Klondike Solitaire can be frustratingly unforgiving if you don’t go into it with a solid plan in mind. I’m sure we’ve all felt stuck and annoyed at the game at certain points, and it’s very easy to feel like the only way you can make progress is by using the hint option.
Don’t rush to the ‘reset’ button just yet, though. I used to be that way as well – whenever I’d reach what I felt like was a dead end, I’d tell myself it’s time for a new shuffle. However, you can start following particular strategies to avoid that so that the next Solitaire game you play isn’t as frustrating as your previous ones.
You’ll find it comforting to know that the odds of winning an average game of Klondike Solitaire is between 82-91.5%. That means that if you’re following proper strategy and putting in the right focus, you can easily win your Solitaire game.
Best Strategies to Win in Klondike Solitaire
Now, there’s no clear-cut method you can follow to guarantee you win in Solitaire at thesolitaire.com. Sometimes, you get dealt a bad shuffle, and getting trapped is very easy. In fact, 1 out of every 400 shuffles is actually unplayable and unsolvable. However, the strategies we are about to mention will significantly improve your chances of winning.
Clean Up Larger Stacks
Klondike Solitaire arranges the bottom grid into columns containing 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 cards, with only the topmost card exposed. The game is all about revealing all the hidden cards, which you can accomplish by moving cards around. So, it just makes sense to expose cards in the more giant stacks, as it makes your job so much easier. You’ll have more cards to move around, and you’ll be much less likely to get stuck!
Don’t Empty a Slot Without a King in Hand
Finding a good place to move your cards around is incredibly satisfying, but it’s important not to rush your moves. One of the most important implementations of this concept is when you can open up a new slot (an empty pile) and try to save it for when you have a King open. This tip also applies to stacks of cards that are starting with the King, as this will help you expose a new card as well.
Move Low Cards to the Foundation
There’s no advantage to keeping an Ace anywhere but the Foundation pile, as you can’t even use it to place another lower card (an Ace being the lowest card in the deck). Hence, whenever you see an ace, simply drag it to the top. The same concept applies to other lower cards, but as the numbers get higher, you might have reasons to keep them outside the Foundation pile – which we’ll discuss later on.
Keep the Order in Mind
While it’s somewhat clear, not everyone is aware of the fact that the Foundation Pile is in ascending order and the Tableu is arranged in descending order. Essentially, if you manage to place all the cards in the Tableau properly, you’d have solved the game already since now all you have to do is drag them to the Foundation Piles.
Use Your First Move on the Stockpile
This is something I’m guilty of not following, either. You see, you’re going to use a turn on drawing a card from the Stockpile eventually, so why not make it your first turn? That way, you’ll be able to use it immediately if there’s a place for it on the Tableau or the Foundation piles, potentially opening up new opportunities.
Save the Undo Button for Emergencies
This isn’t as much of a strategy as the others, but it’s a good rule to follow. While the undo button can save you from sticky situations, if you start relying on it too much, you won’t be able to progress much as you play Klondike Solitaire. Always ask yourself whether there’s absolutely no alternative before you resort to the undo button.
Plan Ahead
Don’t just rush your moves; plan ahead! While you may find some moves that could lead to lengthy tableau columns, sometimes it’s better to wait for better ones, especially when there are other moves available. For example, you might be able to move a red six from the Stockpile onto a black seven, but that might lead to another red six on the tableau being stuck. Moving cards around the Tableau is almost always better than taking them from the Stockpile.
Prioritize Moves That Expose More Cards
It’s always better to go for moves that reveal more cards in the deck rather than rotating the same cards around. More exposed cards lead to more options, such as possibly moving them to the Foundation Piles or Tableau or completing a column.
Balance Tableau Piles
It’s never a good idea to have one long column in your Tableau piles and then multiple short piles. Try to create balanced Tableau piles, as that gives you the most chances to move cards around. With more balanced piles on the board, you’ll have equal chances to move around big cards as well as small cards.
Delay Moving Big Cards to the Foundation Pile
While it’s tempting to move cards to the foundation as soon as possible, sometimes waiting can open up more moves. As we discussed, the higher the card number, the better it is to keep it in store until the last minute. For example, keeping a low card in the tableau might allow more card shifting.
Practice and Pattern Recognition
As you play Klondike Solitaire for a long enough time, you’ll slowly develop an intuition for making good moves and avoiding bad ones. Similar patterns will start to stick out to you, and you’ll find yourself being able to spot matches and moves that you didn’t usually identify. Pattern recognition is a skill you develop after a lot of practice, so keep on at it until you’ve mastered the game!
The Best Klondike Solitaire Strategies in a Nutshell
Let’s recap what we’ve learned so far. Trying to keep all these strategies in mind as you play a relaxing game of Klondike Solitaire can be daunting, so don’t pressure yourself into trying to remember all of them. Besides, if you’re ever in a pickle, you can always refer to the table below for a quick pick-me-up as you play.
| Strategy | Key Focus |
| Clean Up Larger Stacks | Prioritize revealing cards in larger stacks first |
| Reserve Slots for Kings | Avoid emptying a slot unless you have a King to place |
| Move Low Cards to the Foundation | Quickly move Aces and low-value cards to the Foundation Pile |
| Order and Sequence | Keep in mind the ascending order for Foundation and descending for Tableau |
| First Move on Stockpile | Use the first move to draw from the Stockpile |
| Strategic Use of Undo | Use the Undo button sparingly and only in emergencies |
| Plan Ahead | Think several moves ahead to avoid trapping cards |
| Expose More Cards | Focus on moves that reveal more hidden cards |
| Balance Tableau Piles | Aim for even distribution in the Tableau to increase flexibility |
| Delay Big Card Moves | Sometimes, delay moving high-value cards to the Foundation for more options |
| Practice and Pattern Recognition | Practice will help you develop an intuition and your pattern recognition |
