Solitaire Game Guide

What is Solitaire?

Solitaire, also known as Patience, is a card game that aims to arrange the cards in a specific order. Typically played as a single-player game; however, entertaining multiplayer variants are also available in which you can play with friends or other players online.

The origins of Solitaire are unclear, but the word derives from the Latin adjective "solitarius," meaning isolated or lonely. In the English language, the word first appeared around the 16th century. But, we also know that the earliest record dates from Northern Europe and Scandinavia in the late 1700s. From there on, we can trace the game in different parts of the world.

Before the invention of computers and the internet, Solitaire was only available if you had a card suit. Nowadays, you only need a mobile, tablet, or desktop device to play this game.

Solitaire's popularity can be attributed to its simplicity, accessibility and addictiveness. It is a game that has stood the test of time and continues to be enjoyed by millions worldwide.

What Are the Rules of Solitaire?

Solitaire is a card game played with a standard deck of 52 cards. The game's objective is to arrange the cards in four foundation piles, one for each suit (clubs, spades, hearts, and diamonds), sorted in ascending order from Ace to King. The game starts with seven piles of cards on the table, with the top card face up.

Players can move cards between the piles, following specific rules. Cards can be moved to a tableau pile if they are one rank lower and of a different colour than the card at the top of the pile. For example, a red six can be placed on top of a black seven. Additionally, Kings can be moved to an empty tableau pile.

The game is won when all four foundation piles are completed. This means that each pile has all 13 cards of the same suit in ascending order, from Ace to King.

There are four different types of piles in Solitaire:

Tableau: Seven tableau piles make up the main table. Cards in the tableau piles can be moved between the piles or to the foundation piles.

Foundations: You must build a whole sequence of cards on four foundation piles. These are the piles where you will build up each suit in ascending order from Ace to King.

Stock: The stockpile features the remaining cards not in the tableau piles at the beginning of the game. You can draw cards from the stockpile onto the tableau or the waste pile.

Waste: The waste pile holds cards from the stockpile with no place in the tableau.

Best Solitaire Games

The most common versions of this game that feature all around the globe are:

• Klondike
• Spider
• FreeCell
• Yukon
• Tripeaks

Klondike

Klondike is by far the most popular Solitaire version. Klondike Solitaire is widely believed to have originated in the Klondike region of Canada during the 19th century. The game gained widespread popularity when it was included in Microsoft's Windows 3.0 operating system in 1990. Maybe it has just dawned on you why this game has always been on your mind since an early age.

Spider

Spider Solitaire is played with two decks (104 cards), and the objective is to build eight complete King-to-Ace sequences inside the tableau. The name refers to a spider's eight legs, matching those eight sequences. Difficulty is set by how many suits are in play — one, two or four — not by the number of decks, which is always two.

FreeCell

FreeCell Solitaire is a popular version often compared to Klondike but is considered by many as the most strategic variant of the game. All 52 cards are dealt face-up at the beginning of the game, allowing players to plan their moves more effectively. Playing FreeCell can help players develop strategic thinking and hone their skills.

Yukon

Yukon Solitaire is a popular Solitaire variant similar to Klondike but features significantly different rules. The difficulty level of Yukon Solitaire is considered high, as the rules for moving the cards are challenging. Unlike other versions of Solitaire, no stockpile is available to players, and no help is provided during gameplay. Yukon Solitaire can be rewarding for players who enjoy a challenge and want to test their skills.

Tripeaks

Last but not least, we have Tripeaks Solitaire. TriPeaks Solitaire lays the tableau out as three pyramid peaks. The objective is to clear all three peaks onto a single waste pile, taking any card ranked one above or one below the card currently showing. Unlike Klondike, TriPeaks has no foundations at all.

How to Play Online Solitaire

Nowadays, thanks to the widespread use of the internet, players can enjoy Solitaire online. All you need is to find an online casino that features these games. Providing you have a stable internet connection, and you won't run into any more issues. At GoodLuckMate, we feature some of the best casinos that feature the excellent card game of Solitaire. If you just want to deal a hand right now, playsolitaire runs a free game straight in your browser.

Once you access the game, you should place any available Aces from the tableau to the foundations. Then you need to look for twos that will follow the sequence. If you can’t move any more cards to the foundations, you must move around the cards on the tableau.

You can do that if the moving card features an opposite colour and is one number lower than the placed card. You can always draw three cards from the Stock when no more possible moves exist. You keep on moving cards until you fill up all four foundations.

Solitaire at Online Casinos

Solitaire is, overwhelmingly, a game people play for free. It is a single-player patience game rather than a house-banked casino game, so real-money versions are rare — a few operators carry a solitaire-style title, but most do not.

If you are looking for a trustworthy operator for the card and table games that casinos do cover properly — blackjack, baccarat, poker variants and video poker — the sites we rate most highly are shown below.

Online Solitaire Tips

Despite being a super easy game to understand, mastering the game is an entirely different matter. Therefore, we've compiled a few tips to help you improve this super fun card game.

Learn the Rules

This might sound like a given, but you will be amazed how many people like to dive into the deep end without learning about the game beforehand. Logically, it is tough to succeed at a game without knowing the rules, so make sure you know all you can before spending your hard-earned money at an online casino.

Plan Your Moves Carefully

Before you make a move, take a moment to think about the potential consequences of that move. Consider which cards will be uncovered and the options available on your next turn.

Build Foundation As Soon As Possible

As soon as you can, start building foundations. This will give you a place to move cards to and help you clear the tableau.

Don't Get Stuck Trying to Make One Move

If you're unsure what move to make, don't get stuck on one option. Instead, explore different options and see which works out best.