Solitaire (also known as Patience in the UK) comes in many variations, from the classic Klondike to Spider, FreeCell, Pyramid, TriPeaks, and more. Each solitaire variation has its own twist on the rules, but they all share common terminology. Understanding these terms will help you learn new games faster and follow the rules of different solitaire variations with ease. Below is a comprehensive glossary of solitaire terms, grouped by category (game setup, card moves, types of piles, and game types), with simple definitions for casual players.
Game Setup & Layout Terms
These terms relate to how solitaire games are set up and the initial layout of cards before play begins:
Deck: The set of cards used for the game. A standard deck has 52 cards (Ace through King in four suits). Most solitaire variations use one deck, but some use two decks (104 cards) for a bigger challenge. For example, Klondike and FreeCell use one deck, while Spider and Forty Thieves use two decks.
Shuffle: Randomly mixing the cards before dealing. Shuffling ensures each game starts with a different order of cards, making each playthrough unique. In digital solitaire, the software shuffles the deck for a random deal (you might also have an option for a “winnable deal” that guarantees at least one solution).
Deal: Distributing the shuffled cards into the layout to start the game. The way cards are dealt (how many in each pile and face-up vs face-down) depends on the variation. For instance, classic Klondike deals seven columns with increasing numbers of cards (from one card up to seven cards).
Layout (Setup): The arrangement of cards on the table at the start of the game. This includes all the piles (tableau piles, stock, waste, foundations, etc.) in their starting positions.
Face-Down Card: A card dealt face-down so that its value is hidden. Many games start with some cards face-down (e.g. in Klondike, the top card of each tableau column is face-up and the cards beneath are face-down). These hidden cards must be flipped or uncovered during play to use them.
Face-Up Card: A card dealt face-up (visible face). Face-up cards are active and can be played or moved according to the rules. In some easier variations like FreeCell, all cards start face-up, eliminating the guesswork and emphasizing strategy.
Base Card: In some games, the term for the first card of a foundation pile. Commonly, the base card is an Ace (since foundations are usually built from Ace to King), but in certain variations like Canfield, a random card is chosen as the base card to start each foundation. That base card’s rank sets the starting point for all foundations in that deal.
Types of Piles in Solitaire
Solitaire layouts typically consist of several types of card piles or spaces. Knowing these is key to understanding any game’s rules:
Tableau: The main play area consisting of multiple columns of cards. The tableau is where you arrange cards in sequences during gameplay. In most solitaire variations, you build sequences in the tableau in descending order to eventually free up cards to move to the foundations. The tableau columns may have some cards face-up (available to play) and others face-down underneath. For example, Klondike uses seven tableau piles as the primary area to move cards around.
Foundation (Foundation Pile): The goal piles where you ultimately want to move all the cards to win. Foundations are usually empty at the start and are filled by building up cards in ascending order by suit, typically from Ace to King. In most one-deck games there are four foundation piles (one per suit), while two-deck games like Spider have eight foundation piles. Completing all foundation piles (e.g. all four suits built Ace through King) is how you win in most solitaire variations.
Stock (Stockpile / Draw Pile): The pile of remaining undealt cards left face-down after setting up the tableau. The stock is where you draw new cards from during the game when no other moves are available. For example, in Klondike 24 cards (in a one-deck game) start in the stock after the initial tableau is dealt. Some games, like Yukon or TriPeaks, have no stock because all cards are laid out at the start.
Waste Pile (Discard/Talon): A pile for cards that have been drawn from the stock but not yet played to the tableau or foundation. When you take cards from the stock, they typically go face-up into the waste. You can usually play the top card of the waste pile onto the tableau or foundations if it fits. The waste pile is sometimes also called the discard pile or talon. (Note: Some games like TriPeaks don’t use a waste pile – cards from the stock are immediately used or discarded one by one)
Reserve Pile: An additional holding pile in some solitaire games used as part of the layout. Not all variations have a reserve, but a classic example is Canfield Solitaire, which features a reserve of 13 face-down cards with the top card face-up. The reserve cards are usually available to play under certain conditions (for instance, moving from reserve to tableau when spaces open up). Other games may use the term “reserve” for any set-aside pile of cards that are not in the main tableau or stock.
Cell (Free Cell): A special single-card holding space used in FreeCell and similar games. Cells are essentially free spots where you can temporarily park a card to help maneuver other cards. FreeCell, for example, has four free cells. Any single card can be placed in a cell, and later moved back to the tableau or to a foundation. Cells help you reorganize sequences since you don’t have a stock in those games.
Empty Space (Empty Column): An empty spot in the tableau where no cards remain. Some games allow any card or sequence to be placed into an empty tableau column, while others have restrictions. In Klondike, for instance, only a King (or a sequence starting with a King) can be moved to an empty tableau column. In FreeCell or Spider, empty columns can usually be filled by any appropriate card or sequence according to the rules.
Card Moves & Gameplay Terms
Once the game is set up, these terms describe the actions and rules during play:
Build / Building: The core action of arranging cards in sequence on either the tableau or the foundations. “Building up” means placing cards in ascending order (usually on foundations, e.g. Ace, 2, 3… up to King), while “building down” means placing cards in descending order (usually in the tableau, e.g. King, Queen, Jack… down to Ace). Each solitaire variation specifies how you can build: some require building by alternating color, others by the same suit, etc. Effective building clears the tableau and frees up hidden cards.
