Solitaire games, also known as patience or cable games, are popular games that have come a long way. While a lot may have changed since the desktop solitaire days, the solitaire gameplay remains the same with fun twists. Essentially, solitaire games are single-player games, unlike other popular card games such as Rummy and Poker. These games are the easiest card games that you can play to enhance concentration and other skills.
Most solitaire games include two or more of the following elements:
- Foundation Piles – A place where one or more piles of cards are arranged numerically, usually in the same suit. This pile could be empty at first, or it could be marked with “foundation cards,” such as the ace of each suit, that will be built up in an ascending sequence to the kings.
- Tableau: A tableau of cards, which may be filled or empty at the start, in which cards that can’t be added to the building pile can be temporarily placed provided that the rules for card placement are followed.
- Stock Pile: A wastepile into which a face-up card can be discarded that cannot be placed in the foundation pile or the tableau once turned from the stock.
- Shuffled Deck: A shuffled deck of cards, or two decks shuffled together, that the players use to turn one card at a time and place the card in the foundation pile.
So, without further delay, here are the top 10 online solitaire card games that are endlessly replayable and full of entertainment.
Also Read: 3 Easy Card Games You Can Play Online
Solitaire Card Game Variants
Klondike/Classic Solitaire
The most popular version of Solitaire, Klondike, originated in the 19th century in the Klondike region of Canada. The game is so popular that Solitaire is often referred to as the Klondike version.
The game has a tableau of seven columns of cards with the top card face-up and the remaining cards from the draw pile. The game’s objective is to move all the 52 cards into four suit-specific foundation piles above the tableau. The exposed cards in the tableau columns or draw pile can be moved to the foundations in ascending order.
Spider Solitaire
The spider solitaire game is a popular solitaire game that uses two decks of 52 cards. Depending on the difficulty level, each deck may contain one, two, or four suits. The game board features a tableau, stockpile, and discard pile.
The objective is to form stacks of 13 cards of the same suit in ascending order of cards from Ace to King. Once a set is completed, it is automatically put in one of the foundations.
Cube Solitaire
Cube solitaire is another popular variant played with one deck of 52 cards and 4 suits. This simple variant is an ideal card game for beginners as well as experienced players. The game’s goal is to form sets of the same suit cards in the order of Ace to King in the tableau and transfer them to the foundation pile. The cube solitaire game board also includes a tableau, stock, and foundation pile.
Pyramid Solitaire
Also known as Solitaire 13 and Pile of 28, the Pyramid version is fast-paced and has simple rules. The gameplay involves arranging 28 cards face-up in a 7-level pyramid-shaped tableau. The remaining cards are placed in the draw pile.
The game’s goal is to form pairs with a combined value of 13 points to remove them from the pyramid. The pairs are formed from two face-up cards in the pyramid or by pairing a card from the pyramid with another card from the draw stack.
Also Read: Things to Keep in Mind While Playing Online Rummy Card Game
Canfield Solitaire
Although Klondike is often referred to as Canfield, the real Canfield game was named after a Florida gambling establishment proprietor. The game is played with 13 cards in a reserve stack, four cards of the same value in four foundation stacks, and four cards below the foundation stacks to form the tableau. The remaining 31 cards form the draw pile. The goal is similar to other versions where the player has to transfer all the cards to the four foundation stacks in ascending card order of every suit.
Yukon Solitaire
Like Klondike Solitaire, Yukon’s difference lies in moving the group of cards and all cards being dealt at the beginning of the game. The set-up is similar to Klondike, except that all remaining cards are dealt face up onto the tableau stacks instead of a draw pile. The goal is similar as well, where the player has to transfer all cards to the foundation stacks in suit-specific ascending order.
Accordion Solitaire
Accordion is a relatively difficult game and offers abundant planning opportunities and tactical choices. All the 52 cards are laid in a row to compress the entire deck into a single stack of 52 cards in the setup.
FreeCell
FreeCell is the closest variation to Classic Solitaire but a more strategic version as it requires a more careful approach. The game uses a single deck of cards dealt into 7 piles. There is no stockpile in the game, and the goal is to transfer the cards to the foundations in a suit-specific order. The game is called FreeCell due to the 4 empty spaces on the tableau.
Baker’s Dozen Solitaire
The Blaker’s Dozen name is derived from the 13 tableau columns dealt at the beginning of the game. The game is played with 52 cards dealt on the tableau columns face-up. There’s no draw pile in the game.
The goal is to transfer all 52 cards from the tableau to the four foundation stacks starting with aces and moving in ascending order. Unlike the other versions, you don’t need to alternate the red and black cards to arrange the columns.
Tripeaks Solitaire
The Tripeaks name is derived from the three pyramid peaks formed by the cards on the tableau. Tripeaks uses a 52-card deck where the cards are placed in three 4-row pyramids. Four cards are placed face front at the base of each pyramid, while other cards are face down. The rest of the cards are placed in the Stockpile.
The goal of the game is to clear the tableau of all cards. The player must build sequences of cards 1 point higher or lower than the preceding one, independent of the suit, to deconstruct the pyramids.
Also Read: How Playing Quiz Games Enhances Your Skills?
Conclusion
Most of these games are fast-paced versions that can be enjoyed online. The MPL app also offers three popular solitaire games – Classic Solitaire, Cube Solitaire, and Spider Solitaire. You can play the practice games for free or enter cash contests against real-life opponents. Aim for a higher score until the timer ends for winning the game.
