Card Solitaire Rules & How to Play: Tips Guide for Beginners

Let’s face it — we’ve all been bored, sitting in front of a computer or flipping through a deck of cards, and suddenly remembered that one game that’s always there for us: Solitaire. Whether you’ve played it on Windows in the '90s or tried your hand at a real deck, Card Solitaire is one of the most relaxing, satisfying solo games you can play — and once you learn the rules, it can be surprisingly addictive.

If you’re new to the game or just need a quick refresher, you’re in the right place. This guide will break down exactly how to play Solitaire step-by-step, what the basic rules are, and a few helpful tips to keep you winning more than you're reshuffling.

What Is Card Solitaire?

Card Solitaire — also known as “Klondike Solitaire” — is the classic version of the game that most people are familiar with. It’s designed for a single player, and the goal is simple: sort all the cards into four foundation piles, one for each suit, in ascending order from Ace to King.

Sounds easy, right? Not so fast. There’s strategy involved, and your ability to plan ahead makes all the difference between winning and getting stuck halfway through the deck.

What You Need to Play

All you need to play is a standard 52-card deck — no jokers.

If you’re playing online, the game handles all the setup for you. But if you’re playing with real cards, here’s how to deal:

1. The Tableau: This is the main play area with seven columns. The first column gets one card, the second gets two, the third gets three, and so on up to the seventh column with seven cards. Only the top card in each column is face-up — the rest are face-down.

2. The Stock: The remaining cards form a draw pile, usually placed in the upper-left corner.

3. The Waste: As you draw cards from the stock, they’re placed face-up here.

4. The Foundation: Four empty spaces where you’ll eventually move your sorted suits from Ace to King.

Objective of the Game

Your goal is to move all 52 cards into the four foundation piles, organizing each suit in order: Ace, 2, 3, and so on up to King.

To get there, you’ll need to make smart moves in the tableau, reveal hidden cards, and strategically use the stock pile to help you complete the suits.

Step-by-Step: How to Play Solitaire

Step 1: Look for Aces

Start by scanning the tableau for any Aces. If you see one, move it directly to the foundation. You’ll build each foundation pile starting with the Ace.

Step 2: Build Down in the Tableau

In the tableau, you can move cards from one column to another — but only in descending order and alternating colors. For example, you can place a black 6 on a red 7, or a red Queen on a black King.

This is how you start uncovering face-down cards, which is key to winning the game.

Step 3: Reveal Hidden Cards

Once you move the top face-up card from a column, flip the next card underneath. Revealing new cards gives you more options and helps unlock blocked parts of the board.

Step 4: Move Kings to Empty Columns

If you clear an entire column, you can only place a King (or a descending sequence that starts with a King) in that empty space. No other cards can be moved to an empty tableau column.

Step 5: Use the Stock Pile

When you’re out of moves in the tableau, draw cards from the stock. Depending on your rule set, you might draw one card at a time or three at a time. Move any usable cards to the tableau or foundation. If not, move them to the waste pile.

Step 6: Keep Cycling the Stock

You can cycle through the stock multiple times (unless you're playing a variation that limits this). Each time, new opportunities may arise to move cards to the tableau or foundation.

Step 7: Complete the Foundation

Keep organizing suits from Ace to King in the foundation. Once all four suits are complete and moved, you win the game.

Common Solitaire Rules You Should Know

• Only Kings can be moved to empty tableau columns.

• Cards must alternate in color when stacking in the tableau.

• You must follow suit when building the foundation piles.

• You can only move a full or partial descending sequence if the rules allow it.

Popular Solitaire Variants

If Klondike gets too easy or repetitive, there are several other versions of Solitaire you can explore:

• Spider Solitaire: Played with two decks and requires building entire sequences in the same suit.

• FreeCell: Every card is face-up, and you have open “cells” to temporarily hold cards.

• Pyramid: A quick game where you pair cards that add up to 13.

Tips for Beginners

1. Don’t move cards just because you can: Every move should serve a purpose — either revealing a hidden card or helping clear a column.

2. Always uncover larger stacks first: If you have a choice, go for columns with more face-down cards. They’re hiding the biggest rewards.

3. Think ahead: Before you move a card, look at how it affects the rest of your layout. Sometimes leaving a card in place is the smarter move.

4. Watch the stock cycle: Especially in three-card draw versions, plan your moves around the cards you know are coming.

Why People Love Solitaire

Solitaire isn’t just a way to kill time — it’s a perfect mix of calm focus and strategic thinking. You don’t need anyone else to play, and every round offers a new puzzle to solve. Some people even use it as a daily brain warm-up or stress-reliever.

Plus, there’s something satisfying about seeing that last King fall into place and knowing you beat the deck.

Final Thoughts

Card Solitaire is timeless for a reason — it’s easy to learn, endlessly replayable, and just challenging enough to keep things interesting. Whether you’re shuffling a real deck at home or swiping through an app on your phone, once you learn the basics, you’ll find yourself coming back to it again and again.

So go ahead — deal the cards, clear some space, and see if you’ve got what it takes to conquer the deck!