Syed Arham
11 Different Types of Solitaire Games to Play
11 Solitaire Games That You Need To Try Today
11 different ways to have a nice evening
Nowadays, most people like to decompress with video games and consoles after a hectic day of work. I, on the other hand, enjoy sitting around a table with my old pals for a nice game of Solitaire. Maybe chip in a rich-hot cup of cappuccino in there as well. I find it amazing how friends can derive so much entertainment and make such fond memories from just a pile of plastic cards.
Out of all the card games available, I love playing Solitaire, not only because it’s fairly intricate but also because it never gets boring due to its multitudinous variations. So, if you’ve been feeling a little bored of playing classical Solitaire lately, then I’m here to hook you up with some unique variations of the card game that you can play to keep the competition fresh!
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FreeCell Solitaire 
- Difficulty Level
- Strategy Involved
- Player Mode
- Single-player
- Deck Configuration
- 52-card deck
The first entry we have on our Solitaire games list is FreeCell Solitaire, a fairly deterministic variation where almost every possible deck permutation can be solved. Does that mean we expect you to memorize every possible solution? Absolutely not! The fun part is that the more experience you accumulate, the payoff comes when you come across the exact permutation later down the line. You end up solving it so quickly your friends are left speechless!
As far as tips go, the best tip I can give you is to always focus on making Aces and Deuces accessible. The quicker they become accessible, the easier it’ll be to build those satisfying foundations!
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Spider Solitaire 
- Difficulty Level
- Strategy Involved
- Player Mode
- Can be played alone and with friends
- Deck Configuration
- Uses multiple decks (up to eight, depending on how you play it)
Second, on our list, we have Spider Solitare, a rather interesting variation whose difficulty can be tuned depending on which version you play: four suits, two suits, or single suit, where the single suit is obviously the easiest. My friends and I usually like to warm up with the two-suit version before getting very serious with the four-suit version!
Of course, the tips I’m about to give apply mainly to the four-suit version because the other two versions are quite easy. First, make sure to prioritize uncovering hidden cards, primarily to unveil new moves but also to contribute towards getting an empty pile. Aside from that, exercise restraint and build on top of high-rank cards, even if it means little progress initially — patience is the name of the game, my friend!
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Klondike Solitaire 
- Difficulty Level
- Strategy Involved
- Player Mode
- Typically played solo but can be played with friends after changing a couple of rules
- Deck Configuration
- 52-card deck
Klondike Solitaire is another variant worth checking out if you’ve exhausted the classic Solitaire. However, don’t forget that it is actually quite difficult, with many setups that aren’t solvable no matter how hard you try. It’s that kind of game which you’ll play with your friends, hoping you restart the least amount of times because it’s inevitable!
As far as tips go, while much aptitude comes from raw experience, all I’ll say is that the very first move you make can make a big difference. That’s why I always turn up the first card from the deck in my very first move — it opens up more moves to play!
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Accordion Solitaire 
- Difficulty Level
- Strategy Involved
- Player Mode
- Single-player
- Deck Configuration
- 52-card deck
If you love the classic Solitaire game, then Accordion Solitaire is a must-try. Unlike the classical objective of moving all the cards to a foundation, winning in Accordion Solitaire means compressing all the cards into a single pile. Does that sound easier? If it does, wait until you get into your first game, where you’ll realize just how challenging yet fun the objective is, knowing the limited number of moves and unpredictable card arrangements.
I’d suggest focusing on uncovering hidden cards, especially at the start, to set yourself up for more options in matching and removing cards. Moreover, particularly when you remove cards, use the empty spaces left behind wisely (such as creating those satisfying sequences!) instead of rushing to fill them up.
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Montana (Gaps) 
- Difficulty Level
- Strategy Involved
- Player Mode
- Can be played alone as well as with friends
- Deck Configuration
- 52-card deck
If you find Accordion to stray too far from the classical version and want to play the same game while pitting your friends against a different foundation setup, tableau layout, and set of building rules, then Montana (Gaps) is worth trying. It is quite straightforward, but, as I’ve witnessed in my group of friends, it does require one or two test games to get used to. At first, I found the simple fact that you can build the tableau in any suit mind-boggling!
At a glance, it may seem like Montana allows for more flexibility, but don’t get tricked into taking it lightly like I did the first time I met this game. I’ve realized that it can be difficult to create sequences or move cards around with zero consideration of suits. So practice the game a little, and always remember that the ultimate objective is getting that epic foundation done!
