How to Win at Solitaire: 12 Klondike Tips That Really Work
Klondike Solitaire looks like pure luck, but two players with the same deal often get different results. These habits will turn many of your "stuck" games into wins.
Before you move anything
1. Look at the whole table first
Take five seconds. Where are the Aces and 2s? Which column has the most face-down cards? The most important job in Klondike is turning those hidden cards over, and the long columns on the right hide the most.
2. Play from the tableau before the stock
Make every useful move on the table before you touch the stock. Each move on the table can uncover a hidden card; a card from the stock uncovers nothing.
Which moves to choose
3. Free the column with the most hidden cards
When you have two possible moves, pick the one that works on the longer stack of face-down cards. Columns 6 and 7 start with 5 and 6 hidden cards; leaving them until last is a common way to lose.
4. Always play Aces and 2s to the foundation
They are never useful on the table. Cheettukali does this for you with auto-move turned on.
5. Don't rush other cards to the foundations
A black 5 on its foundation can't hold a red 4 for you any more. Send middle cards up only when both cards of the other colour one rank lower are already there, or when it frees a hidden card.
6. Don't empty a column unless a King is ready
An empty column only takes a King. If no King can go there soon, emptying it wastes moves; sometimes it's better to leave a card in place.
7. Choose your King carefully
When you can move a King into an empty space, ask which colour you need. If the next cards you can see are a red Queen and a black Jack, a black King fits better.
8. Keep your options balanced
Try to build down in both colours. If every column ends in black, a red card from the stock has nowhere to go.
Using the stock
9. In Draw 3, count where cards will fall
In Draw 3 only every third card is playable. Playing one card from the waste shifts the order of the whole next pass, which can bring a buried card to the top. Sometimes playing a card you don't need is worth it for that reason.
10. Don't go through the stock blindly
If a full pass of the stock produces nothing, look at the table again before going round: maybe a card should come back down from a foundation.
Good habits
11. Use undo to learn, not just to escape
On a lost game, go back a few moves and try the other choice. You'll start to see which decisions matter.
12. Start with Draw 1
Draw 1 lets you reach every card, so far more games can be won. It's the best way to learn the patterns before moving to the classic Draw 3.
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FAQ
What is the most important Solitaire tip?
Turn over face-down cards, especially in the long columns on the right. Choose the move that uncovers a hidden card whenever you can.
Should I always move cards to the foundation?
Aces and 2s, yes. Other cards only when you won't need them on the table to hold lower cards of the other colour.
Is Draw 1 or Draw 3 easier?
Draw 1. Every card in the stock is reachable on every pass.