Solitaire Strategy: How to Win More Games

1. Not every deal can be won — and that is fine

Computer studies of Klondike estimate that roughly eight deals in ten can be won with perfect play, and that figure assumes you can see every face-down card. In a real game you cannot, so even expert players lose some winnable deals. Judge your play by the decisions you made, not only by the result.

On ManyPlay, Check deal tells you whether a win is still possible from your current position. If it says no, start a new deal instead of grinding on.

2. Free the face-down cards first

The 21 face-down cards in the seven columns are the real puzzle. A move that turns one over gives you new information and often new moves, so it is usually worth more than a stock card.

When you have a choice, work on the column with the most face-down cards. The long columns on the right hide the most, and leaving them for last is a common reason for getting stuck.

3. Empty a column only when a King is ready

Only a King, or a run that starts with a King, can fill an empty column. Clearing a column with no King to put there gains nothing and can cost you a place to park cards.

If you have two Kings to choose from, think about colour: a red King needs a black Queen next. Pick the King whose Queen you can actually reach, ideally one that frees face-down cards when it moves.

4. Do not rush cards to the foundations

Aces and Twos can go up straight away. With higher cards, check first whether you still need them on the table: a black Six may be the only place for a red Five that is blocking a face-down card.

A useful rule of thumb is to keep the foundations roughly level, so no suit races far ahead of the others while low cards of the opposite colour still need a home.

5. When two cards fit, choose the one that uncovers more

Often two cards of the same rank and colour can take the same spot — for example, a red Eight from two different columns onto a black Nine. Take the one whose column has face-down cards beneath it; moving the other one only shuffles cards around.

6. Use the stock with a plan

In Turn 1 you see every stock card in order, so look through the stock before you commit to long table moves. In Turn 3, only every third card is available on each pass. Playing a card from the waste pile shifts which cards come up next time, so a single waste play can unlock cards you could not reach before.

Before you draw again, always check whether the top waste card fits somewhere. In Turn 3 especially, cards left on the waste pile are hard to get back to.

7. Undo to explore, hints to learn

Undo is a learning tool, not a cheat: try a line, see what it reveals, and back out if it leads nowhere. Each deal on ManyPlay also comes with three free hints. Use one when you are stuck and ask yourself why the game chose that move — that is how you learn to spot it next time.

8. Practise on deals you know can be won

The daily solitaire deal is taken from a bank of deals a solver has already checked, so every one of them can be won. It is a good way to practise: if you lose, the cards were not to blame, and you can replay the same deal with a different plan.