Play Klondike Solitaire Online - The Most Popular Card Game
Klondike Solitaire is the classic solitaire game that most people think of when they hear "Solitaire." Play completely free with no ads, no downloads, and no signup required. Our version features beautiful cards, smooth animations, and works perfectly on desktop, tablet, and mobile devices.
How to Play Klondike Solitaire
Objective: Move all 52 cards to the four foundation piles, building them up by suit from Ace to King.
Game Setup
Tableau: Seven columns of cards, with the first column containing 1 card, second column 2 cards, and so on. Only the top card of each column is face-up
Stock: Remaining 24 cards that can be drawn one or three at a time
Foundations: Four empty piles where you build suits from Ace to King
Klondike Solitaire Initial Setup: 7 tableau piles (1–7 cards each), stock pile (top-left), waste pile, and 4 empty foundations (top-right). Your goal is to build all 4 foundations from Ace to King by suit.
Basic Rules
In the tableau, build sequences in descending order (King, Queen, Jack, 10, 9...)
Alternate red and black colors (red Queen on black King, black 10 on red Jack)
Only Kings can fill empty tableau columns
Aces start the foundation piles
Foundation piles build up by suit (Ace, 2, 3, 4... King)
You can move sequences of cards if they follow the color alternation rule
Valid Tableau Moves: Place red cards on black (5♥ on 6♠), black cards on red (6♣ on 7♦), and move entire properly-ordered sequences together.Invalid Moves to Avoid: Same-color stacking (red on red, black on black) and placing cards in ascending order (8 on 7) are not allowed in the tableau.
Game Modes
Draw 1 Mode: Perfect for beginners or casual play. Draw one card at a time from the stock pile. This gives you more control and makes the game easier to win. You can cycle through the stock pile unlimited times.
Draw 3 Mode: The traditional and more challenging version. Draw three cards at a time, with only the top card playable. Requires more strategic thinking and planning ahead. This is the classic Klondike Solitaire experience.
Draw 1 vs Draw 3: In Draw 1 (left), every card is accessible one at a time for more strategic control and a higher win rate. In Draw 3 (right), only the top card of each trio is playable, requiring deeper strategy and careful stock cycling.
Winning Strategy Tips
Always play Aces and 2s immediately - These cards should go to foundations right away
Expose face-down cards first - Priority should be revealing hidden cards before moving cards to foundations
Build tableau evenly - Try to keep all columns at similar heights rather than building one very tall
Don't empty a tableau space without a King - Empty spaces are valuable, only use them for Kings
Think before moving to foundations - Sometimes keeping cards in tableau gives you more flexibility
Plan sequences ahead - Look for opportunities to create long sequences of alternating colors
Foundation Building in Action: The Spade foundation is complete (Ace through King), while Diamonds are in progress (Ace through 7). Build each suit from Ace to King to win the game!
Why Play Our Klondike Solitaire?
100% Free Forever - No hidden costs or premium features
Zero Ads - Play without interruptions
No Download - Play instantly in your browser
Mobile Optimized - Perfect touch controls
Beautiful Cards - Crystal-clear SVG graphics
Track Stats - Monitor your win rate and best times
Undo Function - Mistakes? No problem!
Hint System - Get helpful suggestions when stuck
Built-in Solver - Know instantly if your game is winnable
Deal Winnable - Always start with a solvable hand
Built-in Klondike Solver: Never Wonder If Your Game Is Winnable
TrySolitaire is one of the only solitaire websites with a built-in Klondike solver that runs right in your browser. Our solver uses advanced algorithms to analyze your current game position and tell you whether a winning path exists — in real time, with no waiting.
Solver Status Indicator: A green checkmark means your game is winnable, a red X means no solution exists from this position, and a gold spinner means the solver is analyzing your game.
How the Solver Works
The solver indicator appears in the game toolbar during play. Here's what each status means:
Green Checkmark — Your current game position is solvable. A winning path exists if you make the right moves.
Red X — No winning path exists from your current position. You may have made a move that made the game unsolvable. Click the red X to get recovery options.
Gold Spinner — The solver is analyzing your position. This typically completes within a few seconds.
Gray Question Mark — The solver hasn't checked this position yet. Click it to trigger an analysis.
Solver-Powered Features
Solvability Check: Click the solver icon at any point during your game to check if your current position is still winnable.
Deal Winnable Game: Use the "Deal Winnable" option in the new game menu to guarantee you start with a hand that has a solution. No more wasting time on impossible deals.
Undo to Winnable: If the solver detects your game has become unsolvable, it offers to automatically undo your moves back to the last winnable position. This lets you try a different strategy without starting over.
Unsolvable Recovery Panel: When the solver finds no solution, a recovery panel appears with three options: undo to the last winnable state, deal a new game, or continue playing anyway.
Solver Recovery Panel: When the solver detects an unsolvable position, you get three options: undo to the last winnable state, deal a fresh game, or continue playing anyway.
Why a Built-in Solver Matters
About 21% of Klondike deals in Draw 1 mode and 70% in Draw 3 mode are mathematically unwinnable. Without a solver, you could spend 10-15 minutes on a game that was doomed from the start. Our solver eliminates that frustration by letting you know right away whether victory is possible, so you can focus your time on games you can actually win.
History of Klondike Solitaire
Klondike Solitaire got its name during the gold rush in the Klondike region of Canada in the late 1890s. The game became hugely popular when Microsoft included it with Windows 3.0 in 1990, introducing millions of computer users to the game. Today, it remains the most played computer game in history.
Benefits of Playing Klondike Solitaire
Playing Klondike Solitaire offers numerous mental benefits:
Improves focus and concentration - Requires sustained attention
Enhances problem-solving skills - Each game is a unique puzzle
Reduces stress - Provides a relaxing mental break
Improves memory - Remember which cards have been played
Builds patience - Not every game is winnable, teaching resilience
Frequently Asked Questions
Is every Klondike game winnable?
No. Studies suggest that only about 79% of Klondike games are winnable with perfect play in Draw 3 mode, and about 82% in Draw 1 mode. Part of the challenge is recognizing when a game cannot be won!
What's the difference between Draw 1 and Draw 3?
Draw 1 lets you flip one card at a time from the stock pile, making it easier. Draw 3 flips three cards but only lets you play the top one, making it more challenging and closer to the traditional game.
Can I play on mobile?
Absolutely! Our Klondike Solitaire is fully optimized for mobile devices with intuitive touch controls. Play on iPhone, iPad, Android phones and tablets.
How does the built-in solver work?
Our Klondike solver runs entirely in your browser using a Web Worker, so it doesn't send your game data anywhere. It uses a depth-first search algorithm with smart optimizations to analyze up to 10 million move combinations in seconds. The solver checks whether a winning path exists from your current game state and displays the result as a status icon in your toolbar.
Can I always start with a winnable game?
Yes! Use the "Deal Winnable" option when starting a new game. The solver will find a seed that is guaranteed to have at least one winning path, so you never have to waste time on an impossible deal. This is available in both Draw 1 and Draw 3 modes.
What happens when the solver says my game is unsolvable?
When the solver detects that no winning path exists from your current position, a recovery panel appears with three options: "Undo to Winnable" (automatically rewinds to the last solvable state), "Deal New Game" (starts fresh), or "Continue Playing" (dismiss and keep going). The undo-to-winnable feature is especially useful because it lets you try a different approach without losing all your progress.
Start playing Klondike Solitaire now - no download, no ads, completely free!
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