Solitaire Rules
Whether you are settling a friendly debate or learning the game for the first time, this page is the definitive reference for solitaire rules. We cover every aspect of classic Klondike solitaire as well as rule summaries for Spider, FreeCell, Pyramid, and Yukon.
Card Dealing Rules
Klondike solitaire uses one standard 52-card deck, shuffled thoroughly before dealing. No jokers are used.
The Tableau
Deal seven columns from left to right. The first column gets one card, the second gets two, the third gets three, and so on until the seventh column has seven cards. Only the topmost card in each column is dealt face up; all others remain face down. This uses 28 of the 52 cards.
The Stock Pile
The remaining 24 cards are placed face down in a single pile called the stock (also known as the hand or draw pile). Cards are drawn from the stock when no moves are available on the tableau.
The Foundations
Four empty foundation piles sit above the tableau. Each foundation will hold one complete suit, built from Ace through King. The game is won when all four foundations are complete.
Valid Moves
Tableau-to-Tableau
A face-up card may be placed on another face-up card that is one rank higher and of the opposite color. For example, a red 5 may be placed on a black 6. Properly ordered sequences of face-up cards can be moved as a group.
Tableau-to-Foundation
Cards are placed on a foundation pile in ascending order by suit, starting with the Ace. You may move the topmost face-up card from any tableau column or the waste pile to the appropriate foundation.
Stock-to-Waste
Draw cards from the stock by flipping them onto the waste pile. In turn-one mode, one card is flipped at a time. In turn-three mode, three cards are flipped and only the top card is playable. When the stock is empty, the waste pile is turned over to form a new stock.
Filling Empty Columns
In Klondike, only a King (or a sequence beginning with a King) may be placed in an empty tableau column. This rule does not apply to FreeCell or Spider, where any card can fill an empty column.
Revealing Hidden Cards
Whenever the topmost card of a tableau column is moved, the card beneath it (if face down) is turned face up. Revealing hidden cards is one of the primary objectives in solitaire.
Scoring System
| Action | Standard | Vegas |
|---|---|---|
| Card to foundation | +10 points | +$5 |
| Card flipped face up on tableau | +5 points | -- |
| Card moved from foundation to tableau | -15 points | -- |
| Recycling waste pile (turn three) | -20 points | -- |
| Starting balance (Vegas) | -- | -$52 |
In timed scoring mode, additional points are deducted based on elapsed time: 2 points for every 10 seconds of play. This encourages faster decision-making.
Rule Variations by Game
House Rules and Variations
While the rules above represent standard solitaire, many players enjoy house rule variations:
- Undo off foundation: Some versions allow moving a card back from the foundation to the tableau if it is needed for a sequence.
- Unlimited stock cycles: Standard Klondike allows three passes through the stock; some versions allow infinite recycling.
- Peek mode: Some players allow looking at the next card in the stock before drawing.
- Auto-play endings: When only one legal move remains (usually moving to foundations), some versions automatically complete the game.
Rule Edge Cases
Here are clarifications on situations that sometimes cause confusion:
- Can you move a sequence across multiple columns? Yes. If you have an ordered sequence (e.g., 9♥-8♠-7♦), you can move all three cards together to a column with a 10.
- What if two sequences can overlap? You can only place a sequence on a single receiving card. You cannot split sequences.
- If the waste pile is empty but the stock has cards, can you draw? Yes. Draw from the stock and place the card(s) on the waste pile.
- Can you play a King on a Queen if they are in the same column? No. Moving a King onto a Queen violates the descending order rule.
Spider Solitaire
- Uses two full decks (104 cards) dealt across ten tableau columns.
- No foundation piles on the table -- complete sequences (King to Ace of the same suit) are automatically removed.
- New rows of ten cards are dealt from the stock when no moves are available (all columns must be filled first).
- Can be played with one, two, or four suits for varying difficulty levels.
FreeCell
- Uses one deck dealt entirely face up across eight tableau columns.
- Four free cells act as temporary storage for individual cards.
- Only one card can be moved at a time (group moves are shortcuts based on available free cells).
- Nearly every deal (over 99.99%) is solvable with perfect play.
Pyramid Solitaire
- Cards are dealt in a pyramid of 28 cards (seven rows).
- Remove pairs of exposed cards that add up to 13 (King = 13 and is removed alone).
- Draw through the stock pile to find matching pairs.
- Win by clearing the entire pyramid.
Yukon Solitaire
- Similar layout to Klondike but all remaining cards are dealt face up on columns 2 through 7.
- No stock pile or waste pile -- all cards are in play from the start.
- Any face-up card can be moved regardless of sequence, as long as the destination follows alternating-color descending order.
- Foundation building is the same as Klondike: Ace to King by suit.