When you start a game of Klondike, one setting changes everything: how many cards turn over from the stock at a time. Draw 1 turns a single card; Draw 3 turns three. It sounds like a small difference, but it splits Klondike into two genuinely different games — one relaxed and winnable, one tense and demanding. This guide explains how they differ, what changes in scoring, and which one you should pick.
How the two modes differ mechanically
In Draw 1, every time you tap the stock, exactly one card flips onto the waste pile. That means every card in the stock is reachable on each pass. Nothing is hidden behind another card, so you can see your whole deck over the course of a single cycle and plan around it. This is why Draw 1 is so much more forgiving: if a card you need is buried, you simply keep drawing until it surfaces, and a strong player wins roughly 35–45% or more of deals.
In Draw 3, three cards flip at once and only the top of that group is playable. That means only every third card is initially available — the two cards beneath each turned card are out of reach until you cycle back around. The essential Draw 3 skill is counting the stock: because playing a single card from the waste shifts which cards land on top during the next cycle, a smart player will sometimes skip a playable card now to bring a more useful one to the surface on the next pass. This planning requirement is what gives Draw 3 its classic, tougher feel and its much lower win rate of around 10–15%.
The key differences at a glance
- Stock access — Draw 1 reaches every card each pass; Draw 3 reaches only every third card until you recycle.
- Win rate — Draw 1 is roughly 35–45%+ for a strong player; Draw 3 is around 10–15%.
- Skill demand — Draw 1 rewards solid fundamentals; Draw 3 adds stock counting and pass planning on top.
- Feel — Draw 1 is relaxed and steady; Draw 3 is the traditional, Vegas-style challenge.
What changes in scoring
The points you earn for moves are identical in both modes: 10 points for a card sent to a foundation, 5 points for waste-to-tableau moves and for flipping a face-down tableau card, and a 15-point penalty for pulling a card back off a foundation. The one scoring difference is the cost of recycling the waste. In Draw 1, recycling the waste pile costs 100 points every time. In Draw 3, the first three passes are free and each pass after the third costs 20 points. The design nudges Draw 3 players to be efficient with their stock cycles rather than spinning through the deck endlessly.
Which should you play?
Pick Draw 1 if you want to relax, you are learning the game, or you simply like winning more often. With every card reachable each pass, you can focus on good habits — flipping face-down cards, holding back low cards, saving empty columns for the right King — without the extra burden of stock counting. It is the friendliest way to enjoy Klondike and the best place to build your fundamentals. If you are new, start here and play a hand with hints turned on.
Pick Draw 3 when you want a real challenge and the traditional, Vegas-style game. The lower win rate is the point: every solved deal feels earned, and the extra planning layer keeps the game interesting long after Draw 1 starts to feel routine. If you already win comfortably in Draw 1, Draw 3 is the natural next step.
You do not have to commit to either one. You can switch modes anytime in Settings, and the change applies to your next deal. Both modes share everything else that makes CardHearth pleasant to play: the same numbered, shareable deals — so you can replay the exact same hand or send it to a friend — and the same unlimited undo, so you can explore a line and take it back if it dead-ends. That makes it easy to try the same deal in both modes and feel the difference for yourself.
Frequently asked questions
Is Draw 1 or Draw 3 easier?
Draw 1 is considerably easier. Because one card turns from the stock at a time, every stock card is reachable on each pass, so you can plan freely and recover from dead ends. A strong player wins roughly 35–45% or more of Draw 1 deals. Draw 3 turns three cards at once, so only every third card is initially available — win rates fall to around 10–15% and you have to plan your stock passes carefully.
How do I switch between Draw 1 and Draw 3?
Open Settings and change the Draw mode. The change applies to your next deal, not the hand currently in progress, so finish or start a new game to play the mode you picked. CardHearth also gives Draw 3 its own dedicated table at /klondike-draw-3/ if you prefer to jump straight in.
Does scoring differ between Draw 1 and Draw 3?
The point values for moves are the same, but the penalty for recycling the waste pile differs. In Draw 1, recycling the waste costs 100 points. In Draw 3, recycling costs nothing for the first three passes and then 20 points per pass after that — a design that rewards Draw 3 players for working efficiently through the stock.
Keep going
Ready to decide with your hands? Play Klondike Solitaire in Draw 1, or take on the Draw 3 table when you want a fight. Whichever you choose, our strategy guide will lift your win rate, and the guides hub covers the rest of the CardHearth library.