Cannot drop, your card needs to be of an opposite suit colour
Cannot drop, your card needs to be one rank lower
Cannot move multiple cards to foundation
Card suit doesn't match foundation pile suit
Card can only be dropped on top of a card pile
Cannot deal cards when there are empty tableau piles
You can only move {0} card(s) at a time based on the current free cells and tableau
The cards don't add up to 13 and cannot be moved
The card is inaccessible and move cannot be performed
Cards must be in sequential order (one higher or lower)
Accordion Solitaire
Accordion Solitaire
Accordion Solitaire is a captivating single-player card game 🎴 that tests your luck and strategy in equal measure. Played with a standard 52-card deck, it earns its name from a tableau layout that expands and contracts like the bellows of an accordion 🪗 during play. Don't be fooled by its simple rules – this game is notoriously challenging to win, a tough and unusual game with a very low winning rate. In fact, Accordion Solitaire is so difficult that it even goes by foreboding nicknames like “Idle Year” and “Tower of Babel” (and even “Methuselah” in vintage sources), alluding to the patience and time you might need to see a rare victory. 🎉 Still, its blend of simplicity and difficulty makes it irresistibly engaging for casual players and hardcore solitaire enthusiasts alike.
How to Play Accordion Solitaire
Imagine a long line of cards spread out before you... To begin a game of Accordion Solitaire, shuffle a 52-card deck and deal the cards one by one in a single row (you can split into multiple rows for space, but mentally treat it as one continuous line). This line of cards is your tableau. Your goal is straightforward: compress all the cards into one single pile on the left if possible. Each time you place a new card, check the cards to its left for possible moves. You can move a card (or an entire pile) onto another pile to its left under one simple condition: the top cards of the two piles must match either in suit or in rank. However, there’s a catch – you’re only allowed to jump one pile to the immediate left, or two piles back (i.e. onto the third pile to the left). In other words, a card can be moved onto the pile directly before it, or the one three spots to its left, but nowhere else. For example, if you have ... say, a sequence like 2♥, 7♣, 7♦, J♣ in your row, and you draw an Ace of Clubs (A♣), you could place that A♣ on the J♣ (since they share the club suit, and J♣ is one position to the left of A♣), or if there were a card three positions to the left matching suit or rank, you could jump onto that. After every successful move, the line of cards closes up like a squeezing accordion, bringing separated piles closer together.
Play continues in this narrative fashion: deal the next card, look left for a match in suit or rank, and compress the cards whenever possible. You win by methodically consolidating all cards down to one pile on the far left – a feat that requires both foresight and a hearty dose of luck. In practice, most games end before that. Many deals will reach a point where no further moves are possible, leaving multiple piles scattered. Don’t be discouraged; Accordion has a reputation for being one of the hardest solitaire games. A round is relatively quick – you can play a hand in about 5–10 minutes on average – but achieving a win is another story entirely. Difficulty level: Hard. In fact, expert sources estimate the probability of winning at only around 1% of games, so consider it an achievement even if you manage to compress the tableau to just a few piles. Some players jokingly say you've “won” if you finish with five or fewer piles remaining! The key is to enjoy the process: each move shrinking your “accordion” of cards is a small victory in itself. 😅 Patience is truly the name of the game here (Accordion Solitaire is often categorized as a “patience” card game, after all).
Quick tips: Since every move is irreversible (aside from using an “undo” in digital versions), plan carefully. It’s usually wise to eliminate gaps between cards whenever you can, and one classic strategy is to hold off moving certain key cards – for example, some experts advise keeping four cards of the same rank unmerged until they’re near each other at the end, which maximizes your chance to combine them in one go. Ultimately, because so much depends on the shuffle, Accordion Solitaire is a game of both luck and skill: enjoy the challenge and don’t fret if victory doesn’t come easily.
History of Accordion Solitaire
Accordion Solitaire boasts a rich history, dating back to the late 19th century. The earliest known description of the game appeared in 1883, credited to a Manhattan-based publisher and patience game enthusiast named William B. Dick (referred to in some sources as Williams Brisbane). This makes Accordion a time-honored classic among solitaire games. Its name, as you might guess, was inspired by the way the layout seems to grow and shrink during play – much like an accordion instrument being squeezed and stretched.
Over the decades, the game’s notorious difficulty left such an impression on players that it picked up several colorful nicknames. In old solitaire compendiums and casual lore it was often dubbed “Idle Year” or “Methuselah”, suggesting you might spend ages (perhaps even a biblical lifespan, in Methuselah’s case) trying to win. Another moniker, “Tower of Babel,” hints at the tall, chaotic pile of cards you aim to build – or perhaps the confusion one faces when the game breaks down. These alternate names reflect the respect (and a bit of humor) that Accordion Solitaire has earned in the card-playing community. Despite its difficulty, it has endured through generations as a beloved solitaire variant for those who enjoy a daunting puzzle.
Play Accordion Solitaire Online
Ready to squeeze the deck and test your skill? 🤹♀️ You can play Accordion Solitaire right here on SolitaireX.io – free and directly in your browser. No downloads or sign-ups needed. Our version of Accordion Solitaire is available at solitairex.io/accordion-solitaire, so you can jump in and start playing anytime. The digital game follows the classic rules described above, with convenient features like undo and automatic card spacing to make your experience smooth. Give it a try and see if you can beat the odds and compress the entire deck into one pile!
