Solitaire for Beginners: The Rules, and the Four Decisions That Decide the Game
Klondike is the solitaire everyone means when they say solitaire: seven columns, a stock you turn through, and four foundations to build from ace to king. The rules take two minutes; playing well takes knowing which of several legal moves to make.
This guide gives the rules exactly, then the four decision points that come up in almost every deal.
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The layout and the rules
Seven columns hold one to seven cards. Only the last card in each column is face up. The remaining cards form the stock, which you turn through for extra options.
In the columns you build downward in alternating colors—a red six goes on a black seven. You may move a single card or a run of correctly-sequenced cards together.
Foundations build upward by suit, ace first. Emptying a column creates a space, and only a king may be placed into an empty space.
You win when all four foundations are complete from ace to king.
Decision 1 — should this card go to the foundation?
Not always. Sending a card to the foundation removes it from play, and low cards are often needed in the columns to receive other cards. A red three on the foundation cannot accept a black two later.
The safe rule: send aces and twos immediately. Hold anything higher until both opposite-color cards one rank below are already safely placed or clearly not needed.
Decision 2 — which column do I dig into?
Face-down cards are the real currency of the game; every one you flip is new information. When several moves are legal, prefer the one that exposes a face-down card.
Between two such moves, dig into the longest column. Those cards are buried deepest and are the most likely to be the ones you eventually need.
Decision 3 — do I fill this empty column?
An empty column is powerful and easy to waste. Dropping in the first available king can freeze the board if that king has nothing to receive and buries nothing useful.
Before filling a space, ask what it unblocks. A king that lets you unload a long run and flip two face-down cards is worth it; a king placed because it was legal usually is not.
Decision 4 — when to turn the stock
Exhaust the useful moves on the board first, then turn. Turning early is fine—it costs nothing but a redeal—but making a column move you cannot undo before you have seen your options does cost you.
Track roughly what has come past in the stock. Knowing that the black aces have not appeared yet changes whether you commit a column to a long build.
Not every deal is winnable
This is worth saying plainly because it saves frustration: in standard Klondike a meaningful share of random deals cannot be won by any sequence of moves. Losing a deal is not always a mistake.
Our version gives you unlimited undo, so when a deal goes wrong you can walk back and test a different branch instead of starting over.
About our version
Cozy Solitaire is free in the browser on phone and desktop—no download, no account. Cards are drag-and-drop, or tap to auto-move to the only legal destination.
Undo is unlimited, there is no timer unless you want one, and no ads interrupt a deal. All art is original, and progress stays on your device.
Frequently asked
What are the basic rules of solitaire?
Build columns downward in alternating colors, build four foundations upward by suit from ace to king, and fill empty columns only with kings. You win when all four foundations are complete.
Can every game of solitaire be won?
No. In standard Klondike, a substantial share of random deals is unwinnable no matter how well you play. Undo lets you test alternative lines before concluding a deal is dead.
Should I always move cards to the foundation?
No—this is the most common beginner mistake. Low cards are often needed in the columns. Send aces and twos right away; hold higher cards until they are no longer useful below.
Is it free, and do I need an account?
It is free in the browser with no download and no sign-up. Your progress is saved locally on your device.
