There is no substitute for practice, but following the tips below will help even a novice player perform better at Solitaire. While it is true that luck plays a large part, the majority of Solitaire games are winnable, and so the correct strategy is crucial.
What is the best Solitaire strategy?
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Flip the stock first.
The stock cards will need to be flipped eventually. Revealing them at the beginning of the game will give you additional information and options that would otherwise remain hidden.
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Flip the face-down cards in Tableau columns.
Flipping these cards give you access to new options and should always be done in preference to flipping stock cards (after the first).
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Prefer revealing cards in Tableau columns with more face-down cards.
Keeping the columns even will provide more optionality.
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If you reveal an Ace (or a Two), move it to the Foundations.
Nothing can be put on top of an Ace in the Tableau, but nothing can be placed in the Foundations until the Ace is there, so move it immediately. The same generally applies to twos, but not higher cards. Only move higher cards automatically once the Foundations are fully populated with the next lowest cards.
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Keep the Foundations as even as possible.
Keeping the Foundations populated with the same values makes the choice of moving the next value cards up much simpler. When all the twos are in the Foundations for example, then there is nothing that can be placed on a three in the Tableau, and so it is always the right move to move it up to the Foundation.
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Keep the Tableau full.
Don’t remove the last card from a Tableau column without having a King to take its place. An empty column is one less option, and in Solitaire, options matter. Taking one column out of service increases your chances of getting stuck with no moves.
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Choose the King color if you can.
When you have the opportunity to empty a column and place a new King, consider the King suit color. If you have multiple options available to you, try to use the color that will give you the most freedom to build upon, considering the visble cards in other Tabelau columns..
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Have a plan.
Don’t move cards just because you can. Doing so is a surefire way to get your game stuck. Instead, move cards because you can see that it will open more options, or further your game.
How can I get better at Solitaire?
There’s no substitute for practice and experience, but you can consider the strategy tips given above and play deliberately, with each move carefully thought out in advance. Your speed of play will improve with time, but in the beginning, it’s important not to rush.
Start a game now to try out these tips!