Any popular activity with a competitive element creates champions. Through their skill and experience, these experts often become legends of the game. Even Solitaire has its catalog of famous players. I used to perceive the game as a casual endeavor, and never quite realized it has a ‘hall of fame’ per se.
It turns out that there are players who have dominated certain aspects of Solitaire. Aside from making me feel small, these players have managed to showcase a talent with the cards that few can emulate. While I most certainly won’t live up to their standard, I’m hoping to give you some insight into their stories. Hopefully, this will inspire you to ever greater Solitaire achievements.
The Legends of Solitaire
Unlike most games, Solitaire doesn’t have a densely packed hall of fame. Nonetheless, I’ve found a few names who specialize in some particular aspect of the game. You might be a little disappointed to hear this. It would be great if a game like Solitaire housed the names of people who dominated it. Unfortunately, due to the game’s random nature, it’s very difficult to claim that a certain individual was the ‘best’ at it.
Sometimes, the deck is just shuffled in a way that makes it easier to solve the game. If every game has a random shuffle, then it’s not clear how one can discern between the skills of two players. As such, we must resort to other aspects of the game, such as how fast someone can solve a Solitaire puzzle or how many games they can win in succession.
Tscherni
When it comes to speed, a Solitaire legend hailing from Germany has no rival. Tscherni (first name unknown) still holds the record for the fastest Solitaire game ever played. He completed a single round in just five seconds!
Although he accomplished this feat paying the easier Klondike version, you won’t find many examples of people who’ve even come close to that time. Speed solitaire is a popular pastime, one that depends on both your skill and luck in the shuffle. I blame the latter for why I can’t beat Tschernis’s record; the cards simply don’t shuffle in my favor!
Jokes aside, Tsherni has cemented his name in the history books (at least until someone clocks in at four seconds).
Stories From The Underground
Some legends cement their names in a Hall of Fame, but others seem to live on without a name. The reason I’m saying this is that I’ve come across multiple accounts of a man who managed to complete over 50,000 Solitaire games with only 15% losses. Yet, when I tried to dig around and find his name, I found nothing. All I can discover is it was an elderly man, aged 72.
This maestro managed to achieve a 99.9% win percentage in the FreeCell variant. This feat involved playing an hour or two each day over four years. Most FreeCell games are solvable (compared to Spider and Klondike, where many games are unsolvable). But, winning 99.9% isn’t something just anyone can do.
Famous Personalities You Probably Didn’t Know Played Solitaire
You don’t have to be a Solitaire champion to be known for playing it. Look at the two names below. They’re famous for things entirely unrelated to Solitaire, but the historical record shows that they enjoyed passing the time by playing a game or two.
- Winston Churchill, the British statesman, is said to have enjoyed playing Solitaire when he wasn’t tending to his other responsibilities.
- Napoleon Bonaparte, the French leader, is also known to have played Solitaire in his spare time.
Common Traits Amongst Solitaire Champions
If you aspire to become one of the best Solitaire players in the world, why not learn from the very best? I have found that the best players possess the following common traits:
| Trait | Description |
| Strategic thinking | The ability to foresee several moves ahead and consider various possible outcomes helps you organize and be deliberate in your moves. |
| Patience | You should be willing to take your time to analyze the game situation and avoid rushed decisions. (This is, of course, not applicable to Speed Solitaire.) |
| Problem-solving | The skill of effectively identifying and resolving complex game scenarios is essential in all Solitaire variants. |
| Attention to detail | The best players don’t miss out on obscure moves. Keenly observing card arrangements and potential sequences helps them get ahead. |
| Adaptability | You should be flexible in adjusting your strategy based on the game’s progress. Avoid tunnel vision. |
| Memory | Remembering the positions and identities of hidden cards helps you make more informed decisions. |
| Consistency | Even if you’re great at your craft, regular practice and consistent gameplay help maintain and improve your skills. |
| Calm under pressure | Curate the ability to maintain composure during challenging or high-stakes gaming situations. |
Closing Remarks
Now you know who to look up to if you’ve ever thought of trying to take your Solitaire to the top level or simply make a name for yourself playing the game. Even if you don’t, you can always treat Solitaire as the relaxing game it is and find solace in that.
