Klondike Solitaire Strategy

Whether you’re an advanced player or brand new to the game, winning at Klondike Solitaire requires strategy. This article contains our best strategies and tips to jumpstart your winning streak. Let’s dive in.

Klondike Solitaire (also known as Classic Solitaire) is easy to play but difficult to master. We’ve compiled these strategies to beat the odds.

There are two ways to start Klondike:

At Arkadium, we go for the foundation first. If no moves are available, default to the stock. For reference, here is an image of the standard Solitaire layout.

You might be tempted to start building runs right away, but experience says opening up cards is a better Klondike Solitaire strategy. Hidden cards might reveal an important card that can make a difference in your game. The more cards you can free up, the more opportunities you have to get cards to their foundation piles.

Transfer stacks of sequential runs from one tableau to another to free up space and bring more cards into play. You don’t even have to move the entire sequence either. Split the run wherever is most advantageous.

Kings belong to empty columns. As the game progresses, entire columns will disappear. When that happens, you want to get that empty column back in the game. This is where Kings come in. Place a King in the blank space to keep the tableau in play.

Master the one-draw game first before moving on to the more difficult three-draw game. Jumping into the deep end of the pool can cause a new player a lot of frustration. Build your Klondike Solitaire strategy with the one-card draw before tackling the three-headed beast.

The stock is like a revolving door, so you can go through the pile repeatedly. Once you’re positive there are no more moves, cycle through one more time—just in case.

“There's always a way if you're not in a hurry.” – Paul Theroux

Strategizing takes time. Even the most advanced players slowly examine their Klondike layout for opportunities. Be patient. Consider all the possible moves and their implications before playing a card. Plan ahead. Calculate the possible outcomes so you can maximize your chances.

Now that you’ve been introduced to a few strategies, read our Klondike Solitaire tips to increase your odds of winning.

Aces are hot potatoes. As soon as you have one, get rid of it.

In Klondike, the final destination is the suited foundation piles, so you want to establish the piles early on. The only way to do that is by placing the aces. Move aces to the foundation as soon as possible.

The best move isn’t necessarily the one that completes a suit or builds a run. Even when a play seems like a step back, it can be part of a longer strategy that results in more moves. In Klondike, the best move is the one that brings more cards into play.

Tackle columns with the highest number of unexposed cards. This not only frees up cards but might also reveal a hidden gem that will advance your game.

When playing online, a good Klondike Solitaire tip is to take full advantage of the undo button. It’s not cheating if it’s in the rules—and it is in our Arkadium Klondike Solitaire game.

As much as possible, build up all four suited foundation piles simultaneously. Avoid focusing on one suit at a time. Doing so creates an imbalance in the rest of the cards, which can clog up your columns.

With these Klondike Solitaire tips, you’re set for your next game. Give our list of strategies and tips a try and improve your chances of winning Klondike Solitaire.

Here at Arkadium, we offer more than 100 high-quality games for you and your friends to enjoy. These include Klondike Solitaire, Spider Solitaire, Forty Thieves, and more. Why not try your best Klondike Solitaire strategy and see how fast you can win?

Klondike Solitaire - Play Online for Free | Arkadium

Play our online games anytime & anywhere—no download needed. Discover more free online games at Arkadium, home of the world’s best online games.