How to play Solitaire
- Press Start for the levels, or pick Klondike, FreeCell or Spider for a quick deal of that game. Klondike begins with seven columns; only the top card of each is face up.
- Move cards onto a column one rank lower and the opposite color: a black 6 goes on a red 7. You can move a whole face-up run at once.
- Send Aces to the four foundation piles at the top, then build each suit up to the King.
- When you run out of moves, tap the stock to draw a card. Empty columns only take a King in Klondike.
- Fill all four foundations to win. Finishing within the par time earns three stars.
About Solitaire
Solitaire brings three of the best-loved card games to one elegant table. Start with Klondike, the classic patience game: seven columns of cards, a stock to draw from, and four foundation piles to fill from Ace to King, one suit each. Build the columns downwards in alternating red and black, move whole runs together, and turn up the face-down cards one by one. Later chapters bring FreeCell, where every card is visible from the start and four free cells give you room to plan, then Spider, where two full decks are dealt into ten columns and you collect complete runs from King down to Ace. Klondike deals are checked by a solver before they reach you, so every Klondike level can be won. Tap any card and it jumps to the best place it can go; drag when you want to choose. Undo is unlimited, the hint shows a useful move, and once every card is face up the game finishes itself with a flourish. A new Klondike deal arrives every day.
Controls
| Input | What it does |
|---|---|
| Tap a card | Send it to the best place it can go |
| Drag | Move a card or run to a chosen pile |
| Tap the stock, D or Space | Draw cards (Spider: deal a new row) |
| U or undo | Take back a move (unlimited) |
| H or the bulb | Show a useful move |
| A | Send one card to a foundation |
Tips and strategy
- Turn over face-down cards first. In Klondike, a move that reveals a hidden card is almost always better than one that only shuffles face-up cards around.
- Empty columns are gold. Do not fill an empty Klondike column with a King unless that King brings useful cards with it or frees a hidden card.
- Do not rush cards to the foundations. A low card sent up early may be the one you need later to hold a run of the other color.
- In FreeCell, keep at least one free cell open. The number of cards you can move at once doubles for every empty column and grows with every free cell.
- In Spider, build in one suit whenever you can. Mixed runs can be moved only a card at a time, while single-suit runs move together and clear as a set.
- Use undo to explore. There is no penalty, so try a line of play, see where it leads, and step back if it closes doors.
Questions and answers
Can every game be won?
Every Klondike level and every daily deal has been checked by a solver that found a win. FreeCell deals are almost always winnable, and Spider rewards patience and planning.
Can I play Spider or FreeCell straight away?
Yes. Tap Spider or FreeCell under the Start button for a fresh deal, or open the level map and press Quick deal to choose any of the five games, including draw-three Klondike and two-suit Spider. Quick deals do not use up levels or stars.
Which solitaire games are included?
Klondike with one-card draw, FreeCell, one-suit Spider, Klondike with three-card draw and two-suit Spider, in that order across five chapters of twenty levels.
Is undo really unlimited?
Yes. Undo as many moves as you like at no cost. Stars depend only on how quickly you finish.
How do stars work?
Each game has a par time, from four minutes for Klondike to nine for two-suit Spider. Finish within par for three stars, within twice par for two, and any win earns one.
What is the daily deal?
A new Klondike deal every day, the same for every player and checked to be winnable, so you can compare times with friends.
Do I need an account?
No. Solitaire runs in your browser on phones, tablets and computers, and your stars and table themes are saved on your device.
