How to Win Klondike Solitaire More Often

Most lost Klondike games are lost by habit, not by bad luck. These six habits are the ones that matter most, in the order you will use them in a game. They hold for Turn 1 and Turn 3.

Habits that decide most games

1. Look before you move. Scan all seven columns, the waste and the foundations, list the legal moves, then pick the one that reveals the most.
2. Flip hidden cards first. Between two similar moves, take the one that turns a face-down card over. Dig into the column with the most hidden cards.
3. Send Aces and 2s up at once. Higher cards such as a 5 or a 6 are often more useful on the tableau, where they can host a card of the opposite colour.
4. Do not empty a column without a King. Only a King can fill an empty column, so a gap with no King in sight is wasted space.
5. Think about colours. Before you place a red 6 on a black 7, check which black 7 you use and whether the other one will be needed later.
6. Do not ignore the waste. In Turn 3 especially, plan which waste cards you want to reach.

Use the tools to learn

Undo takes back any move, so use it to test a line and see what it uncovers. If you lose, Restart this deal in the menu replays the same deal so you can try a different line. Hint suggests a move when you are stuck, but use it sparingly if you want to improve.

If Turn 3 feels hard, start with Turn 1: you can plan around the whole stock. The full set of tactics is in the Klondike strategy guide.

Frequently asked questions