← Back to Games
Yukon vs Klondike: Key Differences
Last Updated: January 2026 | Reading Time: 9 minutes
Yukon and Klondike look almost identical at first glance - both use a single deck, seven columns, and build foundations from Ace to King. But two key differences transform the gameplay completely: (1) Yukon has no stock pile, making all cards visible from the start, and (2) The Yukon Move lets you move any face-up card with all cards on top of it. These changes make Yukon significantly more strategic and challenging than its famous cousin.
⚡ Quick Summary:
- Yukon: No stock pile, move any face-up card + everything above it, pure strategy, 10-18 minute games
- Klondike: 24-card stock pile, move sequences only, luck-based, 5-10 minute games
- Key Difference: Yukon is 80% skill, Klondike is 50% luck
- Choose Yukon if: You want Klondike without the luck factor - deeper strategy, no surprises
- Choose Klondike if: You prefer quick, casual games with simpler rules
🎴 Play Yukon
🃏 Play Klondike
📊 Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature |
Yukon |
Klondike |
| Deck |
1 standard deck (52 cards) |
1 standard deck (52 cards) |
| Tableau Columns |
7 columns (identical to Klondike) |
7 columns |
| Initial Deal |
All 52 cards dealt to tableau
(28 face-down, 24 face-up) |
28 cards dealt to tableau
(21 face-down, 7 face-up) |
| Stock Pile |
None - all cards in play from start |
Yes - 24 cards (draw 1 or 3 at a time) |
| Movement Rule |
"The Yukon Move"
Move any face-up card + all cards above it |
Sequence moves only
Can only move properly built sequences |
| Building Rule |
Descending rank, alternating colors
(same as Klondike) |
Descending rank, alternating colors |
| All Cards Visible? |
Yes (from start, after initial deal) |
No (24 cards hidden in stock) |
| Skill vs Luck |
80% Skill, 20% Luck |
50% Skill, 50% Luck |
| Win Rate (Skilled Player) |
25-30% (harder than Klondike) |
30-40% (Draw-1 mode) |
| Difficulty |
Medium-Hard (more complex) |
Easy-Moderate (accessible) |
| Strategic Depth |
High - requires extensive planning |
Moderate - tactical decisions |
| Average Game Time |
10-18 minutes (longer) |
5-10 minutes (quicker) |
| Complexity |
More complex (52 cards in tableau) |
Simpler (28 cards in tableau) |
| Learning Curve |
Moderate (need to master Yukon Move) |
Gentle (intuitive rules) |
| Best For |
Strategic players who like Klondike but want more challenge |
Beginners, casual players, quick games |
🎴 Visual Rule Comparison: The Game-Changing Differences
What Makes Yukon Unique
The Yukon Move: Game-Changing Flexibility
The defining feature of Yukon is the ability to move any face-up card along with all cards stacked on top of it, regardless of whether those cards form a proper sequence. This is radically different from Klondike.
Example: If you have a column with 8♠ (bottom), then K♦, 3♣, and A♥ stacked on top, you can move all four cards (8♠ + K♦ + 3♣ + A♥) together onto a red 9 in another column. In Klondike, this would be impossible.
Strategic Impact:
- Access buried cards: You can reach face-down cards much more easily
- Reorganize freely: Messy stacks can be split and reformed strategically
- Create empty columns: Easier to clear columns for maneuvering space
- Complex cascades: Chain together 5-7 moves in sequence
- No dead ends: Cards aren't permanently "stuck" like in Klondike
No Stock Pile: Pure Strategic Thinking
All 52 cards are dealt at the start - 28 face-down (in known positions) and 24 face-up. There's no stock pile to draw from, which completely changes the game's nature.
Strategic Impact:
- Complete information: You know which cards exist and where hidden cards are located
- Plan the entire game: Can think many moves ahead without surprises
- Skill-based: 80% skill vs. Klondike's 50% - wins feel earned
- No luck element: No hoping for the "right card" from stock
- Complex starting position: 52 cards in tableau = more to manage from the start
🧠 Strategy Depth Comparison
Yukon Strategy: Deep Multi-Move Planning
Yukon requires extensive strategic thinking:
- Expose face-down cards first: With 28 face-down cards (vs. Klondike's 21), exposing hidden cards is critical
- Master the Yukon cascade: Chain 5-7 moves together where each move exposes a new face-down card
- Empty columns = power: Creating empty columns is even more important than in Klondike
- Foundation timing: Keep cards in tableau longer - you need them for building and accessing buried cards
- Think 5-10 moves ahead: All cards are visible, so deep planning is possible and necessary
- Work on column 7: The rightmost column has 12 cards (7 face-down + 5 face-up) - must be cleared eventually
Klondike Strategy: Tactical Stock Management
Klondike emphasizes tactical decisions:
- Expose tableau cards first: Only 21 face-down cards, but revealing them is top priority
- Stock pile timing: Deciding when to draw from stock vs. make tableau moves
- Kings and empty columns: Only Kings can fill empty spaces - use strategically
- Foundation balance: Move Aces/Twos early, but keep mid-range cards (5-9) in tableau
- Think 2-3 moves ahead: Can't plan too far due to hidden stock cards
- Accept unwinnable deals: ~70% of deals are impossible - focus on the winnable 30%
📈 Difficulty & Win Rates
| Player Level |
Yukon Win Rate |
Klondike Win Rate |
| Complete Beginner |
5-10% (learning curve) |
5-10% (mostly luck) |
| Casual Player |
10-15% (improving) |
10-20% (learning patterns) |
| Intermediate |
15-20% (solid strategy) |
20-30% (good tactics) |
| Advanced Player |
20-25% (consistent play) |
30-35% (optimal strategy) |
| Expert |
25-30% (mastery) |
35-40% (still luck-limited) |
| Difficulty Comparison |
Harder - lower win rate but more skill-based |
Easier - higher win rate but more luck-based |
📊 Key Insight: Yukon has a LOWER win rate than Klondike (25-30% vs 30-40%), making it objectively harder. But Yukon's losses are due to strategic errors, while Klondike's losses are often impossible deals. Yukon players improve dramatically with practice; Klondike players plateau quickly.
