How to Play Klondike Solitaire
If you've never played the Windows version of Klondike, had your head in the sand most of your life, or just had a deprived childhood, then here are the rules to one of the World's most popular solitaire card games.
Card Layout
The game is played with a single pack of 52 playing cards. After thoroughly shuffling the deck, 28 cards are dealt face down to form the tableau which consists of 7 columns of 1,2,3,4,5,6 and 7 overlapping cards from left to right respectively. The exposed card at the end of each tableau column is turned face up. The remaining cards are placed face down to form the stock. The game then begins.
Objective
The object of the game is to build the four foundations up in ascending suit sequence from Ace to King. e.g. A, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, J, Q, K with cards of identical suit.
Klondike Rules
As each Ace becomes available it may be transferred to a row above the tableau to start one of the four foundations. The foundations are built up in ascending suit sequence to the King. The exposed card of a tableau column may be transferred to a foundation of the same suit if it follows the ascending sequence or to the exposed card of another column if it forms a descending sequence of alternating colours, e.g. 6 on 7 or Q on K. A complete packed column of face up cards may also be transferred to the exposed card of another tableau column if the join follows the same descending sequence of alternating colours. If the movement of a tableau card exposes a face down card, then it is turned face up. When a tableau column is completely cleared out, the space may only be filled by a King or a packed column headed by a King. When no more moves are available from the tableau, the top three cards from the stock are dealt face up, without upsetting their order, to a single waste pile. The top exposed card of the waste pile is always available for play to the foundations or tableau. When the stock has been exhausted, the waste pile is picked up and turned over to form a new stock and the game continues. This procedure is continued until the game eventually blocks or is won. A variation of the game allows a single card to be dealt to the waste pile instead of three which makes the game slightly easier to win.