Eight Types of Solitaire Games to Play

Objective

The main objective in Klondike Solitaire is to build four foundation piles in ascending order, each starting with an Ace and ending with a King. The game starts with seven piles of cards, with the top one face-up. You can draw from the remaining cards that form the stock. Your goal is to move cards between the tableau and foundation piles to arrange them and form four piles. This completes the game.

How to Play

• The four ascending suit piles you create are known as “the foundations”.
• The seven piles on the table are referred to as “the tableau”. Each pile in the tableau has its top card exposed. You can place cards that are one rank lower and the opposite color on top of these piles.
• You can also transfer multiple cards in one move as long as the first card in the sequence conforms to the aforementioned rule.
• The remaining cards are referred to as “the stock”. You can move the top three cards from the stock at any point to what is known as “the waste pile”. The topmost card in the waste pile is playable; so, you can utilize it as a tableau card.
• When the stock is depleted, you can roll over the waste pile and reuse it as fresh stock.
• If you get trapped with no more moves, then the game is lost.

Objective

The primary goal in Pyramid Solitaire is to clear all cards from the pyramid by pairing exposed cards that have a total value of 13. As cards are paired and removed, you gradually expose additional cards in the pyramid. This creates new opportunities for matches.

How to Play

• Start by dealing a pyramid of cards with each row overlapping the one above it. The pyramid typically consists of 28 cards.
• Look for pairs of cards in the pyramid that have a combined value of 13 but are not overlapped by another card. For example, a Six can be paired with a Seven (if neither are obscured).
• Remove the pairs of cards that add up to 13 from the pyramid. This will help you make the layout less chaotic.
• Kings are valued at 13 and can be removed by themselves (when face-up and uncovered). If a card can’t be paired, then you can discard it into a separate discard pile.
• You win the game when you’ve successfully removed or paired all the cards in the pyramid.

Objective

The goal in the game is to create four suit-specific foundation piles in ascending sequences. You must start with Aces and then build up to Kings, just like the classic version. The game also features four cells to hold cards, which gives you some flexibility when building the foundation piles.

How to Play

• As with any card game, begin by shuffling the cards well.
• You play the game by moving cards from one column to another (just like the classic version). However, FreeCell allows you to hold cards that you need to move out of the way to find playable cards underneath.
• Remember that free cells can only hold one card at a time.

Objective

Like most Solitaire variants, Canfield Solitaire requires you to move all cards to the foundation piles (sorted in ascending order from Ace to King). The game starts with a reserve pile, which contains 13 cards, the first one being face-up. The objective is to make four foundation piles, one for each suit.

How to Play

• Canfield is so intriguing because its rules are more strict than those in traditional Solitaire. You must place cards in ascending order on the foundation piles. Let’s say that you play a Jack as the first card on the foundation pile. You must then use the following sequence for the four foundation piles: J, Q, K, A, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. 
• Any slot left empty on the tableau should be filled with the top card from the waste pile or reserve pile. You can, though, choose when to do this.
• When playing from the draw deck, you can flip up three cards at a time. Only the top card of these flipped-up cards can be played. 
• You can go through the draw deck as many times as you need. You can also move bundles of cards together (if they are in the correct sequence).

Objective

In Golf Solitaire, the main goal is to transfer all cards from the seven columns to the reserve pile. You can transfer cards that are either one rank higher or lower than the top card in the pile. You win the game when all cards from the seven columns have been transferred to the reserve pile.

How to Play

• For the setup, the seven columns contain five cards each. Each new row of cards overlaps the previous one. The top card from the remaining deck is placed face-up to start what’s called “the talon pile” or “reserve pile”. 
• Cards can be moved from the tableau to the reserve if they are one rank higher or lower than the topmost card in the reserve pile. At the start, the reserve pile is empty, so any card can be played at that point.
• Aces and Kings are considered consecutive, which allows you to place an Ace on a King or a King on an Ace.
• You should clear the face-down cards in the tableau to reveal new playable cards and create opportunities for building sequences.
• Once you’ve removed all the cards from the tableau, you win the game.
• If you reach a point where no more moves can be played, then you can flip over the top card from the remaining talon pile. Play then resumes.

Objective

The ultimate goal in Yukon Solitaire is to move all cards from the tableau to their respective foundation piles. Each of these piles starts with an Ace. You must then add cards on top of the Aces in an ascending order of the same suit.

How to Play

• Make seven piles in the 28-card tableau, with the top card turned over. The first pile has one card, the second has two cards, the third has three cards, and so on. Remember that all cards are face-down except for the top one. 
• Move cards to the foundations whenever possible, starting with the Aces. Each foundation is built from Ace to King.
• In Yukon Solitaire, you can utilize the ‘super move’ rule. This allows you to move cards in the tableau as long as the first card in the relevant pile is one rank lower and the opposite color (regardless of whether the remaining cards in the pile create a sequence). 
• Continue moving cards between tableau columns and foundations until you’ve placed them all in the foundation or until there are no more available moves.

Objective

The primary aim in Spider Solitaire is to construct eight foundation piles, each starting with an Ace and ending with a King. Players must arrange cards in descending order in the tableau columns, moving cards to uncover hidden ones and form sequences.

How to Play

• On the tableau, you can move the topmost card of one pile to another pile if it is one rank lower than the card you are placing it on. You can also move multiple face-up cards in the same column as a stack (as long as the first card in the stack is one rank lower than the card you are placing it on).
• The card below is flipped face-up and becomes accessible when all the face-up cards in a pile are removed.
• Regardless of suit, a moveable unit of cards can be placed on a card that is a rank higher than the unit’s bottom card. 
• Always plan your moves; this way, you won’t complicate what is already a rather confusing layout.

Objective

The main goal in TriPeaks Solitaire is to clear each peak in the tableau. To do so, reveal cards from the tableau that are one number higher or lower than the current card in the talon pile. Once you’ve cleared away all three peaks, you will win the game.

How to Play

• Sort three cards into different piles to make up the board. After the initial two cards are in place, put three cards below the two face-down cards. Continue doing this until three triangle peaks develop.
• Now create the final card layer, connecting the three triangles. This final row’s cards must be face-up. Set aside all of the leftover cards to create a stock.
• You can start playing now that your board has been set up. To begin the game, you must turn over a card from the stock.
• The stock cards in TriPeak Solitaire determine which cards will be played next.
• Inspect each of your three peaks closely. Look for cards in the stock that are one rank higher than the topmost card in the waste pile.