Solitaire is one of those timeless card games that nearly everyone’s probably played at least once. It may seem like a simple game at first, but once you get into the different variations, there’s a lot of strategy and thinking involved.
Mastering the Basics
In Solitaire, the goal is to move all cards into foundation piles by suit, from Ace to King. Cards are arranged in a tableau, and you move them in alternating colours and descending order to clear the board.
Spider
If you’re looking for a more challenging version, Spider Solitaire might be for you. In this game, you use two decks of cards (104 cards in total), and your goal is to create full sequences of cards, from King to Ace, in the same suit.
Klondike
Klondike is the version that most people know. The game is simple: you arrange cards in alternating colours and descending order in the tableau, and move them to the foundation piles by suit. The game’s easy to start, but as you progress, it becomes a game of strategy.
FreeCell
In this version, cards are dealt face-up from the start, so you can see everything that’s available. The goal is still to move all the cards to foundation piles in the correct order, but you also get four free cells where you can temporarily place cards.
Pyramid
Pyramid Solitaire has a completely different layout. Cards are arranged in a pyramid shape, and the goal is to pair cards that add up to 13, with the King being worth 13 and the Ace worth 1. This one requires strategy and a good memory, as you’ll need to keep track of which cards are buried under others.
Advanced Techniques for Winning
To improve at Solitaire, you’ve got to start thinking ahead and being strategic.
- Think ahead: It’s tempting to just make the first move you see, but taking a second to think about your options can help a lot. Try to plan out a few moves in advance to see what’s possible.
- Focus on hidden cards: In Klondike, your main focus should be uncovering hidden cards. The more cards you reveal, the more options you’ll have. Same goes for Spider, where uncovering cards early on can give you more choices later.
- Use free cells wisely: In FreeCell, the free cells are like extra space. Don’t fill them up too quickly; instead, try to use them only when you need to move cards around to free up other cards.
- Build long sequences: In Spider Solitaire, try to create long sequences within the same suit. Once you’ve got a full sequence, you can move it all at once, freeing up a lot of space on the tableau.
Should You Be Able to Win Every Game of Solitaire?
A lot of players wonder if they should be able to win every game of Solitaire. The short answer is no. While most games of Solitaire are winnable with the right strategy, sometimes the game just isn’t meant to be won.
Improving Your Skills
The best way to get better at Solitaire is to just keep playing. The more you play, the better you’ll get at spotting good moves and recognising patterns. As you get more familiar with the game, you’ll develop your own strategies for winning.
Can You Put Any Card in an Empty Space in Solitaire?
In most versions of Solitaire, like Klondike, the only card that can go in an empty space is a King. In FreeCell, on the other hand, only a single card can be placed in an empty space, and it has to be the right card for the sequence. Understanding these little rules is key to making the right moves and opening up more options for yourself.
Expert Tips and Tricks
To level up your Solitaire game, focus on exposing hidden cards in Klondike for more options. If you’re playing digitally, don’t hesitate to use the undo button to test different strategies. In Spider, aim to build complete sequences within the same suit so you can move them all at once, clearing space efficiently.
What to Do If You Get Stuck in Solitaire?
If you get stuck, it’s okay. Take a step back, review your options, and see if there’s another way to make progress. Sometimes, switching up your strategy can make all the difference. In Klondike, for example, if you’re stuck, it might help to try and move cards around differently to reveal hidden cards. In Spider, think about how you can use the tableau to build longer sequences.
