How to Play Patience (Klondike Solitaire)
Patience — known as Klondike Solitaire outside the UK — is the world's most played card game. A single-player game of sorting cards into four foundation piles by suit in ascending order (Ace to King), it combines strategic decision-making with the luck of the deal. Most deals are winnable with correct play — but some are impossible regardless of strategy.
Setup
Deck: Standard 52-card deck, shuffled thoroughly.
The Tableau: Deal 7 columns of cards from left to right:
- Column 1: 1 card (face up)
- Column 2: 2 cards (1 face down + 1 face up)
- Column 3: 3 cards (2 face down + 1 face up)
- Continue up to Column 7: 7 cards (6 face down + 1 face up)
The Stock: Remaining 24 cards placed face-down in the upper left — drawn from during play.
The Foundations: Four empty spaces in the upper right — one per suit. Build from Ace up to King.
How to Play
Moving tableau cards: You may move a face-up card onto another tableau card if:
- The card is one rank lower than the target card, AND
- The card is the opposite color (red on black, black on red)
Example: Red 7 can be placed on Black 8. Black 6 can then go on the Red 7.
You can move stacks of correctly ordered cards as a unit.
Flipping face-down cards: When you move the top face-up card from a tableau column, flip the newly exposed face-down card face-up.
Empty columns: An empty tableau column can only receive a King (or a stack starting with a King).
The Stock: Click or flip the top stock card. If it can be played (onto foundations or tableau), play it. If not, it goes to the Waste pile. Cycle through the stock as needed — standard rules allow unlimited cycling; some variants allow only 1 or 3 cycles.
Winning Condition
Move all 52 cards to the four foundation piles — each suit built from Ace to King (A, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, J, Q, K). You win when all foundations are complete.
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Strategy Tips
Expose face-down cards first. Prioritize moves that flip new cards — each new card gives more options. Don't make moves that look 'good' but block access to face-down columns.
Don't rush aces and twos. Moving Aces to foundations immediately is tempting but can block useful cards in the tableau.
Keep columns flexible. Avoid filling tableau columns with long stacks that can't easily move — you'll run out of maneuvering space.
Plan several moves ahead. Before making a move, visualize what it enables. A bad move order can make a winnable game unwinnable.
Not all deals are winnable. Research suggests approximately 79% of Klondike deals are winnable with perfect play. Accept unwinnable layouts and start a new deal.
Frequently Asked Questions
What percentage of Patience games can be won?
Approximately 79% of standard Klondike Solitaire deals are theoretically winnable. In practice, players win about 43% of games due to suboptimal moves. 21% of deals cannot be won regardless of strategy.
What is the difference between Patience and Solitaire?
They're the same game. 'Patience' is the British English term; 'Solitaire' is American English. Both usually refer to Klondike Solitaire — the standard version played on computer systems worldwide.
How many cards can I draw from the stock at once?
Standard rules: draw one card at a time. The '3-card draw' variant requires drawing three cards at once, playing only the top card. 3-card draw significantly reduces win percentage but is considered the 'classic' version at some clubs.
Can I move a card from the foundation back to the tableau?
In standard Klondike rules, yes — you can move cards from foundations back to the tableau if needed. Some computer implementations don't allow this. Being able to move foundation cards back significantly increases win probability.