Sequence: A run of cards in a continuous order by rank. A sequence can be ascending (Ace → 2 → 3 → ... → King) or descending (King → Queen → Jack → ... → Ace). In most solitaire games, tableau sequences are built in descending order and usually with alternating colors, whereas foundation sequences are built in ascending order by suit. For example, a valid tableau sequence in Klondike might be a red 7 on a black 8 (descending by rank, alternating suit colors), while a foundation sequence starts with Ace, then 2, 3, and so on in the same suit.
Alternating Colors: A common rule for building sequences where cards must be placed in alternating color order (red card on black, black on red). Klondike and FreeCell use alternating color sequences in the tableau. For instance, if one card is a black 6 (Clubs or Spades), the card you place on it must be a red 5 (Hearts or Diamonds) to follow the alternating color rule. (By contrast, see “Same-Suit Sequence” below.)
Same-Suit Sequence: A sequence of cards in strict suit order. Some variations, like Spider Solitaire, require you to build sequences in the tableau by the same suit (e.g. King of Hearts down to Ace of Hearts). Only sequences all in one suit can be moved as a unit in Spider, and a full King-through-Ace sequence in suit is removed to a foundation when completed. This makes those games more challenging since you can’t mix colors or suits in a sequence.
Draw: Taking cards from the stock pile, usually placing them into the waste pile to make them available for play. The draw mechanism varies by game. In Klondike, you either draw one card at a time (Draw One) or three cards at a time (Draw Three) from the stock, depending on the chosen rules. Drawing three cards makes the game harder because you can only use the top card of the three, limiting immediate access to the others. When you “get stuck” (no moves on the tableau), you draw from the stock to hopefully find new playable cards.
Turn / Flip: To reveal a face-down card by turning it face-up. Whenever you uncover a face-down card in the tableau (for example, by moving the card above it away), you flip it to face-up so it becomes playable. Also, moving cards from stock to waste is sometimes described as “turning” cards (e.g., Turn 1 or Turn 3 in Klondike refers to how many cards you flip from the stock at once. Essentially, flipping or turning is how you reveal hidden cards during play.
Move (Transfer): Relocating a card (or a sequence of cards) from one pile to another, according to the rules. For example, you might move a card from one tableau column to another, or move a card from the tableau to a foundation. In some games, you can move whole built sequences if they are in correct order (e.g. moving a sequence of cards in Spider or a portion of a sequence in Klondike if you have enough free spaces). Each game defines what constitutes a legal move. Only the top (face-up) cards of piles are available to move in most cases.
Available (Exposed) Card: A card that is free to be played or moved because it isn’t covered by any other card. Typically, the top card of any tableau pile, the top waste card, and any card in a free cell or reserve (if present) are “available” cards. If a card has other cards on top of it (overlapping it) or is face-down, it’s not available until those cards are moved or it is flipped. Some rules refer to these as exposed cards.
Blocked (Stuck): This describes the state when you cannot make any further moves under the game’s rules. If you are blocked, it means some cards you need are buried under others or all available moves lead to dead-ends. In a blocked position, you might have to draw from the stock (if any draws remain) or else the game is lost if no moves or draws are left. Casual players often refer to this as being “stuck”.
Recycle / Redeal (Stock Recycle): The action of taking all cards from the waste pile and turning them back over to form a new stock pile for another pass through. Some solitaire variations allow a limited number of redeals – for example, in Klondike you might be allowed to go through the stock pile three times in total. When you reach the end of the stock, if redeals are permitted, you gather the waste cards, flip them face-down to form a fresh stock, and continue drawing. If no redeals are allowed (common in tougher rules), once the stock is empty you must either finish the game with what’s on the tableau or end the game if you’re stuck.
Pairing: Matching two cards as a way to remove them or play them, instead of building sequentially. This term is especially relevant in games like Pyramid and Golf. In Pyramid Solitaire, you pair cards that add up to 13 (e.g. a 10 and a 3, or a King alone since it’s 13 by itself) and remove those pairs from the tableau. In TriPeaks and Golf, pairing usually refers to taking a card one rank higher or lower than the current card and moving it to the foundation (essentially forming a pair with the foundation card). Pairing is a different mechanic from building sequences, focusing on matching values rather than ordering all cards by rank.
Popular Solitaire Variations (Game Types)
Finally, here are some of the major solitaire game variations, each with its unique style. These are common types of solitaire you might encounter:
Klondike Solitaire: The classic and most popular solitaire variation – this is often just called “Solitaire.” Solitaire online uses one deck of 52 cards. The tableau has seven columns of cards (with one card in the first column, two in the second, and so on up to seven in the last, with the bottom card of each column face-up). The goal is to move all cards to four foundation piles (one per suit) in ascending order from Ace to King. You draw cards from the stock one-at-a-time or three-at-a-time (for an extra challenge) and build tableau sequences in descending rank with alternating colors. Only a King (or a sequence starting with a King) can be placed into an empty tableau column in Klondike.
