Strategy

Solitaire tips and tricks

None of these tips needs talent. They are habits you can start with your next game.

Before you move

1. Scan the whole table. Do not take the first legal move you see.
2. Look for aces and 2s that are close to being free.
3. Count the face-down cards in each column. The tall columns matter most.

Moving cards

1. Prefer a move that turns over a hidden card.
2. Choose the column with the most hidden cards when two moves tie.
3. Do not shift a run just to shift it. Make moves that change something.
4. Keep red and black cards balanced across the columns, so cards have places to go.
5. Do not lay a card on the foundation if you may need it to hold another card.

The stock

1. Use the stock only after you have used every move on the table.
2. Remember what you have seen in the stock. It comes round in the same order.
3. In draw 3, note which cards are on the bottom of each group of three.

Empty columns

1. Create an empty column only if a king is available to fill it.
2. Prefer to fill an empty column with a king that uncovers a hidden card, not with one from the waste.

Mindset

1. Use undo to test an idea, then take it back. That is practice, not cheating.
2. Do not give up early. Many games open up after a few cards are turned over.
3. If a game is lost, play another. Some deals cannot be won however you play.

The tip behind all the tips

Slow down. A few seconds of looking before each move wins more games than speed ever does. For the full order of priorities, read the strategy guide.