Solitaire Rules - Klondike, Spider & FreeCell | FreeSolitaire.gg

Solitaire comes in many variants, each with unique rules and strategies. Here are the complete rules for the three most popular versions: Klondike, Spider, and FreeCell.

Klondike Solitaire Rules

Klondike is the most well-known solitaire variant and is often simply called "Solitaire." It uses one standard 52-card deck.

Deal 28 cards into seven tableau columns (1 card in the first, 2 in the second, up to 7). Only the top card of each column is face-up.
The remaining 24 cards form the stock pile.
Build tableau columns in descending order with alternating colors (e.g., black 7 on red 8).
Move Aces to foundations and build up by suit (Ace, 2, 3… King).
Only Kings may be placed on empty tableau columns.
Draw from the stock when no other moves are available. Recycle the waste pile when the stock is empty.

Spider Solitaire Rules

Spider Solitaire uses two decks (104 cards) and is played with 10 tableau columns. It's considered more challenging than Klondike.

Deal 54 cards into 10 columns: the first 4 columns get 6 cards, the remaining 6 columns get 5 cards. Only the top card of each column is face-up.
The remaining 50 cards form the stock, divided into 5 deals of 10 cards each.
Build tableau columns in descending order. Any card can be placed on a card one rank higher, regardless of suit.
Only same-suit descending sequences can be moved as a group.
When a complete King-to-Ace sequence of the same suit is formed, it's automatically removed from play.
To deal from the stock, all 10 tableau columns must contain at least one card.
The game is won when all 8 complete sequences have been removed.

FreeCell Rules

FreeCell uses one standard 52-card deck with all cards dealt face-up, making it a game of pure strategy with no hidden information.

Deal all 52 cards face-up into 8 tableau columns (first 4 columns get 7 cards, last 4 get 6).
Four free cells (top-left) can each hold one card temporarily.
Four foundation piles (top-right) build up by suit from Ace to King.
Build tableau columns in descending order with alternating colors.
The number of cards you can move at once depends on available free cells and empty columns: (1 + free cells) × 2^(empty columns).
Any card can be placed on an empty tableau column.
The game is won when all four foundations are complete. Nearly every FreeCell deal (99.999%) is solvable.