AlsaediNexius Games · Published October 9, 2026
Solitaire Strategy: Seven Habits That Win More Games
Classic solitaire mixes luck and skill. You cannot win every deal, but good habits win many more games than moving cards as soon as you see a place for them. These seven habits make the biggest difference.
1. Turn over hidden cards first
The cards lying face down are the real obstacle. When you have a choice between two moves, prefer the one that uncovers a hidden card. If both do, prefer the column with the most hidden cards under it, because that column will take the longest to clear.
2. Play from the columns before the stock
Before you draw a new card, check that there is nothing useful to do on the table. Every card you draw can cover a card you needed.
3. Do not empty a column without a king
An empty column can only take a king. If you clear a column and have no king ready, you have gained nothing and lost a place to put cards. Clear a column when a king is waiting, ideally one that will free hidden cards when it moves.
4. Choose your king with care
When you have two kings and one empty column, look at what each one would allow. A red king needs a black queen next. If a black queen is available and a red queen is buried, the red king is the better choice. Think one or two cards ahead.
5. Do not rush cards to the foundations
Aces and twos can always go up. After that, be careful. A low card sitting in a column can be the only place to park another card. Keep the four foundation piles roughly level, and move a card up only when you are sure you will not need it below.
6. Keep colours flexible
When you can build a sequence on either of two cards, look at the suits you would be blocking. Try not to bury the card that the other colour needs next.
7. Use undo to learn
When a game is lost, go back a few moves and try the other choice. You will start to recognise the moments that decide a game. Usually it is an early decision about which column to open, not the last move.
How often can you win?
Nobody knows the exact share of deals that can be won, and it depends on the rules in use. With careful play, most people win far more often than they expect, but some deals cannot be won however well you play. Losing one of those is not a mistake.
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