Learning how to play solitaire is straightforward once you understand the layout and the goal. This guide is for complete beginners. It walks you through the setup, how to move cards, how to use the deck, and what winning looks like. No experience needed.
By the end you'll be ready to jump into a practice game on EazeGames and start building the habits that make solitaire genuinely satisfying to play.
What you'll learn: What solitaire is and what you're trying to do | How the board is laid out: the tableau, deck, and foundations | How to move cards and build sequences | How to use the deck when you run out of moves | How to win, and the most common beginner mistakes
What Is Solitaire?
Solitaire (also called Patience) is a card game played with a standard 52-card deck. You play alone, or on EazeGames, head-to-head against another player using the same deck, or in competitions with multiple opponents.
The game is about sorting and organising cards into four completed piles. Every move requires a decision: which card to move, where to move it, and what you're setting up for next.
The Objective of the Game
Your goal: move all 52 cards onto four foundation piles, one per suit, built in order from Ace to King.
Once all four foundations are complete, Ace through King in each suit, you've completed the level. Every move you make should work towards this goal.
Understanding the Layout
When a game starts on EazeGames, you'll see three distinct areas on the screen. Understanding each one is essential before you start moving cards.
| Area | What it is | What it's for |
|---|---|---|
| Tableau | Seven columns of cards, face down except the top card | Your main working area: where most of your moves happen |
| Deck | The remaining cards not dealt to the tableau | Draw from here when you have no moves in the tableau |
| Foundations | Four empty piles in the corner, one per suit | Build these from Ace to King to win the game |
The Tableau
Seven columns. The first has one card, the second has two, and so on up to seven. Only the top card in each column is face up. Everything beneath is face down until you uncover it. On EazeGames, all cards are shown face-up for a while at the start of the match.
The Deck
The remaining 24 cards. Draw from here when no tableau moves are available. Drawing gives you access to cards that aren't yet in play.
The Foundations
Four empty piles, one per suit. Build each from Ace up to King. Once a card goes onto a foundation, it stays there.
Step-by-Step: How a Game Works
Here is what a typical game looks like from start to finish. Follow these steps and you'll be playing your first game in minutes.
Step 1: Look at the face-up cards
When the game starts, check all seven tableau columns. The top card of each column is face up and available to move. Look for any Aces. Aces go straight to the foundation piles.
Step 2: Move cards in the tableau
Cards in the tableau move in descending order, alternating red and black suits. You can place a card on top of another that is one rank higher and the opposite colour.
Example: A red 6 can be placed on a black 7. A black Jack can be placed on a red Queen.
Step 3: Uncover face-down cards
When you move a face-up card (or sequence) away from a column, the card beneath it flips face up. This is how you make progress: uncover hidden cards to open up new moves.
Step 4: Use the deck when you’re stuck
If you can't make a move in the tableau, draw a card from the deck. The drawn card becomes available to play. Move it to the tableau or directly to a foundation if it fits.
Step 5: Send Aces and built sequences to the foundations
Any time an Ace appears, move it to a foundation pile immediately. Then build on it: 2, 3, 4 … in the same suit. You can move cards from the tableau or the deck directly to the foundations.
Step 6: Fill empty columns with Kings
When a tableau column is completely cleared, only a King can be placed there. Kings can bring their sequences with them, which opens up new possibilities for the cards they were covering.
How Moves Work on EazeGames
EazeGames Solitaire follows standard Klondike rules with one key addition: both players receive the exact same deck in the same order, can view all cards face-up at the start of the match, and can view all upcoming cards from the deck so that players can make informed decisions. Your result reflects your decisions, not your deal.
For the complete list of valid and invalid moves, visit the solitaire rules page.
How You Win a Game
You win when all 52 cards have been moved to the four foundation piles, each pile built Ace through King in one suit.
On EazeGames, you're competing against others who received the same deck. The player who completes the game more effectively and obtains more points wins the match.
Winning tip: focus on uncovering face-down cards early. More face-up cards means more moves available, which means more control over the game.
Common Beginner Mistakes
Most new players make the same errors. Avoiding these will make your first games much smoother.
- Moving cards without a reason. Before every move, ask: does this uncover a face-down card, or open a column for a King? If not, think twice.
- Sending cards to the foundation too early. Removing a card you need in the tableau can block future moves.
- Ignoring longer columns. Columns with more face-down cards are your highest priority. Uncovering them gives you the most options.
- Drawing from the deck before checking the tableau. Always look for moves in the tableau first.
- Placing the wrong King in an empty column. Think about which suit sequence you want to build before filling an empty column.
Once you're comfortable with the basics, the solitaire strategy guide explains the decision-making frameworks that separate good players from great ones.
How Scoring Works on EazeGames
EazeGames Solitaire uses a points-based scoring system on top of the standard Klondike rules. Here is what earns and costs points during a game:
Card points: each card moved to a foundation scores based on rank: Ace scores 20, rising by 20 per rank up to King at 260 points. Deck bonus: playing a card from the deck directly to the tableau earns +100 points. Reshuffle penalty: cycling the deck again costs 20 points, so efficient deck management affects your score. Speed bonus: finishing faster earns 50 points per second ahead of the baseline, and a 2,000-point bonus is awarded for fully completing the foundations. On EazeGames both players score under identical conditions. The player with the higher total wins. The best way to internalise the scoring is to play. EazeGames offers free solitaire practice with no account and no download required. Free practice uses the same game as competitive play: same layout, same rules, same deck format.
Ready to start? Play solitaire free on EazeGames, no account, no download needed.
Exploring different variants? See the best solitaire games guide to find which format suits your playing style. If you enjoy learning tile and card games from scratch, the Mahjong beginner guide covers another skill-based format on EazeGames.
Frequently Asked Questions About How To Play Solitaire
How do you play solitaire for beginners?
Start by moving any Aces to the foundation piles. Then move other cards between columns in descending order, alternating red and black, to uncover face-down cards. Draw from the deck when you're stuck. The goal is to build all four foundation piles from Ace to King.
How many cards do you start with in solitaire?
All 52 cards from a standard deck. Twenty-eight are dealt to the seven tableau columns. The remaining 24 form the deck.
What are the basic rules of solitaire?
Tableau cards move in descending order, alternating red and black. Foundation piles are built in ascending order by suit, starting from the Ace. Only a King can be placed in an empty column. Draw from the deck when no tableau moves are available.
Is solitaire hard to learn?
The basics take only a few minutes to understand. Getting good at deciding which moves to prioritise takes practice, which is exactly what free practice mode on EazeGames is for.
CEO & medeoprichter, EazeGames
Stijn Holthuizen is CEO en medeoprichter van EazeGames, een skill-based gamingplatform gelanceerd in 2021. Met meer dan vijf jaar ervaring in het ontwikkelen en runnen van spellen die door miljoenen spelers worden gespeeld, leidt hij de spel- en productstrategie van EazeGames, met een focus op leuke, eerlijke en transparante competitieve ervaringen.
Stijn heeft dit artikel beoordeeld op juistheid met betrekking tot gameplaymechanismen, strategie, scoring, spelersbeslissingen en het huidige EazeGames-platform.