Solitaire Classic

How to Play Solitaire Classic (Klondike)

A complete Solitaire Classic game setup showing tableau, stock, and foundation piles

Solitaire Classic, in its most common form known as Klondike, is played with a standard 52-card deck. The objective is to build four foundation piles in ascending order by suit, from Ace to King. Below, you'll find comprehensive instructions on how to set up, play, and win this timeless card game.

Game Setup

1. Begin by dealing cards into seven columns (called the tableau) from left to right:
• First column: 1 card face up
• Second column: 1 card face down, then 1 card face up
• Third column: 2 cards face down, then 1 card face up
• Fourth column: 3 cards face down, then 1 card face up
• Fifth column: 4 cards face down, then 1 card face up
• Sixth column: 5 cards face down, then 1 card face up
• Seventh column: 6 cards face down, then 1 card face up
2. The remaining cards form the stock pile, placed face down above the tableau.
3. Leave space for four foundation piles (one for each suit) in the upper right corner.

Game Rules and Card Movement

Tableau Rules:

• Cards in the tableau are built in descending order (King to Ace) with alternating colors (red and black).
• Example: On a red Queen, you can place a black Jack; on a black 7, you can place a red 6.
• Complete sequences of cards can be moved together as a unit.
• Empty tableau columns can only be filled with a King or a sequence beginning with a King.
• When a face-down card is exposed after moving a face-up card, the face-down card is turned face up.

Foundation Rules:

• Foundations are built up in ascending order (Ace to King) by suit.
• Each foundation pile must start with an Ace of the respective suit.
• Cards can be moved from the tableau or the waste pile to the foundations.

Stock and Waste Pile:

• When you can't make any more moves in the tableau, draw cards from the stock pile.
• In traditional Solitaire Classic, cards are drawn from the stock one at a time.
• Cards drawn from the stock that aren't immediately played go to the waste pile.
• When the stock pile is exhausted, the waste pile can be turned over to replenish the stock (typically allowed up to three times in traditional rules).

Winning Strategies

Successful Solitaire Classic play requires strategic thinking. Here are some key strategies to improve your chances of winning:

1. Expose Hidden Cards: Prioritize moves that reveal face-down cards in the tableau.
2. Create Empty Columns: Try to clear entire columns to create temporary storage for card sequences, especially to place a King and build a new sequence.
3. Build Foundations Cautiously: Don't rush to move cards to the foundation piles. Sometimes it's better to keep lower cards in play to help arrange tableau cards.
4. Plan Ahead: Look several moves ahead, considering how each move will affect your future options.
5. Use Color Strategy: Pay attention to card colors to maintain flexibility in building tableau sequences.

Remember that not all Solitaire Classic deals are winnable. Estimates suggest that approximately 80-90% of games can be won with optimal play, but some initial deals create unsolvable situations.

Variations in Rules

While the basic rules of Solitaire Classic remain consistent, some variations exist:

• Three-Card Draw: Drawing three cards at once from the stock pile (instead of one), with only the top card available for play.
• Unlimited Passes: Allowing unlimited passes through the stock pile (instead of the traditional three passes).
• Vegas Rules: Drawing three cards at a time with only one pass through the deck, often played with scoring based on money.

These variations can make the game easier or more challenging, allowing players to adjust the difficulty based on their preference and skill level.