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What is Solitaire?

Solitaire is a family of single-player card games that has been enjoyed for centuries. Originating in northern Europe in the late 1700s, these games of patience spread across the world and became a staple pastime. The goal is typically to sort a shuffled deck into ordered foundations by suit, using a set of rules that vary from game to game.

The digital era brought solitaire to millions of new players when it was bundled with early personal computers. What began as a way to teach mouse skills became one of the most-played games in history. Today, browser-based solitaire lets you play instantly on any device without downloading software or creating an account.

Whether you have five minutes or an hour, solitaire offers a satisfying mix of luck and strategy. Each deal presents a unique puzzle that rewards careful thinking, pattern recognition, and patience. It is a perfect way to unwind, sharpen your mind, or simply enjoy a quiet moment with a deck of cards.

Types of Solitaire Games

Klondike Family

Klondike (Turn 1)

The most popular solitaire variation. Cards are dealt into seven tableau columns, and you draw one card at a time from the stock. Build foundations from Ace to King by suit.

Klondike (Turn 3)

The same layout as Turn 1, but three cards are drawn from the stock at once. Only the top drawn card is playable, making this version more challenging and strategic.

Klondike Vegas

Casino-style Klondike where you only get one pass through the stock with no redeals. Every draw is a critical decision.

Klondike Vegas (Turn 3)

The hardest Klondike variant combining three-card draws with no redeals. A true test of planning and card counting.

Australian Patience

Seven columns of four face-up cards with same-suit tableau building. Full visibility meets strict placement rules for a unique challenge.

Klondike Relaxed

A forgiving Klondike variant where any card can fill empty columns, not just Kings. Higher win rate and great for learning.

Double Klondike

Two decks, nine columns, and eight foundation piles. A grand-scale Klondike experience for longer, more strategic sessions.

Whitehead

All cards face-up with same-color building and same-suit group moves. A unique twist on the Klondike formula with full information.

Spider Family

Spider Solitaire (1 Suit)

Played with two decks across ten tableau columns. Build descending sequences of the same suit from King to Ace to remove them from the board. One of the most popular solitaire variants worldwide.

Spider Solitaire (2 Suit)

Medium-difficulty Spider using two suits. Requires careful suit management while building sequences — about 60% of deals are solvable.

Spider Solitaire (3 Suit)

A unique mid-to-high difficulty Spider using three suits. The asymmetric suit distribution creates interesting strategic wrinkles.

Spider Solitaire (4 Suit)

The hardest Spider variant using all four suits. Only about 33% of deals are solvable, making it a true expert challenge.

Spiderette

A compact single-deck Spider with 7 columns in a Klondike deal pattern. Quick games with the core Spider mechanics.

FreeCell Family

FreeCell

All 52 cards are dealt face-up into eight columns. Four free cells serve as temporary holding spots. Nearly every deal is solvable, making it a game of pure skill and logic.

Baker's Game

The predecessor to FreeCell with same-suit tableau building instead of alternating colors. Only about 75% of deals are solvable.

Eight Off

A FreeCell variant with 8 free cells (4 start with cards) and same-suit building. More storage space offsets the stricter rules.

Seahaven Towers

Ten columns of 5 cards with 4 free cells. Only Kings can fill empty columns, requiring precise strategic planning.

ForeCell

A FreeCell variant where all 4 free cells start occupied. Must free up cell space immediately, changing the opening strategy dramatically.

Double FreeCell

The grand FreeCell variant with 2 decks, 10 columns, and 6 free cells. A larger, more complex puzzle for FreeCell enthusiasts.

Yukon Family

Yukon Solitaire

A Klondike variant where all cards are dealt at the start with no stock pile. Any face-up card can be moved along with the cards on top of it, creating a deeply strategic experience.

Russian Solitaire

Yukon with same-suit tableau building. Considered one of the most difficult solitaire variants, requiring expert-level planning.

Moosehide

A Yukon variant that restricts moves to properly ordered sequences. No more moving arbitrary face-up stacks — every move must be planned.

Alaska

Yukon with any-suit building for maximum flexibility. The most forgiving Yukon variant with over 90% win rate.

Forty Thieves Family

Scorpion

Seven columns of seven cards with same-suit building and free face-up card movement. A challenging game with about 20-30% win rate.

Forty Thieves

A notoriously difficult 2-deck game with 10 columns of face-up cards. Same-suit building and single-card moves only. About 10% win rate.

Streets & Alleys

All 52 cards dealt into 13 columns with any-suit building and no stock. A more accessible single-deck entry to the Forty Thieves family.

Limited

Twelve columns of 3 face-up cards with a large stock. Same-suit building with more workspace than standard Forty Thieves.

Lucas

All Aces start pre-placed on foundations, giving a head start. Thirteen columns with same-suit building for a more accessible challenge.

Canfield Family

Canfield

A classic casino solitaire with a 13-card reserve pile, random foundation start rank, and wrap-around building. Turn 3 draws.

Rainbow

An easier Canfield variant with any-suit building and single-card draws. Higher win rate while retaining Canfield's unique mechanics.

Agnes Bernauer

Klondike-style 7 columns with same-suit building and random foundation start rank. Wrap-around sequences add strategic depth.

Pairing Family

Pyramid

Remove pairs of cards summing to 13 from a pyramid layout. Kings are removed alone. A classic matching game with tactical depth.

TriPeaks

Clear three peaks by playing cards one rank higher or lower than the waste pile top. Fast-paced with about 90% win rate.

Golf

Play cards from 7 face-up columns to the waste pile by matching one rank higher or lower. Your score is cards remaining.

Gaps (Montana)

Arrange a 4x13 grid by sliding same-suit cards into gaps left by removed Aces. A unique sliding puzzle with cards.

Special Family

Clock

Flip cards and place them at clock positions matching their rank. A purely luck-based game with simple, meditative mechanics.

Accordion

Compress a row of 52 cards by merging matches with neighbors 1 or 3 positions away. One of the hardest solitaire games.

Calculation

Build 4 foundations using different counting intervals (by 1s, 2s, 3s, 4s). A mathematical puzzle that rewards planning.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the easiest solitaire game?

Klondike Relaxed and Alaska are the most approachable variants. FreeCell is also excellent because nearly every deal is winnable with careful play.

Can I play solitaire on my phone?

Yes. Pure Solitaire is fully responsive and works on all devices, including phones, tablets, and desktops. No app download is required.

Is solitaire good for your brain?

Yes. Playing solitaire regularly can improve strategic thinking, memory, and patience. It encourages you to plan ahead, recognize patterns, and make decisions under uncertainty.

Do I need to download anything?

No. All games on Pure Solitaire play directly in your web browser. There is nothing to download, install, or sign up for.

What is the hardest solitaire game?

Forty Thieves, Spider 4-Suit, and Russian Solitaire are among the most challenging variants. Forty Thieves has only about a 10% win rate, and Spider 4-Suit sits at roughly 33%.