If solitaire games are new to you, refer to the glossary of terms to understand the meanings of phrases you’ll find in these and other solitaire instructions.
Here's how to play Klondike.
The Object of the Game
To uncover the four aces and build entire ascending sequences in suit on them; that is Ace, 2, 3, and so on, up to King.
The Klondike Layout
Creating the Tableau - Deal a row of seven cards left to right, turning the first card face-up, and the subsequent six face-down. Continue this pattern only on the face-down piles, each time dealing the first card face-up and the rest face-down, until there are seven piles, ranging from one card (at left) to seven (at right), all with their top cards turned up. This is the tableau. To release as many cards as possible in the tableau to find the aces, you'll build descending sequences on the face-up cards, in alternating colour only (e.g. 7 of Clubs, 6 of Hearts, 5 of Spades, 4 of Hearts, etc.
Creating the Foundation - When the Aces become available, they are placed in a row above the tableau, forming four foundations. Each foundation must be built up in suit and sequence to the King. A card once played on the foundation must stay there.
Klondike Play
After the deal, make any tableau or foundation moves as are allowed with the face-up cards. As a card is moved off its pile, turn up the face-down one beneath. Aces are always immediately moved to the foundation row. Spaces that open up in the tableau may only be filled with a King. If a card that could be moved up to a foundation pile is better left on the tableau to continue play or release another pile, that strategic decision is up to the player. When no more moves can be made, turn cards from the nad in packets of three to create the talon pile. Only the top-facing card can be played; once it is, the next card becomes available. When you've gone through the hand, pick up the talon and repeat until no more new moves can be made and the game is over. (If there are only two cards left in the hand, treat them as a packet.)
You may move cards singly or in sequences within the tableau. Let's say you need 4 of Hearts to build on one of the foundations but it's covered with a black 3. If a 4 of Diamonds is open on the tableau, move the black 3 over and free your desired card. Or, say you have a sequence of 7 of Clubs, 6 of Hearts, 5 of Spades on a pile; depending on other cards in the tableau, talon, and hand, you could move the entire sequence as a unit onto a red 8. Whether you move it or not, though, continue building down with a red 4 as it comes available.
Added Challenge
To increase the level of difficulty, choose the method of play used by old-schoolers: turn cards in the hand one at a time (rather than packets of three), running through the hand only once.
Online Solitaire Version
Look at an online game of Klondike if it helps to visualize the layout and don't forget to take a deck of cards with you when you think you may have time to wile away the hours.
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