Common Klondike Solitaire mistakes

These are the usual slips in draw-one Klondike as described on our Klondike Solitaire rules page.

Rules mistakes

• Building in the same colour. In the tableau, red goes on black and black on red.
• Building foundations in the wrong order. A foundation starts with an ace and goes up in one suit.
• Moving a broken run. Every card in a moved run must already descend by one and alternate colours.
• Filling an empty column with a non-king. Only kings, or runs starting with a king, may enter an empty column.
• Not turning a card over. When you expose a face-down card, turn it up.
• Playing a buried waste card. Only the top waste card is available.
• Shuffling on a redeal. Turn the waste over as a block. Shuffling changes the game.
• Turning three stock cards. That is draw-three Klondike, a variant.

Play mistakes

• Sending cards up too early. A middle card in the foundation can no longer help build in the tableau.
• Emptying a column with no king ready. The empty space then does nothing for you.
• Ignoring the stock. Cycle it to learn which cards are there before you commit to a big move.
• Not counting hidden cards. A column with many face-down cards should get your attention first.
• Playing too fast. Look at all visible moves before choosing one.
• Never accepting a loss. Some deals cannot be won.

Before each move, ask

1. Does this reveal a face-down card?
2. Does it open a column I can fill with a king?
3. Will I need this card in the tableau later?