondike at Soliatre.us. Full rules: Klondike complete guide.

Spider

Difficulty: Hard–Expert | Win Rate: 30–80% (varies by suit mode) | Decks: 2

Ten-column tableau with 104 cards. Build same-suit sequences King→Ace to remove them to the foundations. Available in 1-suit (easy), 2-suit (moderate), and 4-suit (expert) modes. The 4-suit version is considered one of the most challenging mainstream solitaire games.

Play Spider at Soliatre.us. Strategy guide: Spider 4-suit strategy.

FreeCell

Difficulty: Easy (strategic) | Win Rate: ~99% | Decks: 1

All 52 cards face-up in 8 tableau columns. Four "free cells" as temporary storage. Theoretically nearly unsolvable — 99.999% of deals have a solution. Rewards deep planning over luck.

Play FreeCell at Soliatre.us. Strategy guide: How to win FreeCell consistently.

Yukon

Difficulty: Hard | Win Rate: ~40–50% | Decks: 1

Like Klondike but with no stock pile — all cards dealt to the tableau. The unique mechanic is group moves: any face-up card or group can be moved together regardless of sequence order. This creates extremely complex strategic possibilities.

Play Yukon at Soliatre.us. Strategy guide: Yukon strategy guide.

Forty Thieves (Napoleon at St. Helena)

Difficulty: Very Hard | Win Rate: ~5–10% | Decks: 2

Ten columns of 4 cards each, using 2 decks (104 cards). Only the top card of each column is available. Sequences must be the same suit. One of the most restrictive and difficult of all patience games, named after Napoleon's alleged favorite game during his exile on St. Helena.

Reference: [Forty Thieves Rules](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patience_(game).

La Belle Lucie

Difficulty: Expert | Win Rate: ~1–2% | Decks: 1

17 fans of 3 cards plus 1 single card. Only the top card of each fan is playable. Same-suit building. Extremely low win rate makes each victory highly satisfying. A classic game from Victorian-era patience collections.

Canfield (Demon)

Difficulty: Very Hard | Win Rate: ~3–5% | Decks: 1

Named after gambler Richard Canfield, who allegedly charged $1 per game and paid $5 per card moved to foundations. Four-column tableau, reserve pile of 13 cards, stock drawn 3 at a time. The game has a very low win rate partly by design — Canfield reportedly profited from it as a gambling game.

Category 2: Pairing Games

Pairing games use a matching mechanic rather than sequence building. Cards are removed by pairing cards whose values meet a specific relationship.

Pyramid

Difficulty: Hard | Win Rate: ~10–15% | Decks: 1

Cards arranged in a 7-row pyramid. Remove pairs summing to 13 (Ace+Queen, 2+Jack, 3+10, 4+9, 5+8, 6+7, King alone). Lowest win rate of major variants due to the rigid structure limiting accessible cards.

Play Pyramid at Soliatre.us. Strategy guide: Pyramid winning strategy.

Golf Solitaire

Difficulty: Easy | Win Rate: ~40–50% | Decks: 1

Seven columns of 5 cards. Play cards from any column onto the waste pile if they are one rank higher or lower than the top waste card (Ace wraps around King in some versions). Simple, fast, and satisfying. Typical game completes in 3–8 minutes.

Tri-Peaks (Three Peaks)

Difficulty: Easy–Moderate | Win Rate: ~45–50% | Decks: 1

Cards arranged in three overlapping pyramid peaks. Remove exposed cards that are one rank higher or lower than the current waste card, building a continuous chain. Popular digital variant with streak and bonus scoring.

Accordion

Difficulty: Hard | Win Rate: ~1% | Decks: 1

Cards dealt in a line; move cards onto matching neighbors (matching suit or rank) 1 or 3 positions left. The goal is to compress all 52 cards into one pile. Win rate is nearly 0%, but partial success (getting down to 2–5 piles) is achievable and rewarding.

Category 3: Reserve-Based Games

Reserve-based games feature a specific "reserve" pile or structure that provides additional cards to the tableau under controlled conditions.

Canfield (described above) fits this category too.

Scorpion

Difficulty: Moderate–Hard | Win Rate: ~45%| Decks: 1

Seven columns, same-suit building (like Spider). The entire face-up portion of any column can be moved as a group if the bottom card can legally stack. Three reserve cards are dealt to the left three columns when stuck. More flexible than Spider, fewer columns.

