Play Solitaire for free
Solitaire is a classic card game for one player, and you can play it free in your web browser here on Kitchen Table Cards. It is the well-known Klondike version, also called Patience, with large cards, an Undo button and no time limit. There is nothing to download and you do not need an account.
What is Solitaire? · How to play · Allowed moves · Tips · Questions
What is Solitaire?
Solitaire (Klondike) is a patience game played with a standard 52-card deck. The goal is to sort every card into four piles, one for each suit, in order from Ace up to King. It became famous worldwide when it was included free on Windows computers from 1990, and it is still one of the most-played card games in the world.
Here is how to play the card game Solitaire
The goal of Solitaire is to get all the cards onto the four Foundation piles in the upper right corner. The Foundations start out empty, and each one is built up in a single suit from Ace to King.
There are seven columns of cards on the main table, called the Tableau. They are numbered 1 to 7 from left to right. Column 1 has one card, column 2 has two cards and so on. Only the top card of each column starts face up.
The Stock is the face-down pile in the upper left corner. It holds the cards left over after the Tableau has been dealt. Click it to turn cards over onto the Waste pile next to it.
You win Solitaire when all 52 cards are on the Foundations. To get there, you move cards around the Tableau to uncover the face-down cards, and send cards up to the Foundations whenever you can.
Allowed moves when playing Solitaire
- Turn cards from the Stock onto the Waste: you can turn over either 1 or 3 cards at a time. Three cards makes the game harder. You can change this under "Settings". When the Stock is empty, click its empty space to turn the Waste over and go through it again.
- Build down in the Tableau: you can place a card on a Tableau card that is one rank higher and the opposite colour. For example, a red 6 can go on a black 7.
- Move a run of cards: a sequence of face-up cards in the right order can be moved together to another column.
- Fill an empty column with a King: only a King (or a run starting with a King) can go in an empty column.
- Build up the Foundations: start each Foundation with an Ace, then add the 2, 3 and so on of the same suit, all the way up to the King.
- Turn over face-down cards: when you move the last face-up card off a column, the card underneath is turned over for you.
How to move cards on this site
| Click or tap a card | It moves to the best place automatically: a Foundation if possible, otherwise another column. |
|---|---|
| Drag a card | Hold the mouse button (or your finger) on a card and move it where you want it. The place it will land is outlined in yellow. |
| Undo | Takes back your last move. You can undo as many times as you like. |
| Hint | Shows you a good next move. The card to move and where it goes are outlined in yellow. |
| Pause | Stops the clock and hides the cards until you are ready to carry on. |
| Restart | Deals the exact same cards again, so you can have another go at the same game. |
| New game | Shuffles and deals a brand-new game. |
| Keyboard | Press Tab to go from card to card and Enter to move the selected card. |
Tips for winning at Solitaire
- Uncover face-down cards first. Moves that turn over a hidden card are usually the best moves on the table.
- Work on the longest columns. The columns on the right hide the most cards, so freeing them opens up the game.
- Don't empty a column without a King ready. Only a King can fill an empty column, so a space is only useful if you have a King to put there.
- Don't rush cards to the Foundations. Low cards (Aces and 2s) should always go up, but sometimes you need a 5 or 6 left in the Tableau to hold a card of the other colour.
- Stuck? Ask for a hint. The Hint button points out a move that helps. If the game says there are no more moves, press Restart to try the same deal a different way.
- Use Undo to explore. Undo has no penalty here, so try a move, see what it reveals, and take it back if it doesn't help.
Solitaire questions and answers
Is this Solitaire game free?
Yes. Solitaire on Kitchen Table Cards is completely free. There is no download, no sign-up and nothing to buy.
Is Solitaire the same as Klondike and Patience?
Yes. The game most people call Solitaire is Klondike Solitaire. In the UK and many other countries it is also called Patience. It is the same game that came with Windows computers for many years.
Can every game of Solitaire be won?
No. Most deals can be won with careful play, but some deals cannot be solved however well you play. If you get stuck, use Undo to try a different move, or start a new game.
What is the difference between Draw 1 and Draw 3?
In Draw 1 you turn over one card from the stock at a time, which makes the game easier. In Draw 3 you turn over three cards at a time and can only play the top one, which makes it harder. You can choose either under Settings.
What should I do if I get stuck in Solitaire?
Press the Hint button and the game will show you a good next move. If there are no useful moves left, the game tells you, and you can start a new game or try the same cards again with Restart.
Does the game save my progress?
Yes. Your current game is saved automatically on your device. If you close the page and come back later, you can carry on where you left off.
Can I play Solitaire on an iPad, tablet or phone?
Yes. Tap a card and it moves to the best place automatically, or drag it with your finger. Turning a tablet sideways gives you bigger cards.
How do I make the cards bigger?
Make your browser window as wide as possible, or zoom in by holding Ctrl (Cmd on a Mac) and pressing the + key. The cards grow with the window.
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