How to Play Classic Solitaire (Klondike): Rules, Setup, and How to Win
Classic Solitaire, also called Klondike, is a one-player card game where you win by moving all 52 cards into four Foundation piles, sorted by suit from Ace to King. You play it on Solitaire.com directly in a browser or on a phone, with no download or registration required, and the page lists Hint, Unlimited Undo, and Daily Challenges as available features. The rules below cover the standard layout and the moves that decide whether a game is winnable.
What the goal actually is
The win condition is narrow: all four Foundations must be built up in suit, Ace first, then 2, 3, and so on through King. Every other move on the board exists to make those Foundation moves possible. A game is won when the last King lands on its Foundation; if no legal move remains and the Stockpile is empty, the deal is lost.
The four areas of the layout
A deal places cards into four zones, each with a different job:
| Area | What it holds | What you do with it |
|---|---|---|
| Tableau | Seven columns; some cards face down, some face up | Build descending sequences and uncover hidden cards |
| Foundation | Four piles, one per suit | Build Ace to King in suit to win |
| Stockpile | The unused draw deck | Draw from here when no other move is available |
| Waste pile | Cards drawn but not yet playable | Take the top card when it fits a Tableau or Foundation |
The Tableau is where most decisions happen, because face-down cards there are the main obstacle between you and the Foundations.
The rules that govern every move
Moving cards on the Tableau
In the seven Tableau columns you may only stack a card on one rank higher and of the opposite color. For example, place the 7♦ on the 8♣, but not on the 8♥. Sequences built this way can be moved as a group when the whole run is in valid descending, alternating-color order.
Revealing hidden cards
When you move a card off a Tableau column, the card underneath — if there is one — is automatically turned face-up. This is the core engine of the game: each reveal can expose an Ace or a card that unlocks a new sequence, so moves that turn over a face-down card are usually worth prioritizing.
Building each suit in the Foundation
Cards go to the Foundation only in suit and in ascending order, starting with the Ace. Add the 2, then the 3, and continue until you reach the King. A card that cannot legally go to a Foundation yet stays on the Tableau or in the Waste pile.
Using the Stockpile and Waste pile
When no Tableau or Foundation move is available, draw from the Stockpile. Cards you draw but cannot use immediately go to the Waste pile, and the top Waste card can be played onto the Tableau or a Foundation when it fits. Cycling through the Stockpile is how you keep a stalled game moving.
How a game flows
- Read the initial Tableau: note which face-down cards block the most useful columns.
- Make Foundation moves whenever an Ace or the next card in sequence is available.
- Build Tableau sequences in descending rank and alternating color, favoring moves that flip a face-down card.
- Draw from the Stockpile when the Tableau offers nothing.
- Repeat until all four Foundations reach King, or until no move remains.
Common sticking points
- Color, not just rank. A 6♠ cannot go on a 7♣; the colors must alternate, so check both rank and color before moving.
- Empty columns. An empty Tableau column is valuable because only a King (or a sequence starting with a King) can be placed there — plan which King you want to free up.
- Foundation order is strict. You cannot park a 5 on a Foundation before the 4 of that suit is there, even if the 5 is otherwise free.
- Undo and Hint. The site lists Unlimited Undo and Hint as features, which lets you test a line of play and reverse it rather than committing blind.
If you want a low-pressure way to learn the rhythm, Daily Challenges on Solitaire.com give you a fresh deal to practice reading the Tableau before you chase a full win.