Getting started
6 card games to play by yourself
A deck of cards and a little table space are enough for a solo game. These six games give you different things to think about: revealing hidden cards, organizing sequences, or spotting a useful pair. Choose a game below and play it here for free.
Choose your next game
| Game | Try it for |
|---|---|
| Solitaire (Klondike) | A familiar starting point |
| FreeCell | Planning with everything in view |
| Golf Solitaire | A simple up-or-down puzzle |
| Pyramid | Matching numbers |
| Spider Solitaire | Longer sequences |
| TriPeaks | Finding a chain of moves |
One deck · Seven columns · Turn 1 or Turn 3
1. Solitaire (Klondike)
Build four suit foundations from Ace to King. In the seven columns, build down in alternating colors and uncover hidden cards. Start with Turn 1; switch to Turn 3 when you want more planning.
One deck · Eight columns · Four free cells
2. FreeCell
All cards start face up. Four free cells let you park individual cards while you arrange alternating-color sequences. Keep some cells empty: they give you room to move longer runs.
One deck · Seven columns · No redeals
3. Golf Solitaire
Move exposed cards onto one waste pile when they are one rank higher or lower. Suits do not matter. Our version does not wrap between King and Ace, so watch for stranded cards at either end.
One deck · Pairs total 13
4. Pyramid
Remove exposed pairs that total 13. Aces count as 1, Jacks as 11 and Queens as 12; Kings come off alone. Work toward uncovering the top of the pyramid.
Two decks · Ten columns · One, two or four suits
5. Spider Solitaire
Build complete King-to-Ace runs in suit. Our one-suit game is a useful place to learn the layout before trying two or four suits. New stock rows add cards across the table, so prepare your columns before dealing.
One deck · Three peaks · King–Ace wraparound
6. TriPeaks
Clear three overlapping peaks by playing one rank above or below the waste card. Unlike our Golf Solitaire, this version connects Kings and Aces. Look for a move that uncovers another playable card.
Playing with a real deck
Remove jokers and use a surface with room for the full layout. Keep the stock and discard separate, and follow the chosen game’s rules for empty columns and redeals. If you are learning, leave this guide open and use each game’s page for more detailed instructions.
For background and rule references, see Wikipedia’s articles on patience, FreeCell, Pyramid and Spider.
Frequently asked questions
- What card games can you play by yourself?
- Klondike, FreeCell, Golf Solitaire, Pyramid, Spider and TriPeaks are all solo card games. Each is playable here in your browser, and you can also set them up with physical cards.
- Which solo card game should I try first?
- Try Klondike Turn 1 for a familiar layout, Golf Solitaire for simple up-or-down moves, or FreeCell if you prefer to see every card before making a decision.
- Do I need two decks?
- The Klondike, FreeCell, Golf Solitaire, Pyramid and TriPeaks layouts in this guide use one 52-card deck. Spider uses 104 cards; its standard four-suit version uses two ordinary decks.
Prefer an opponent?
Six-card Golf is a separate game from Golf Solitaire. Play against the computer and try to finish nine holes with the lower score.