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Discover advanced Solitaire tricks, time-saving shortcuts, techniques for difficult layouts, and expert methods to solve tough Klondike deals.
Reviewed by Card Games Academy Editorial Team · Traditional Card Games Researchers
Quick answer: Master advanced Solitaire tricks including double-move sequences, column clearing techniques, and methods for solving difficult Klondike layouts.
You are viewing the tips & tricks section for Solitaire (Klondike). The content below starts with key takeaways, then goes deeper with examples and common scenarios.
Players
1
Duration
10-30 min
Category
patience
Beyond basic strategy, experienced Solitaire players employ specific tricks and techniques that save time and solve seemingly impossible layouts. These methods separate casual players from experts.
A double-move is when you make two moves that appear to cancel each other out but achieve a hidden goal - usually exposing a face-down card that was otherwise inaccessible.
Speed record (electronic)
Under 10 seconds
Key technique
Column clearing chains
Skill factor
High
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You move a red 6 from column A to a black 7 in column B, then move that same red 6 (along with the black 7 stack) to a red 8 in column C. The net effect is reorganizing the tableau while exposing a hidden card in column A.
Use double-moves when you have exhausted all direct moves and still have face-down cards to reveal. This trick often unlocks stubborn positions.
Move a card to the foundation, then immediately move a different card that was blocked by the first card's position. Finally, move the first card back from the foundation to the tableau in a more advantageous spot.
This works when a card is "in the way" of a more important sequence. By temporarily moving it to the foundation, you free up space for other moves.
Some Solitaire variants penalize moving cards back from the foundation (-15 points in standard scoring). Use this trick when winning the game matters more than score.
When you have two or more empty columns and multiple Kings, you can shuffle King-led stacks between columns to access buried cards.
Empty columns are your most valuable resource. The King-Shuffle technique lets you use one empty column to "store" a stack while you work on revealing hidden cards in another area.
In draw-one Klondike, you see every card in the stock in a fixed order. Skilled players memorize (or track) the order of the stock to plan moves.
Players who track the stock accurately improve their win rate by 10-15% because they never miss an opportunity.
Sometimes the initial deal offers no tableau moves, only stock draws. In this situation:
When an Ace is buried deep in a column beneath many face-down cards:
A dead lock occurs when every card you need is trapped beneath cards that need the first card to be moved. Signs of a dead lock:
Solution: When you detect a dead lock, start a new game. No amount of clever play will unlock it.
For electronic Solitaire:
When most or all cards are face-up, shift into endgame mode: