Strategy
Is solitaire always winnable?
Many players wonder whether they lost or the deal was impossible. Both happen: Klondike has deals that no one can win.
No, Klondike solitaire is not always winnable. Some deals have no winning line, however well you play. The share is small in draw 1 and larger in draw 3. In our own tests a solver proved 10,000 of 14,400 sampled draw 1 deals and 10,000 of 18,240 sampled draw 3 deals winnable, and the true share is higher, because the solver stops at a search limit.
Why some deals cannot be won
Cards are shuffled at random, so sometimes the order blocks itself. An ace buried under a king in a column with no way to move, or the cards a column needs locked in the stock behind each other, can make a win impossible. No strategy can fix a deal that is blocked.
What the numbers look like
Researchers have studied the question for "thoughtful" solitaire, where a player can see every card, and found that most deals can be won, though different studies give different figures. Real players cannot see face-down cards, so they win less often than those figures suggest. Draw 1 deals are more often winnable than draw 3 deals.
Our own check: we ran a solver on random deals with a limit of 200,000 positions per deal. It proved 10,000 of 14,400 draw 1 deals winnable, and 10,000 of 18,240 draw 3 deals. These are lower bounds. The solver can give up on a deal that is winnable but hard to prove, so more deals can be won than these figures show.
How a solver proves a deal can be won
A solver is a program that searches move by move for a way to win. If it finds one, it checks the line by replaying every move with the game's own rules. That line is proof. Read how our deals are made.
What to do about it
- Do not take a lost game personally. It may have been lost from the deal.
- Use winnable deals when you want a game that can be won.
- Choose draw 1 for a higher chance of a win, or draw 3 for a harder game.
- Improve what you control with the strategy guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is every game of solitaire winnable?
No. Some deals have no winning line.
What percent of solitaire games can be won?
It depends on the version and on how you play. Draw 1 is higher than draw 3. Studies give different numbers, so we do not quote a single one.
How do I know a deal can be won?
Use a winnable deal. A solver has already won each one.
Are there unwinnable deals in draw 1?
Yes, fewer than in draw 3, but they exist.