Klondike is the classic solitaire card game that most people know.
Several solitaire games with similar rules to Klondike, such as FreeCell and Spider. However, these games have a few differences in how the cards are dealt and how they can be built.
Klondike
Most people think of Klondike or Classic Solitaire when they hear “solitaire.” This patience game is a great way to practice concentration and skill using one deck of cards. It takes a lifetime to master but only minutes to learn. It’s also one of the games that has the highest solvable probabilities, with around 99% of deals being able to be won.
The simplest version of Klondike has 28 cards dealt over seven columns, called klondikes, with the last card in each pile being upturned (these are known as closed games). When the stock pile is turned over, it becomes a new tableau. The game aims to build suit sequences on these tableau piles from Ace to King, starting with the klondikes and moving on to the open games.
FreeCell
FreeCell is a prevalent version of free solitaire on social platforms. It’s also a game that’s easy to learn but difficult to master. It requires a high level of concentration and organization. The goal is to move cards from the tableau into the foundation piles in ascending sequence by suit, starting with Ace and ending with King.
The cards are dealt into eight stacks of four cards each, called tableau columns. The remaining 52 cards are set aside in four foundation piles, built from Ace to King in ascending sequence by suit. Each card within the columns can be moved one at a time to another card of the same suit or to a space in the tableau.
While playing FreeCell, you must consider several moves ahead to optimize sequences and maximize space efficiency. It’s also essential to build your foundation piles early to make room for more strategic moves. However, it’s necessary to maintain your foundation piles, as this may hinder your ability to play the game efficiently.
Like Klondike, FreeCell can be a challenging but rewarding game to play. It’s a great way to keep your brain sharp and improve your strategizing skills. Research shows it can help you think more clearly and even reduce stress. It can also help you develop patience. For example, if you can’t solve a puzzle right away, you must wait and try again later.
Spider
While Klondike may be the most popular solitaire game, there are many variations to challenge and entertain. One of these variations is Spider solitaire, a card game that could be easier to win.
The objective of this variant is to place every card into the four foundation piles in the game board’s upper right corner. Each foundation pile is built up by suit, starting with Ace and moving through two, three, and four until you reach the King card. All the cards in the tableau and waste pile must also end up in the foundation piles for you to win.
A free online version of this game requires a standard 52-card deck. After shuffling, all 28 cards are dealt into seven columns on the tableau. One more pile at the top left of the layout is called the stock.
Free online Spider solitaire aims to build stacks on the tableau that form descending sequences by suit, starting with the Ace and ending with the King card. Each time you complete a sequence, you should try to leave an exposed card at the end of that column so it can be moved to the foundation or one of the Free Cells in the upper-left part of the game board, but only if the card is of an alternate color. It will fit into the ascending order of its suit.
Pyramid
Pyramid is a unique twist on traditional Klondike Solitaire. In this game, you clear the pyramid by pairing exposed cards that add up to 13 instead of sequencing cards. The game has four areas: the pyramid, stockpile, waste pile, and the deck. You can pair cards with exposed cards in the waste pile or the deck to remove them from the pyramid. The value of number cards is as follows: aces are for one point, Jacks are worth eleven, Queens are worth twelve, and Kings are worth thirteen.
Twenty-eight cards are dealt face-up in the pyramid with seven rows. The rest of the cards are set face down into the stockpile and turned over when you run out of moves on the pyramid. The waste pile is used to draw and occasionally put a card on the pyramid.
In the pyramid, matching pairs are formed by choosing two exposed cards, like an Ace and a Queen or a Jack and a 2, whose ordinals sum up to 13. Once these pairs are sent to the foundation, they cannot be returned to play. Coupling cards from the waste pile with exposed cards from the stockpile or pyramid is also possible. The stockpile can be browsed for cards forming pairs in the pyramid or on the waste pile up to three times before a player is out of moves.