How to Play the Best Solitaire Card Games

Klondike Solitaire

Klondike Solitaire is probably the most popular version of Solitaire played today. This variation goes by other names as well, including Fascination and Canfield.

In the setup for Klondike, a tableau (foundation pile) of seven columns of cards is arranged on the table with the top card facing up; the remaining cards form a draw pile. 

The goal is to move all 52 cards in the deck into four suit-specific foundation stacks above the tableau, beginning with the ace. As cards are exposed in the tableau columns or turned up from the draw pile, they can be moved to the foundation stacks in ascending order.

Pyramid Solitaire

Pyramid Solitaire, also known as Solitaire 13 and Pile of 28, has simple rules and takes just a few minutes to play each hand.

The set-up for this game involves arranging 28 cards face-up in a pyramid-shaped tableau of seven levels. The rest of the cards form a draw pile.

The goal of the game is to remove all the cards from the pyramid by forming pairs with a combined value of 13 points. The pairs may be formed from two exposed cards in the pyramid, or by pairing a pyramid card with another card as it is drawn from the draw pile. In this point scheme, the king is assigned a point value of 13, the queen is 12 points, the jack is 11 points, and the ace is one point. The remaining cards are scored at face value. 

Canfield Solitaire

The real Canfield Solitaire (as opposed to Klondike, which is often referred to as Canfield), according to Hoyle's Rules of Games, was named after the proprietor of a Florida gambling establishment in the 1890s. Players could buy a deck of cards for $50 and win back $5 for each card they played onto a foundation, or $500 if they were able to play all 52 cards.

The set-up of this game involves 13 cards in a reserve pile, four cards of the same value arranged as the start of four foundation piles, and four cards arranged below the foundation piles to form the start of the tableau. The remaining 31 cards form the draw pile. 

As with many Solitaire games, the goal is to move all 52 playing cards to four foundation stacks in order, according to suit. 

Golf Solitaire

The card game Golf Solitaire derives its name from the fact that the lower you score, the better you've done. Apart from that, it has no connection to the real game of golf.

This game's setup involves 35 cards in a tableau of face-up cards arranged in rows, with the other 17 cards forming a draw pile.

The goal of the game is to remove all 35 cards from the tableau to a discard pile. The cards can be removed to join the last-placed card in the discard pile only if they are one point above or one point below the value of the most recently placed card on the discard pile.

Yukon Solitaire

Yukon Solitaire is considered a cousin of Klondike Solitaire, with the ability to move groups of cards being one difference in the Yukon version. In addition, all of the cards are dealt at the start of the game (although some are dealt face down).

As in Klondike, the goal here is to move all 52 cards into four suit-specific foundation piles in order, beginning with the aces. 

The set-up begins in the same manner as Klondike, but instead of a draw pile, all remaining cards are dealt onto the tableau piles, face up. Once all cards are dealt, play begins, with aces moving to begin the foundation stacks as they're exposed and other cards added to the foundation stacks in order.

Baker's Dozen Solitaire

Baker's Dozen Solitaire is a distant relative of Klondike Solitaire. Its name comes from the 13 tableau columns dealt at the start of the game.

In the setup of this game, all 52 cards are dealt onto the tableau columns, and all cards are face up. There is no draw pile.

The goal is to move all 52 cards off the tableau to four foundation stacks in ascending order, beginning with the aces as they are exposed. Movement of the cards is done in classic Solitaire style, repositioning cards from column to column according to a descending point value. Unlike other forms of Solitaire, there's no need to alternate red and black cards as you rearrange the columns. 

Little Spider Solitaire

Little Spider Solitaire is a 20-minute game that gives players plenty of choices to make. A good player should win this card game more than half the time.

The goal of this game is to build four suit-specific foundation stacks containing all 52 cards. Two of the foundations must be built from the bottom up (starting with the aces), while the other two must be built from the top down (starting with the kings). 

The setup of the game involves dealing the entire deck into two rows of four piles each (the upper and lower tableaus). Space is left between the upper and lower tableau rows for the foundation stacks to be built. 

As they become exposed, two aces of the same color are moved to the foundations, along with two kings of the opposite color. The foundations will be built from there in ascending or descending order as playable cards are exposed in the tableau stacks.