Klondike is the game most people simply call "Solitaire," and it has a reputation for being largely down to luck. There is some truth to that — not every deal can be won — but the gap between a beginner and a skilled player is enormous. Beginners win perhaps one game in ten; a player who follows a few reliable principles wins close to half their Draw 1 games. This guide explains those principles and, more importantly, why they work.
The goal, in one sentence
Move all 52 cards onto the four foundations, building each suit upward from Ace to King. You do that by arranging cards on the seven tableau columns into descending runs of alternating colour (a red Nine on a black Ten), drawing fresh cards from the stock when you run out of moves. If the rules are new to you, the fastest way to learn is to play a hand with hints turned on.
Five principles that win games
1. Flip face-down cards before anything else
Every face-down card you reveal is new information and a new option. When you have a choice between two legal moves, almost always pick the one that exposes a hidden card. Dig into the tallest piles early — they hide the most cards, and a column you never open is effectively frozen for the whole game.
2. Don't rush cards to the foundation
It feels productive to send every Ace, Two and Three straight up, but those low cards are often the anchors you need to land a run on the tableau. A good rule of thumb: a card is safe to play up once both cards of the opposite colour and one rank lower are already on foundations (so you'll never need it to receive a tableau card). Until then, leave it where it can still do work.
3. Empty columns are for Kings — and only the right King
An empty column is the most powerful resource in the game: it can hold a King and the long run you build beneath it. But emptying a column to plant the wrong King strands it. Wait for a King that has a Queen of the opposite colour in sight, so the empty space immediately starts a productive run rather than sitting idle.
4. Move runs as a unit, and plan the receiving column
Any face-up descending, alternating-colour run can be moved together. Before you shift one, look at where it lands: a move that frees a face-down card or consolidates two columns into one (opening an empty space) is worth far more than one that simply shuffles cards sideways.
5. Keep your options open with the waste pile
Don't reflexively play the top waste card just because it's legal. Once you move it, the card beneath becomes available — so sometimes holding back keeps a more useful card accessible. Think one step ahead.
Draw 1 vs Draw 3
In Draw 1, every stock card is reachable on each pass, so you can plan freely and win rates are high. In Draw 3, cards turn over three at a time, so only every third card is initially available. The key Draw 3 skill is counting the stock: playing a single card from the waste shifts which cards surface on the next cycle, so it can pay to skip a playable card now to reach a better one next pass. Make a habit of going through the whole stock before committing to a line — you'll often spot a card that changes your plan.
Common mistakes that lose games
- Banking foundation cards too early — the number-one win-killer.
- Ignoring face-down cards in favour of tidy-looking sideways moves.
- Emptying a column with no King ready, wasting your best resource.
- Burning through the stock without a plan in Draw 3.
- Forgetting undo exists — on CardHearth, undo is unlimited, so explore a line and take it back if it dead-ends.
Practise the right way
Because every CardHearth deal has a number, you can replay the exact same hand to test a different line, or share it with a friend to see who solves it. Use Hint when you're genuinely stuck and unlimited Undo to learn from a wrong turn — that's how you internalise these principles faster than grinding random deals.
Frequently asked questions
What percentage of Klondike games are winnable?
Around 80% of Draw 1 deals are theoretically winnable with perfect play, but most players win far fewer. Draw 3 is harder because only every third stock card is initially reachable. A realistic target for a strong player is roughly 35–45% in Draw 1 and 10–15% in Draw 3.
Should I always move a card to the foundation?
No. Moving cards up too early is the most common mistake. A low card you bank early (a 2 or 3) is often exactly what you need to park a tableau run on later. Send a card up only when you are sure you no longer need it on the tableau.
What is the single best habit for winning more?
Prioritise moves that flip a face-down card or empty a column. Every hidden card you reveal adds options; columns you cannot dig into are dead weight.
Keep going
Ready to put it into practice? Play Klondike Solitaire now, or branch out: Spider Solitaire strategy and FreeCell strategy reward a different kind of planning, and our guides hub covers the whole CardHearth library.