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Carpet Solitaire 
- Difficulty Level
- Strategy Involved
- Player Mode
- Can be played alone as well as with friend
- Deck Configuration
- Two standard 52-card decks
If you and the crew have been feeling a little adventurous lately, try out Carpet Soltiare, a variation called the Russian Carpet. The cool thing about the Russian Carpet is its unique carpet-like setup that resembles a grid — one glance at the table, and my friends know we won’t talk to each other once the game ends! However, the grid-like setup does impede those used to classical Soltiare due to the added blocking ramifications of moving even a single card.
But if you’re hellbent on making your friends rage in your next session, follow this simple strategy: aside from targeting empty spaces, try to build sequences that you can play consecutively. Try not to worry about higher or lower-ranking cards in the discard pile, as you can implement them later when needed!
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Crescent Solitaire 
- Difficulty Level
- Strategy Involved
- Player Mode
- Can be played alone as well as with friend
- Deck Configuration
- 52-card deck
If you’ve tried out the aforementioned Solitaire variations and found them to be too easy, then here’s a challenge for you: Crescent Solitaire. Why crescent, you may ask? It’s played with two decks mixed together, where you deal cards in such a manner that they form an arc or a Crescent — thus the name.
If you and your friends are a bunch of tryhards who want to really test the mettle in every session, then good luck building both ascending and descending sequences simultaneously! Not much can be said when it comes to strategies — just keep in mind that it’s very normal to have to reshuffle in Crescent Solitaire, so don’t hesitate when push comes to shove.
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Baker’s Dozen Solitaire 
- Difficulty Level
- Strategy Involved
- Player Mode
- Single-player
- Deck Configuration
- 52-card deck
Baker’s Dozen is one of those Solitaire variations that really change up the game significantly, to the point that you think you’re playing a completely different game. Just one look at the board and you think to yourself, “What is this?”. To briefly demonstrate the game’s complexity, all cards are dealt face up into 13 columns, where the objective is to build not one but each foundation from Ace to King!
If that sounds daunting but also itches you to play the game even more, then you’ve passed the test. Now, here are some key tips that I wish I knew when starting out with this Solitaire variation. First, use empty spaces wisely; I personally like to use them to temporarily hold cards that I wish to use later. Second, as someone who has gone dozens of rounds on Baker’s Dozen (no pun intended), let me tell you from experience that you’ll almost always have to rearrange piles for match-ups, so be mentally prepared for that!
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Forty Thieves Solitaire 
- Difficulty Level
- Strategy Involved
- Player Mode
- Single-player
- Deck Configuration
- 52-card deck
Forty Thieves, although an innovative game, is considered easier than Baker’s Dozen, so it’s a good game to opt for if you and your friends want to dial down a notch. Instead of 13 piles, you have ten piles, where you must move all of the cards to the four foundation piles, one for each suit, in ascending order from Ace to King. The tricky part, however, is the stricter building rules, such as the fact that the sequence of columns should be in descending order.
So, if you practice the tips I gave for Baker’s Dozen, you should be able to own in no time! But I’ll leave you with an additional tip as a cherry on top, which is to avoid building on foundations unless absolutely necessary — speaking from personal experience, it always comes back to bite you.
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Yukon Solitaire 
- Difficulty Level
- Strategy Involved
- Player Mode
- Single-player
- Deck Configuration
- 52-card deck
As we hone in on the last Solitaire variation, let’s take a moment to appreciate Yukon, one of the most well-known types of Solitaire. I enjoy playing it the most with my friends due to its neat balance of complexity and difficulty. I particularly enjoy setting up the game in the manner depicted in the image above — yet perhaps the most fun part is when I actually get down to building those four foundations!
Since I have the highest rate on Yukon out of every other variation, consider me an authority when I tell you to prioritize uncovering the face down as soon as possible. The sooner you uncover them, the sooner you’ll be able to build the foundations up to each suit’s King.
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Monte Carlo Solitaire 
- Difficulty Level
- Strategy Involved
- Player Mode
- Single-player
- Deck Configuration
- 52-card deck
I’ve been meaning to talk about this — my favorite out of all the Solitaire variations out there is the Monte Carlo. That’s because this game, to those naive, portrays the illusion of luck being an important pre-requisite, but little do they know that strategies make a huge difference when it comes to securing victory! That’s why even when I lose at a game of Monte Carlo, I feel content knowing that I have accumulated important experience.
Over the course of playing over a hundred games, I’ve learned to be patient, specifically in the context of removing pairs. Don’t rush to remove adjacent pairs of cards whenever you see them — think ahead because, sometimes, leaving them on the board will allow for more powerful moves to emerge later! I had to learn that the hard way, so you’re welcome!
3 ways to say thanks!
