Free online solitaire: which one to play and how to win
Updated · 4 min read
Solitaire is the original computer break: one deck, no opponent, and a game that is over in a few minutes. There is more than one solitaire, though, and they play very differently. Some are mostly luck, some are almost pure planning. Here is every solitaire on Knockout, what each is like, and a few habits that will win you more games. All of them are free, play in a browser tab, and need no account.
The classic, plus two favorites in one
Solitaire puts three games in one place. Klondike is the one most people mean by solitaire: seven columns, build down in alternating colors, and move the aces up to the foundations. You can draw one card at a time or three. FreeCell and Spider are there too, and there is a winnable Daily Deal. Drag cards, or tap to auto-move, and undo anything.
- Spider Solitaire: build King-to-Ace runs in one suit to clear them off. One suit is relaxed, two is a real game, and four is a serious challenge. The daily deal is proven winnable.
- FreeCell: four free cells, every card face up from the start, and a plan that wins. Classic numbered deals, a daily deal, and a solver hint if you get stuck. Almost every FreeCell deal can be won, which makes it the most skill-based of the lot.
Quick, light solitaires
These are faster and lighter than the classic, and a deal takes a minute or two. Good for a short break.
- TriPeaks: clear three peaks one card higher or lower than the last. Long chains are the whole game, so look ahead before you flip a new card.
- Golf Solitaire: clear seven columns one card up or down, in as few strokes as you can. The Daily Course strings nine deals together like nine holes.
- Pyramid Solitaire: pair cards that add up to thirteen and clear the pyramid. The Daily Deal is one a solver proves can be won.
The tough one
Yukon Solitaire looks like Klondike but plays very differently: there is no stock to draw from, and you can move any face-up stack, even if it is not in order. That freedom is the challenge. Think a few moves ahead and work on uncovering face-down cards above everything else.
Tile solitaire
Mahjong Tiles is solitaire with tiles instead of cards: take free matching pairs off a 144-tile stack across eight layouts. Every deal can be cleared, so a stuck game is always a sequence problem, not bad luck. Work from the top layers and the long rows first.
Draw one or draw three?
In the classic game you choose how many cards turn over from the stock each time. Draw one shows you every card, one at a time, and most games are winnable with careful play; it is the relaxed choice. Draw three turns three at a time, and only the top one is playable, so cards get buried and you have to plan around the order. It is harder, and more satisfying when it comes out.
On a phone, every solitaire fits the screen and plays by tap as well as drag: tap a card and it moves to the best place it can go. On a computer, drag with the mouse or use the same taps as clicks.
Which solitaire should I play?
- Five minutes and a coffee: TriPeaks or Golf Solitaire.
- The classic feel: Solitaire, draw one if you want to win more, draw three for a challenge.
- You like planning: FreeCell. Nearly every deal is winnable, so every loss is a lesson.
- You want a long, absorbing game: Spider Solitaire with two or four suits.
- Something different: Mahjong Tiles or Pyramid Solitaire.
Habits that win more games
- Uncover face-down cards first. In Klondike and Yukon, the column with the most hidden cards is usually the one to work on.
- Do not rush cards to the foundations. A low card on a column can be the only place to put the next one down; move it up when it is no longer useful.
- Empty columns are gold. In Klondike, only a King can go there, so do not empty one unless you have a King waiting. In FreeCell and Spider, an empty column is the most powerful thing on the table.
- Keep free cells free. In FreeCell, every card you park makes the next move harder; plan the sequence before you start parking.
- Build in suit when you can in Spider. A mixed run can be moved only in pieces; a same-suit run moves as one and clears itself.
- Use undo to learn. Undo is there for exploring: try a line, see where it goes, and back up if it dead-ends.
Daily deals and streaks
Every one of these has a daily deal: the same shuffle for everyone, every day, turning over at midnight US Central time. The daily deals in Solitaire, Spider, Pyramid, TriPeaks and Yukon are checked to be winnable, so if you lose one, it was beatable; Golf's Daily Course is played against par instead. Your wins and streaks are kept in each game's stats. If you like a small daily routine, see How to build a daily puzzle habit that sticks.
Beyond solitaire
Want the rules spelled out, with tips for winning more deals? See How to play solitaire (Klondike): rules and scoring, How to play FreeCell: rules, free cells and strategy and How to play Spider Solitaire: rules for 1, 2 and 4 suits.
If you enjoy solitaire, you will probably like a game of cards with other people too. Free card games online: classics, partners and party decks covers the classic table games, from trick-taking to rummy, with computer players to fill the seats. And for more games that fit a short break, see Quick games for a five-minute work break.