Whether you're learning Klondike Solitaire for the first time or exploring new variants like FreeCell and Spider, understanding the terminology makes everything easier. Here is every solitaire term you'll encounter, explained simply.
Core Game Terms
- Solitaire
- A family of single-player card games. The name comes from the French word for “alone.” In the UK and Europe, these games are called “Patience.” The most popular variant is Klondike.
- Patience
- The British and European name for solitaire card games. Same games, different name. The term “Patience” reflects the calm, methodical nature of the games.
- Klondike
- The most well-known solitaire variant, and what most people mean when they say “Solitaire.” Named after the Klondike region in Canada. Uses one deck, seven tableau columns, and four foundation piles.
- Deal
- The initial distribution of cards at the start of a game. In Klondike, 28 cards are dealt into 7 tableau columns. A specific deal (also called a “hand”) refers to one particular arrangement of cards.
Playing Areas
- Tableau
- The main playing area consisting of columns of cards. In Klondike, there are 7 tableau columns. In Spider, there are 10. Cards in the tableau are typically stacked in descending order with alternating colors.
- Foundation
- The destination piles where you build each suit from Ace to King. Most solitaire games have four foundation piles (one per suit). Filling all foundations wins the game.
- Stock (Talon / Hand)
- The face-down pile of cards remaining after the tableau is dealt. You draw cards from the stock when no other moves are available. In Klondike, the stock contains 24 cards.
- Waste (Discard Pile)
- The face-up pile where cards drawn from the stock are placed. Only the top card of the waste pile is playable. When the stock is empty, the waste can be recycled back into the stock.
- Free Cell
- In FreeCell Solitaire, four temporary storage spaces where you can place any single card. Free cells provide flexibility for moving and rearranging cards in the tableau.
- Reserve
- In some solitaire variants, a separate area holding cards that can only be played to the tableau or foundation under specific conditions.
Card Actions & Moves
- Build
- Adding cards to a pile following the rules. Building up means ascending order (Ace, 2, 3... King). Building down means descending order (King, Queen, Jack... Ace). Foundation piles build up by suit; tableau columns build down with alternating colors.
- Stack / Cascade / Sequence
- A properly ordered group of face-up cards in the tableau that can be moved together. For example, a sequence of black 7 → red 6 → black 5 is a valid cascade in Klondike.
- Draw
- Taking one or more cards from the stock pile. In Draw 1 mode, you flip one card at a time. In Draw 3 mode, you flip three cards at a time but only the top card is playable.
- Recycle
- When the stock pile is empty, flipping the waste pile face-down to create a new stock. Some variants limit the number of recycles allowed.
- Undo
- Taking back your last move. Not part of traditional rules, but available in most digital versions including Solitaires.gg to encourage experimentation.
- Auto-Complete
- When all remaining cards can be moved to the foundations without any decisions, the game automatically completes. This typically triggers when all cards are face-up and in order.
Game States
- Blocked / Stuck
- When no valid moves are available and the stock pile cannot provide helpful cards. The game may still be theoretically solvable if previous moves were made differently.
- Unwinnable (Dead Deal)
- A deal that is mathematically impossible to win regardless of play decisions. About 21% of Klondike deals are unwinnable. In contrast, only ~0.001% of FreeCell deals are unwinnable.
- Win Rate
- The percentage of games won. Average Klondike win rates are about 30% (Draw 1) and 10–15% (Draw 3). See our detailed statistics.
Game Variants
- Klondike
- The classic: 1 deck, 7 tableau columns, 4 foundations. The world's most popular solitaire. Full rules.
- FreeCell
- 1 deck, 8 tableau columns, 4 free cells, all cards face-up. Highly strategic with ~99% win rate. Full rules.
- Spider
- 2 decks, 10 tableau columns, build same-suit sequences King to Ace. Available in 1, 2, or 4 suit difficulty. Full rules.
- Pyramid
- Cards arranged in a pyramid shape. Remove pairs of cards that add up to 13 (King = 13, Queen = 12, etc.).
- TriPeaks
- Three overlapping peaks of cards. Remove cards that are one rank higher or lower than the active card.
- Golf
- Seven columns of five face-up cards. Remove cards that are one rank higher or lower than the waste pile card, regardless of suit.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does tableau mean in Solitaire?
The tableau is the main playing area in Solitaire, consisting of seven columns of cards. Cards in the tableau are stacked in descending order with alternating colors (red on black, black on red).
What is a foundation pile in Solitaire?
Foundation piles are the four piles where you build each suit from Ace to King to win the game. There is one foundation per suit: Hearts, Diamonds, Clubs, and Spades.
What is the stock pile in Solitaire?
The stock pile (also called the talon or hand) is the face-down pile of remaining cards after the tableau is dealt. You draw cards from the stock when no other moves are available.