Explore More Solitaire Games
If you enjoy Accordion Solitaire’s challenge, why not explore the rest of our card game collection? SolitaireX.io offers a wide variety of solitaire and other single-player card games for you to discover. From easier classics to brain-teasing rarities, there’s something for every mood. Head over to our Other Free Games page to find more fun solitaire variants and expand your repertoire. Whether you’re filling a quick break or settling in for a long session, we have plenty of games to keep you entertained. Happy card playing! 👏
Case Studies
All figures below come directly from our database. Using first-party data ensures every insight is evidence-based, up-to-date, and privacy-respectful.
| Game Tier | Stand-out Titles | Win Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Quick Wins | Spider (1 Suit), Hole-in-One, TriPeaks | 70–84% |
| Fair Challenges | Solitaire (Draw 1) – 913 k plays FreeCell, Golf |
45–63% |
| Expert-Level | Spider (4 Suits), Forty Thieves, Double Scorpion | ≤11% |
Curious which moves turn the odds in your favor? Explore all the data & strategies →
What people say about us
Interview with Beverley Walker-Daury
At 87, Beverley Walker-Daury shares how SolitaireX brings joy, companionship, and purpose to her days in a retirement home.
Player Interview: Poul Andersen
Poul Andersen shares how playing SolitaireX helps him keep his brain sharp and active.
Player Interview: Peter Gross
Peter Gross, 81, shares how SolitaireX became his go-to place for relaxing Freecell games and friendly competition.
Player Spotlight: St0Sh0’s Record-Breaking Runs on SolitaireX
We sit down with speed-solitaire sensation St0Sh0 to talk record times, favorite variants, and why SolitaireX is his go-to card-game hub.
Fresh from the SolitaireX Blog
Mastering Solitaire: A Data‑Driven Journey from Frustration to Triumph
An in-depth, data-rich guide analyzing over 366,000 Classic Solitaire games. Explore win rates, time and move efficiency, and actionable tips—bringing sabermetrics-style solitaire research to your strategy.
Spider Solitaire: The Classic Card Game Keeping Minds Sharp and Hearts Happy
Spider Solitaire blends calm ritual with brain‑friendly challenge. The article explains how regular play can stimulate memory, sharpen focus, and ease stress—and why seniors value its simple rules yet deep strategy. It encourages a gentle daily routine, suggests rotating difficulty (one‑ to four‑suit) to keep sessions engaging, and ends with a warm invitation to rediscover the classic.
What Your Favorite Solitaire Variation Says About You
Your go-to solitaire game isn’t just a pastime—it’s a window into your personality. See what Klondike, FreeCell, Spider, Pyramid, or Golf says about you.
The Top 10 Facts About Solitaire You Probably Didn’t Know
Think you know Solitaire? This evidence‑packed guide uncovers the real odds, the tiny rules that swing win rates, and a sabermetrics‑style approach to practice—with a 7‑minute drill, pro tips, and trusted sources.
Latest guides crafted by Stoyan Shopov and Kalin Nikolov
Golf Solitaire Mastery: Strategy, Stats & Flow
Deal 7 columns of 5 face‑up cards (35 total). The remaining 17 cards*form the stock; flip the first stock card to start the waste. You may move only exposed tableau cards, and only if the rank is exactly one higher or lower than the waste top. Suits don’t matter. When no move exists, flip a new waste card. Clear all tableau cards to win.
TriPeaks Solitaire Mastery: Strategy & Analytics
Two peaks are dust; one stubborn ridge remains. Your waste shows a 9. The tableau flashes 10‑J‑10‑9‑8 like a heartbeat. You nudge the 10, feel the cadence lock in, and—without overthinking—trace a neat descent that crumbles the last peak. That tiny spark of *flow* is why TriPeaks hooks serious players: rhythm, restraint, and the rush of a run that arrives exactly on time.
Pyramid Solitaire Mastery: Strategy, Stats & Joy
Picture the pyramid down to its last stubborn tier: a Queen pinned beneath a ridge, a lone Ace on the waste, and a King begging to be burned for tempo. Heartbeat, breath, click—then the whole structure yields in a rush. If you’ve hit that razor‑edge finale, you already know Pyramid’s secret: small decisions, made in the right order, change everything.
FreeCell Solitaire Mastery: Strategy & Analytics Guide
I have a 15 years personal, lived experience—picture a scene built from thousands of session logs and notes from serious players: It’s late, and the board looks jammed. You clear a single column, free one cell, and suddenly a 9♣‑8♦‑7♣‑6♦ chain glides into place, untying the knot you stared at for ten minutes. The rush isn’t luck—it’s the quiet pleasure of a plan snapping into focus. When did FreeCell last feel less like “killing time” and more like practicing a craft you can actually master?
Media About Us
Browser Based Online Game Directory
SolitaireX.io has been featured on bbogd.com, where players worldwide find Browser Based Online Games
itch.io
SolitaireX.io has been featured on itch.io, where players worldwide enjoy our collection of classic and modern solitaire games.
IndieDB
IndieDB featured SolitaireX as a unique browser-based platform with 70+ free solitaire online variations, highlighting our place in the global indie gaming community.
MSN News
Players are drawn back to solitaire in 2025 for many reasons, from unwinding and improving mental acuity. Its online accessibility is exceptional.
0