📖 Complete Rule Book

Solitaire Game Rules

Learn how to play 50+ solitaire variants with clear instructions and visual guides

Most Popular Games

Quick access to the rules everyone's looking for

Complete Game Rules Directory

Klondike Solitaire

Classic

Game Setup

  • • Deal 28 cards into 7 tableau columns
  • • Column 1: 1 card (face up)
  • • Column 2: 2 cards (bottom face down, top face up)
  • • Continue to Column 7: 7 cards (6 face down, 1 face up)
  • • Remaining 24 cards form the stock pile
  • • 4 empty foundation piles (for Aces through Kings)

How to Play

  • • Build tableau down by alternating colors (Red 6 on Black 7)
  • • Build foundations up by suit (A, 2, 3... K)
  • • Move face-up cards between columns
  • • Flip face-down cards when exposed
  • • Draw from stock when no moves available
  • • Win by moving all cards to foundations

Variations: Draw 1 (easier, ~80% winnable) or Draw 3 (harder, ~20% winnable)

Spider Solitaire

Spider Type

Game Setup

  • • Use 2 decks (104 cards total)
  • • Deal 54 cards into 10 columns
  • • First 4 columns: 6 cards each
  • • Last 6 columns: 5 cards each
  • • Only top card of each column face up
  • • Remaining 50 cards form the stock

How to Play

  • • Build down regardless of suit (7 on 8)
  • • Move only same-suit sequences together
  • • Complete K-A sequences remove automatically
  • • Empty columns can hold any card
  • • Deal 10 cards from stock (1 per column)
  • • Win by completing 8 full sequences

Difficulty Levels: 1 Suit (Easy), 2 Suits (Medium), 4 Suits (Hard)

FreeCell

FreeCell Type

Game Setup

  • • All 52 cards dealt face up
  • • 8 tableau columns
  • • First 4 columns: 7 cards each
  • • Last 4 columns: 6 cards each
  • • 4 free cells (temporary storage)
  • • 4 foundation piles (build A to K)

How to Play

  • • Build tableau down by alternating colors
  • • Build foundations up by suit
  • • Free cells hold one card each
  • • Empty columns can hold any card
  • • Move multiple cards if you have space
  • • 99.99% of games are winnable!

Power Move Formula: (Empty FreeCells + 1) × 2^(Empty Columns)

Pyramid Solitaire

Pyramid Type

Game Setup

  • • Deal 28 cards in pyramid shape
  • • Row 1: 1 card
  • • Row 2: 2 cards (overlapping row 1)
  • • Continue to Row 7: 7 cards
  • • All cards face up
  • • Remaining 24 cards form stock

How to Play

  • • Remove pairs that total 13
  • • Kings (13) remove by themselves
  • • Only remove fully exposed cards
  • • A+Q, 2+J, 3+10, 4+9, 5+8, 6+7
  • • Draw from stock for more options
  • • Win by removing all pyramid cards

Tip: Plan ahead - removing wrong cards can block winning pairs!

More Solitaire Games

TriPeaks

Pyramid Type

Clear three pyramid peaks by selecting cards one rank higher or lower than the waste pile.

  • • 18 cards in 3 pyramids
  • • Build up or down (K-A-2 wraps)
  • • Maximize streaks for bonuses
Full Rules →

Golf Solitaire

Special

Clear 7 columns by building up or down on a waste pile. Simple rules, challenging gameplay.

  • • 35 cards in 7 columns
  • • No building on tableau
  • • Strategic stock usage
Full Rules →

Yukon

Classic

Like Klondike but all cards start face up. Move any face-up card regardless of sequence.

  • • No stock pile
  • • All cards visible
  • • Very strategic
Full Rules →

Forty Thieves

Spider Type

Challenging 2-deck game. Build down by suit on tableau, limited stock passes.

  • • 40 cards in 10 columns
  • • Build by suit only
  • • Very difficult
Full Rules →

Scorpion

Spider Type

Spider variant where you build down by suit but can move any face-up cards.

  • • 7 columns like Klondike
  • • Build K-A by suit
  • • Face-down cards in columns
Full Rules →

Canfield

Classic

Classic game with a 13-card reserve. Foundations start with a random card rank.

  • • Variable foundation base
  • • 13-card reserve pile
  • • Wrap-around building
Full Rules →

Solitaire Games by Category

Common Rules Questions

Can I move cards from the foundation back to the tableau?

In most games, no. Once a card is in the foundation, it stays there. However, some variants like Yukon and Russian Solitaire allow this.

What's the difference between building "by suit" and "by color"?

By suit: Cards must be the same suit (all spades). By color: Cards must alternate red/black. By alternating colors: Red on black, black on red.

Can Aces go on Kings when building?

Only in games that specifically allow "wrapping" like TriPeaks and Golf. In most games, Aces are low and Kings are high.

How many times can I go through the stock?

Varies by game. Klondike typically allows unlimited passes. Some games like Canfield limit you to 3 passes. Check specific game rules.

What can I put in an empty tableau column?

Klondike: Only Kings. Spider: Any card. FreeCell: Any single card. Yukon: Any card. Always check the specific game rules!

Ready to Play?

Now that you know the rules, find the perfect place to play

https://www.effectivegatecpm.com/i7ejeuhqwx?key=ca9d0fc21a8cd39aefbda6c46cb2d5d2