Klondike guide
How to play Klondike solitaire
Learn where the cards go, which moves are allowed, and what changes between Draw 1 and Draw 3. Then try a deal for yourself.
A classic for a reason.
Simple rules. Endless possibilities.
On this page
The goal and the setup
Klondike is the familiar form of solitaire with seven tableau columns. Your goal is to move all 52 cards to four foundations, building each suit from Ace to King. On the tableau, build downward in alternating colors.
Example layout during play. Draw from the stock to the waste; build on the tableau and move each suit to its foundation. At the start, the seven columns contain 1 to 7 cards, with only each top card face up.
- Stock
- The remaining cards. Draw cards to the waste.
- Waste
- The most recently drawn cards. Play the top card.
- Foundations
- Build each suit from Ace to King (A → K).
- Tableau
- Build down in alternating colors. Move descending, alternating-color runs together.
Which cards can you move?
Follow these rules to make legal moves.
Build down in alternating colors
Place a red card on a black card, or a black card on a red card, one rank lower.
Move runs of cards
Move face-up cards together if they descend in rank and alternate colors.
Only Kings fill empty columns
An empty tableau column accepts a King, or a run that starts with a King.
Move foundations up by suit
Start with an Ace and build up to King in the same suit.
Reveal a face-down tableau card when a move uncovers it.
One move, shown clearly
Move a run of cards together when its first card matches.
The 7♠ fits on the 8♦: one rank lower and the opposite color. The 6♥ and 5♣ move with it, keeping their order.
Not onto 8♣. The 7♠ and 8♣ are both black, so that move is not allowed.
Draw 1 versus Draw 3
Both modes use the same rules. The difference is how many cards you draw from the stock.
Draw 1
- Cards per draw:1 card revealed per draw
- Available to play:The top waste card is playable
Draw 3
- Cards per draw:Up to 3 cards revealed per draw
- Available to play:Only the top card is playable
With fewer than three cards left, draw the remaining cards. Check the game’s stock-pass rules before relying on another pass.
Three tips before your next move
Good habits make a big difference.
Does this move uncover a face-down card?
Revealing hidden cards gives you more options.
If it creates an empty column, do I have a King ready?
Keep a King or a King-led run in mind before clearing a column.
Do I still need this card on the tableau?
Think about future moves before sending cards to the foundations.
When are you finished?
All four suits, Ace to King
You win when all 52 cards are on the foundations, with each suit built from Ace to King.
Stuck?
Check the tableau, top waste card and available stock passes. Use Undo to explore an earlier choice when available.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Klondike the same as solitaire?
Solitaire is a family of card games played by one person. Klondike is the familiar version with seven tableau columns, a stock, and four foundations. Spider, FreeCell, and Pyramid are other solitaire games with different rules.
Can any card fill an empty column?
In standard Klondike, an empty tableau column accepts a King, or a valid face-up run beginning with a King. An Ace belongs on its matching foundation instead.
Can I move more than one card at a time?
A descending run of alternating red and black face-up cards can move together when its first card fits the destination. Keep the cards in the same order. The worked example above shows a three-card run moving onto a red 8.
What happens when the stock runs out?
Some versions let you turn the waste over to form the stock again; others limit the number of passes. Check the redeal rule for the game you open. Recycling is not a reshuffle, and it does not make every waste card playable at once.
Is every Klondike deal winnable?
No. Some deals cannot be completed under the selected rules. But being stuck does not prove that a deal was impossible: a different earlier move may have helped. Use Undo when available to explore another line, or start another deal.