Spider Solitaire: A popular two-deck solitaire game known for its difficulty. Spider Solitaire has 104 cards and typically 10 tableau columns to start. The objective is to build full descending sequences from King down to Ace of the same suit on the tableau. Once you complete a full King-through-Ace sequence in suit, that sequence is removed from play to a foundation. You win by clearing all cards through making those eight suit-sequences (since two decks yield eight sequences from King to Ace). Spider can be played in varying difficulties: 1 Suit (easiest), 2 Suits, or 4 Suits (hardest). You can deal additional cards onto each tableau column from the stock when no moves are available, but every column must have at least one card in it before a deal.
FreeCell Solitaire: A one-deck game famed for the fact that almost every deal is winnable with the right strategy. In FreeCell, all 52 cards are dealt face-up into eight tableau columns at the start. There is no stock pile at all. Instead, the game features four free cells (empty spots) that you can use to temporarily hold cards. You build tableau sequences in descending order alternating colors (like Klondike), and as usual build foundations in ascending suit order from Ace to King. The free cells give you extra maneuverability – you can move cards into and out of them to access deeper cards. Because nothing is hidden and you can strategically use cells, FreeCell rewards careful planning; in fact, it has a very high win rate (~99% of deals are solvable with perfect play).
Pyramid Solitaire: A one-deck variation where the cards are dealt in a pyramid shape on the tableau. The pyramid typically has 7 rows (forming a triangle of 28 cards). The aim is to remove all those cards by pairing them up to sum to 13. For example, you can pair a 5 and an 8, or a King (which counts as 13 by itself) can be removed alone. You can draw from a stock pile for extra cards and discard one at a time to a waste, pairing tableau cards with the waste card or with each other to make 13. The challenge in Pyramid is that you can only remove cards that are completely uncovered (no card on top of them), so you must carefully choose which pairs to remove to gradually expose lower rows. Usually, you only get one pass through the stock, so every move counts.
TriPeaks Solitaire (Tri-Peaks): A lively one-deck game named after its tableau layout of three overlapping peaks of cards. In TriPeaks, all cards in the tableau are face-up and arranged in three pyramids. The gameplay is similar to Golf Solitaire: you remove cards from the tableau by clicking on cards that are one rank higher or one rank lower than the current card on the foundation (regardless of suit). For example, if the foundation shows a 7, you can remove an exposed 6 or 8 from the tableau onto the foundation. Removing that card makes it the new active card. You continue to clear cards in this manner, aiming to clear all three peaks. If no valid move is available, you draw the next card from the stock pile. You only get one run through the stock, so like Pyramid, TriPeakshas an element of luck and strategy combined.
Forty Thieves Solitaire: A challenging two-deck solitaire also known as “Big Forty.” It gets its name from the 40 cards dealt to the tableau at the start (10 columns of 4 cards each, all face-up). The remaining cards form the stock. The rules are stricter: you can only move one card at a time (no dragging sequences) and you build tableau columns down by suit (not alternating colors). Foundations are built up by suit from Ace to King as usual, and there are eight foundation piles to fill (two decks). You also typically can only pass through the stock pile once, making every decision crucial. Forty Thieves is harder than Klondike or Spider because of these limitations, but it’s popular among players looking for a serious challenge.
Yukon Solitaire: Another one-deck variation that resembles Klondike at first glance but with a twist – Yukon has no stock pile at all. All 52 cards are dealt into the tableau at the start, with some face-down cards in each column (similar layout to Klondike but all cards are in the columns). The unique rule in Yukon is that you can move any face-up card in a tableau column, and when you move it, you take all the cards stacked below it as a group, even if they’re not in sequence. The tableau building rule is like Klondike (descending alternating colors), and the goal is to build the foundations Ace to King by suit. Because you can move arbitrary stacked groups, gameplay is very dynamic. However, since there’s no stock, all your moves depend on clever rearranging of the tableau.
Golf Solitaire: A quick-playing solitaire where seven columns of five cards are dealt face-up (with a few cards left in a stock). The play is to remove cards from the tableau by playing them onto a single waste pile (or foundation pile) if they are one rank higher or lower than the pile’s top card (suits don’t matter). For example, if the waste top card is 9, you can remove an 8 or 10 from the tableau onto it. You keep removing in sequence, and when no moves are possible, you flip the next stock card to the waste and continue. The goal is to clear all tableau cards. You only go through the stock once, which gives Golf its challenge. Golf is named for its scoring system (tries to keep score like golf, with lower turns = better), and it’s known for being simple to learn but hard to win consistently, as luck of the deal plays a role.
In the end
Learning these solitaire terms will help you dive into any solitaire variations with confidence. Whether you’re moving cards around the tableau or aiming to clear a Pyramid, understanding the lingo (from foundation piles to free cells) makes the gameplay smoother and more enjoyable. Now that you’re familiar with the glossary of solitaire, you can explore and enjoy many different solitaire games. Feel free to try out new variations and put these terms into practice – and when you’re ready for more, check out the guides and game collections on solitairex.io for further reading and to play your next game
