Klondike Solitaire Cheat Sheet

Klondike uses a single standard 52-card deck. Deal seven tableau columns from left to right: column one gets one card, column two gets two, and so on through column seven with seven cards. The top card of each column is face-up; every card beneath it is face-down. That accounts for 28 cards. The remaining 24 cards form the stock pile, placed face-down above the tableau.

The goal is to move all 52 cards onto the four foundation piles, building each suit from Ace through King. For full setup instructions, see our How to Play Klondike guide.

Every move in Klondike follows a small set of strict rules. Understanding them removes guesswork and speeds up your play.

The single biggest variable in Klondike is how many cards you flip from the stock at a time. This table summarizes everything that changes between the two modes.

For a deeper analysis of both modes, read our full Draw 1 vs Draw 3 comparison.

The foundations are where you ultimately need every card. Building them correctly is straightforward, but the timing of when to send cards up is what separates beginners from experienced players.

These ten principles cover the most impactful decisions in Klondike. Memorize them and apply them in order of priority.

1. Always uncover face-down cards first. Every hidden card is information you cannot use. Prioritize moves that flip face-down cards over moves that rearrange face-up cards.
2. Send Aces and Twos to foundations immediately. These cards have no tableau building value. Holding them gains nothing.
3. Keep foundation piles balanced. Do not build one suit to 8 while another is on 2. Unbalanced foundations lock cards you need for tableau building.
4. Prefer longer columns for Kings. When you have a choice of empty columns, place Kings that can immediately accept other cards into the largest available space.
5. Do not empty a column without a King ready. An empty column that stays empty is a wasted resource. Only clear a column when you have a King (or King-led sequence) to fill it.
6. Think two moves ahead before drawing from the stock. Exhaust all productive tableau moves before turning to the stock. Every card you play from the tableau changes what the stock can offer.
7. Alternate color placement matters. When two cards of the same rank but different colors can go on the same target, choose the one that uncovers more face-down cards.
8. Track the stock in Draw 3. Note which cards are in positions 1, 2, and 3 of each group. A card in position 2 or 3 becomes accessible if you play the card above it.
9. Avoid building long descending sequences on the tableau too early. A column with K-Q-J-10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2 looks impressive but locks twelve cards that cannot reach the foundation until the Ace appears.
10. Recognize when a game is stuck. If cycling the stock produces no new playable cards and no tableau moves exist, the game is unwinnable. Starting a new deal is better than forcing moves that go nowhere.

For deeper exploration of these concepts, see our Klondike Strategy Guide and Tips and Tricks page.

These numbers come from large-scale simulations and aggregated player data. They give you a realistic benchmark for measuring your own performance.

Klondike supports two common scoring systems. Which one you play affects strategy because the incentive structure changes.

In Standard scoring, recycling the stock costs points, which encourages efficient play. In Vegas scoring, you pay $52 upfront and earn $5 per foundation card, so every card matters and redeals are typically limited to one or three passes. For a complete breakdown, visit our Vegas Scoring guide.

Playing with keyboard shortcuts is faster than clicking or dragging. These shortcuts work in our online Klondike game.

Use this step-by-step checklist before every draw from the stock. Work through it from top to bottom. If any step yields a move, make that move before considering the stock.