How to Play Solitaire: Mastering the Classic Card Game

Solitaire is a timeless classic card game that has captivated players from diverse backgrounds for many generations. It is a single-player game that requires a player to have both first-rate skill and exceptional patience to win. As its other name “Patience” implies this card game requires an incomparable ability to focus to complete this game as a winner. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the simple rules, straight moves, and stimulating strategies needed to conquer Solitaire and become a true full-blood Solitaire master!

Dealing with Cards in Solitaire

The game begins with seven piles of cards being dealt in a detailed progression. During the first round of dealing, the first pile receives one face-up card, while the next six piles get face-down cards on top. The first pile is laid on the left-hand side and the next seven piles are laid down in an organized progression towards the right-hand side.

For the second round, the second pile receives a face-up card, and the next five piles get face-down cards on top. The first pile must only have a single face-up card. Don’t add another card to the pile.

While the second pile must have two. The first face-down one and the second face-up card you added on the second round.

The pattern continues in subsequent rounds, with each pile receiving one face-up card and the rest getting face-down cards. The number of cards in each pile progressively increases from left to right. As each round is dealt with. First pile with one face-up card. Second pile with two cards; the first face-down and the second face-up cards. Third pile with three cards; The first and second face-down and the third face-up cards.

The number of cards in each pile must match the order number for the pile. Fourth file with four cards, the fifth pile with five cards, the sixth pile with six cards, and the seventh pile with seven cards.

After the seven piles are completed in a specific manner. With the last and seventh cards dealt face-up. The remaining 24 cards are kept face-down in a separate deck from the initial seven piles.

Above the seven piles, there are four imaginary empty slots used to create the foundation piles.

How to Win the Game of Solitaire

To win Solitaire, you must create foundation piles for each suit. Start by placing an Ace of each suit in separate slots above the seven piles, as you draw an ace from the undealt face-down cards on the side or from the dealt face-down cards on the piles.

Next, complete each suit by placing consecutive cards on top of the Aces. For example, place the 2 of Hearts on the Ace of Hearts suit, the 2 of Clubs on the Ace of Clubs, the 3 of Clubs on the 2 of Clubs, and so on until each suit is complete. You can add the cards to each suit as the successive card is drawn.

Moves in Solitaire Game

To complete the four suits, you’ll need to make specific moves within the game:

Moving Cards Among the Seven Decks: You can move face-up cards among the seven piles, by placing a smaller rank card under a card with one rank higher of a different color. For instance, you can place the 6 of Hearts or 6 of Diamonds under either the 7 of Clubs or 7 of Spades. When you move a face-up card from a pile, the next face-down card in that pile is flipped to reveal the next face-up card.

Moving Cards from the Seven Decks to the Foundation Piles: Since the objective is to complete each foundation pile, you can move cards from the seven piles to the foundation piles. As each successive card is revealed when a face-down card is flipped.

From the Deck: Another way to move cards is by revealing one card at a time from the deck of leftover 24 cards. You can add the revealed card to the seven piles (below a card of higher rank and a different color) or to the foundation piles, wherever possible. If a revealed card cannot be moved to any place, the next card is revealed on top of it. Once all the deck cards are revealed, the pile of revealed cards is flipped to create a face-down deck again.

Other Solitaire Rules

Here are some additional rules to keep in mind while playing Solitaire:

A card can be placed below another card with one rank higher and a different color when moving cards to the seven piles.

When one of the seven piles becomes empty, only a King card can be placed into the open space to initially to start a new pile. Subsequently, more consecutive cards can be added below the King when needed following the rules of succession.

The top card of a foundation pile can be moved back to one of the seven piles below if required. So, a card of lower rank and different colors can be added under it to open up a pile.

If no more moves can be made from the piles or deck of cards, the game is lost.

Types of Solitaire Games

Solitaire comes in various forms, each offering its unique challenges and gameplay. Solitaire’s colorful origins created these variations. Some popular types of Solitaire games include:

Klondike Solitaire: Also known as Classic Solitaire, this is the most common version of the game, directly adapted to its digital form from the physical card and board Solitaire, and is often associated with Windows.

Spider Solitaire: This version introduces multiple levels of difficulty, depending on the number of suits and decks used in the game. This has a different layout from Classic Solitaire. When two decks of cards are used the layout is ten piles; with six cards in each of the first four piles and five cards in each of the succeeding six piles. There are a few versions of Spider Solitaire each with different layout and game rules.

Free Cell: In this Solitaire variation, players must apply strategic thinking to skillfully maneuver the 52-card tableau and systematically move all cards in ascending order to the foundation slots. This one is offering a complicated process and layout and is a bit challenging to play, but a lot of Solitaire enthusiasts have already mastered the gameplay used in this version.