⏱️ Time Investment
Average Time Per Game:
- Yukon: 10-18 minutes (longer, more complex)
- Klondike: 5-10 minutes (quicker, simpler)
Moves Per Game:
- Yukon: 100-150 moves typical (more maneuvering needed)
- Klondike: 50-100 moves typical (simpler gameplay)
Mental Effort: Yukon demands sustained concentration and complex planning. Klondike is more relaxing and suitable for casual play or quick breaks.
🎮 Which Game Should You Play?
Choose Yukon If You:
- Love Klondike but want more challenge - natural progression
- Hate losing to bad luck - 80% skill-based vs. 50%
- Enjoy strategic planning - think 5-10 moves ahead
- Have 10-18 minutes for a game - longer time commitment
- Want all cards visible - no hidden stock pile
- Like unique mechanics - the Yukon Move is fascinating
- Prefer skill over luck - wins feel earned
- Want to improve through practice - clear skill ceiling
Choose Klondike If You:
- Want quick 5-10 minute games - perfect for breaks
- Prefer simpler rules - easy to learn and remember
- Are new to solitaire - best starting point
- Like the stock pile element - drawing cards is exciting
- Want less mental effort - more relaxing gameplay
- Enjoy the classic experience - iconic solitaire game
- Don't mind luck factor - some deals are impossible
- Want nostalgia - the Windows 95 classic
The Perfect Progression Path
Recommended Learning Path:
- Start with Klondike Draw-1 - Learn basic solitaire concepts (foundations, alternating colors, King-only empty spaces)
- Master Klondike Draw-3 - Increase difficulty and develop tactical skills
- Graduate to Yukon - Apply Klondike knowledge with added strategic depth
- Master the Yukon Move - Learn to use flexible card movement strategically
Yukon is the perfect "next step" after mastering Klondike. It builds on everything you know while adding complexity.
Pros and Cons Summary
| Aspect |
Yukon |
Klondike |
| Biggest Strength |
Skill-based with no luck - strategic depth |
Quick, accessible, universally known |
| Biggest Weakness |
Harder to win, requires more time & effort |
High luck factor, many unwinnable deals |
| Most Satisfying |
Winning through perfect planning |
Lucky card appearing at perfect moment |
| Most Frustrating |
Losing after 15 minutes due to one error |
Losing instantly to impossible deal |
| Learning Curve |
Moderate - need to master Yukon Move |
Gentle - intuitive rules |
| Long-Term Appeal |
Very High - endless strategic depth |
Medium - can feel samey after many games |
💭 The Key Question: Skill vs Luck
The Fundamental Difference
Yukon (80% Skill, 20% Luck):
- All cards visible from start - can plan entire game
- Flexible movement (Yukon Move) creates many options
- Losses are almost always strategic errors, not bad deals
- Improvement through practice is dramatic (5% → 30% win rate)
- Each loss teaches you something about strategy
Klondike (50% Skill, 50% Luck):
- 24 hidden cards in stock - can't plan ahead fully
- Limited movement options - must build sequences first
- ~70% of deals are mathematically impossible
- Improvement plateaus quickly (10% → 35% win rate max)
- Many losses feel undeserved (and are!)
Choose based on preference: If you want to feel like you "earned" your wins through skill and planning, choose Yukon. If you prefer quicker games where sometimes you get lucky, choose Klondike. Both are excellent - just for different reasons.
Final Verdict
Our Recommendation:
Yukon and Klondike are close cousins with dramatically different personalities:
- Similar foundation: Same deck, same columns, same goal, same building rules
- Two key differences: No stock pile + Yukon Move completely transform gameplay
- Yukon is Klondike's strategic big brother - harder but more rewarding
- Perfect progression: Master Klondike → Graduate to Yukon
- Different use cases: Klondike for quick games, Yukon for strategic sessions
The honest truth? If you love Klondike and want "more," Yukon is your game. It's literally Klondike without the stock pile luck, plus the incredible flexibility of the Yukon Move. You'll lose more often initially, but every loss will teach you, and wins will feel earned.
Try both! Play Klondike when you want casual fun, and Yukon when you want to engage your brain. They complement each other perfectly.
📚 Learn More
Individual Game Guides:
More Solitaire Comparisons:
Similar Strategic Variants:
- Russian Solitaire - Yukon's brutal cousin (same-suit building)
- Scorpion Solitaire - Another variant with flexible movement
- FreeCell - All cards visible, 99.99% winnable
Last updated: January 2025 | TrySolitaire.com – Play free solitaire with expert guides