Klondike Solitaire strategy: how to win more often

This guide is for draw-one Klondike with unlimited redeals as on our Klondike Solitaire rules page. Not every deal can be won, but a good order of moves gives you the best chance.

Uncover hidden cards first

Face-down cards are where you gain new options. Prefer a move that flips a card over to one that just rearranges what you can already see. When two moves are possible, choose the one that reveals a card from the column with the most face-down cards.

Move aces and twos up early

Aces are needed to start the foundations, and twos follow. Play them to the foundation as soon as they are free. Low cards are seldom useful in the tableau.

Don’t rush the middle cards up

A 5 or 6 on the foundation is no longer available to build a tableau sequence. Keep cards in the tableau if they help you reach a face-down card or if you need a card of the opposite colour. It’s common to keep the foundations roughly level.

Empty columns need kings

Only a king or a sequence headed by a king can enter an empty column. Do not empty a column unless a king is ready, or one can be reached soon. An empty column with no king available wastes a space.

Using the stock

Look at everything visible before you turn a stock card. Then cycle the stock and note which cards are in it, so you know which ones are still to come. With unlimited redeals you can pass through the stock as many times as you like. Stop when a full pass produces no useful move.

Choosing between equal moves

If two cards of the same rank and colour could go on the same target, look at which column each would free up or which face-down card it would uncover. Keep the option that leaves more moves open.

Foundation cards can come back

This version lets you take a card back from a foundation to the tableau. It can rescue a stuck deal, but use it sparingly.

Accept a lost deal

If no useful moves remain after cycling the stock, the game is lost. Shuffle and deal again.