Strategy
How solitaire scoring works
Scoring is optional, and many people ignore it. If you like beating your own best, here is how the standard points work.
Standard (Windows) Klondike scoring gives 5 points for moving a card from the waste to a column, 10 for moving a card to a foundation, 5 for turning over a hidden card, and takes away 15 for moving a card from a foundation back down. Recycling the waste costs 100 points in draw 1 and 20 in draw 3. The score never goes below 0. A time bonus is added when you win.
The points
- Waste to column: +5
- Waste to foundation: +10
- Column to foundation: +10
- Turning over a hidden card: +5
- Foundation back to a column: -15
- Recycling the waste: -100 in draw 1, -20 in draw 3
The score never drops below zero. Moving cards between columns and drawing from the stock score nothing.
The time bonus
When you win a game that took 30 seconds or longer, you get a bonus of 700,000 divided by the number of seconds. A faster win scores more. A win that takes five minutes (300 seconds) earns about 2,333 bonus points.
Why scores differ between games
This game and the app use this same scoring. Other apps and Windows versions have their own rules, and some limit the number of passes through the stock, so scores are not comparable between different games.
Using the score to improve
- Recycling the waste costs the most, so cut down on passes in draw 1.
- Foundations earn double what column moves earn, but see foundation strategy before rushing.
- Undo removes the points the undone move earned.
Frequently asked questions
How is solitaire scored?
Points for foundation moves and for turning over hidden cards, with penalties for recycling the waste and moving cards back.
What is the time bonus?
700,000 divided by the seconds you took, for games of 30 seconds or longer.
Can the score go negative?
No. It stops at 0.