How to play Klondike solitaire

The deal is 28 cards in seven tableau columns: one card in the first column up to seven in the last, with only the bottom card of each column face up. The other 24 cards form the stock.

Build the tableau down in alternating colors (a red 9 on a black 10). You can move a whole face-up run at once, and only a King, or a run starting with a King, can fill an empty column.

The goal is to move all 52 cards to the four foundations, building each one up by suit from Ace to King.

Draw-3 rules

Tapping the stock turns over three cards at a time, and only the top card of the waste is playable. When the stock runs out you can turn the waste back over and go again, as many times as you like.

Draw-3 changes which cards you can reach on each pass, so it rewards planning more than draw-1. If you prefer the easier one-card deal, try our Solitaire (draw-1) table.

Klondike strategy tips

• Turn over face-down tableau cards first. They hide the cards you need.
• Don't empty a column unless you have a King ready to move into it.
• Play from the tableau before the waste when both work: it frees more hidden cards.
• Don't rush low cards to the foundations if you still need them to hold a run in the tableau.

Is Klondike solitaire free to play here?

Yes. HypeGameRoom is free: no sign-up, no download and nothing to buy to play. Arcade games reward Neons, a play-only currency that can never be cashed out.

What is the difference between draw-1 and draw-3 Klondike?

In draw-1 you turn one card at a time from the stock, so every card is reachable on each pass. In draw-3 you turn three and can only play the top one, which makes the game harder and more strategic. This page is draw-3; our Solitaire table is draw-1.

How many times can I go through the stock?

As many times as you like. When the stock is empty, turn the waste over and keep drawing.

Can every Klondike deal be won?

No. Some Klondike deals cannot be solved however you play them. If you get stuck, start a new deal for free. You keep the Neons you earned for cards already sent home.