Wasp

Difficulty: Moderate | Win Rate: ~50–60% | Decks: 1

Similar to Scorpion but with three reserve cards dealt to columns 7, 8, and 9. Some rule variations allow any card to be placed in empty columns. Generally considered easier than Scorpion.

Category 4: Network/Fan Games

These games use specific non-rectangular layouts.

La Belle Lucie (Fan games)

Described above in building games, but structurally fits the fan layout category.

Flower Garden

Difficulty: Moderate | Win Rate: ~30%| Decks: 1

Six columns of 6 cards (the "flower beds") plus a 16-card reserve "garden." Any garden card can be played at any time. Building by suit and rank. More flexible than Klondike due to the accessible reserve.

Category 5: Specialized Solitaire Variants

Double Klondike

Difficulty: Moderate | Win Rate: ~40%| Decks: 2

Klondike played with two decks (104 cards) and a larger 9-column tableau. Requires 8 foundation piles (two per suit). Greater complexity and longer sessions than standard Klondike.

Russian Solitaire

Difficulty: Hard | Win Rate: ~40%| Decks: 1

Similar to Yukon. Seven columns, same-suit building (not alternating color). All cards dealt to tableau, no stock pile. Only cards of the correct suit can continue a sequence, making it significantly harder than Yukon.

Agnes

Difficulty: Moderate | Win Rate: ~30%| Decks: 1

Klondike variant where foundations start with a randomly dealt base card (not necessarily Ace) and build up from there by suit. The initial base card creates interesting strategic variations each game.

Complete Summary Table

| Game | Category | Decks | Win Rate | Difficulty | |------|----------|-------|----------|------------| | Klondike | Building | 1 | ~43% | Moderate | | FreeCell | Building | 1 | ~99% | Easy-Strategic | | Spider 1-suit | Building | 2 | ~75% | Easy-Moderate | | Spider 4-suit | Building | 2 | ~35% | Expert | | Yukon | Building | 1 | ~45% | Hard | | Forty Thieves | Building | 2 | ~8% | Very Hard | | La Belle Lucie | Building | 1 | ~2% | Expert | | Pyramid | Pairing | 1 | ~12% | Hard | | Golf | Pairing | 1 | ~45% | Easy | | Tri-Peaks | Pairing | 1 | ~47% | Easy-Moderate | | Accordion | Pairing | 1 | ~1% | Expert | | Scorpion | Reserve | 1 | ~45% | Moderate-Hard | | Flower Garden | Reserve | 1 | ~30% | Moderate | | Double Klondike | Building | 2 | ~40% | Moderate | | Russian Solitaire | Building | 1 | ~40% | Hard | | Canfield | Reserve | 1 | ~3% | Very Hard |

For the authoritative reference on rules for all these variants, [Solitaire Card Games Encyclopedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patience_(game) is the most comprehensive free resource. Historical documentation is also available at the [Wikipedia patience article](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patience_(game).

For choosing where to start, see our solitaire variations for beginners guide and solitaire difficulty levels explained.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many solitaire variants exist?

More than 150 documented solitaire variants exist in card game literature. Most players regularly play about 5–10 variants. Major digital platforms typically offer 5–20 variants.

What is the most popular solitaire game?

Klondike solitaire is the most played variant worldwide — largely because it shipped with every version of Windows from 1990 onward. Spider is the second most popular, followed by FreeCell. Together these three games account for the vast majority of solitaire play.

What type of solitaire is easiest to learn?

Golf Solitaire and Pyramid are mechanically the simplest to learn (no sequence building required). Klondike Turn 1 is the easiest "building" variant and the best starting point for learning the full solitaire experience. FreeCell is easy once the supermove concept is understood.

What is the rarest or most obscure solitaire game?

La Belle Lucie, Flower Garden, and Accordion are among the more obscure games that serious patience players know well. Truly obscure variants like "Miss Milligan" or "Demon" (the British name for Canfield) are rarely found in digital apps but are documented in historical patience books.

What solitaire game gives the best challenge?

Spider 4-suit and La Belle Lucie provide the most sustained challenge for experienced players. Spider 4-suit offers strategic depth that takes years to master; La Belle Lucie tests whether you can solve seemingly impossible deals. Forty Thieves is another excellent challenge game with very low win rates.

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💡 Gameplay Rule Clarification (2026)

Remember that low-value cards (Aces and Twos) should always be moved to the foundations immediately as they serve no strategic building purpose on the tableau. Pace your draws to prevent early card congestion.