Penguin Solitaire is a fun single-deck card game in the FreeCell family that you can win almost every time if you have enough patience. It was invented by British game designer David Parlett and named "Penguin" because he created it while writing The Penguin Book of Patience in the late 1970s. Today, this Penguin Solitaire game is available online – you can even play Penguin Solitaire online for free on SolitaireX.io. Casual players love Penguin Solitaire for its friendly challenge, high win rate, and unique “penguin” theme in the gameplay.
History of Penguin Solitaire
Unlike classic solitaire games that date back centuries, Penguin Solitaire has a modern origin. It was invented by David Parlett, a renowned card game expert, and first introduced around 1979. Parlett devised the game during his work on The Penguin Book of Patience, which inspired the game’s whimsical name. In this book, Parlett compiled many solitaire (patience) games, and Penguin was one of his original contributions to the genre.
Penguin Solitaire quickly gained popularity among solitaire enthusiasts for its strategic depth and high winability. It belongs to the FreeCell family of solitaire games, meaning all cards are dealt face-up at the start (open information) and skillful play is paramount. In fact, Penguin is closely related to FreeCell and its predecessor Eight Off, sharing similar mechanics with a few unique twists. Over the years, Penguin Solitaire has been included in many digital solitaire collections and websites, becoming a beloved variant for players looking for a fresh challenge. (One popular solitaire software even ranks Penguin as its 14th most-played game, a testament to its appeal.)
Rules and Objective of Penguin Solitaire
The objective of Penguin Solitaire is to move all 52 cards to the four foundation piles, building each foundation up by suit in sequence. However, unlike in Klondike or FreeCell where foundations start with Aces, here the starting card (base rank) of the foundations is determined by the first card dealt – the special "penguin" card often called the "beak". During the initial deal, the first card (the beak) is dealt to the first column and all three other cards of that same rank are immediately placed onto the foundations as starting cards. For example, if the first card dealt is a 5♠, the other three 5’s (♥♦♣) will be moved to the foundations right away, and those four 5s become the base of each foundation pile.
Figure: The initial layout of a game of Penguin Solitaire. The game starts with seven columns of seven cards each and seven reserve cells along the top (the “flipper”). The first card dealt (the “beak”) – Ace of Clubs in this example – and the other three Aces are placed to start the foundation piles on the right. From this setup, the goal is to build each foundation up in suit sequence (e.g. 5♣→6♣→… or A♣→2♣→…) until all cards are on the foundations.
After the beak and its matching cards are set aside to foundations, the rest of the deck is dealt face-up into seven tableau piles of seven cards each, laid out in rows. All cards are visible from the start, so you have complete information to plan your moves. Penguin Solitaire also provides seven reserve cells (called the “flipper”), which start empty and can each hold one card temporarily. These reserves function like FreeCell’s free cells, allowing you to park cards to access deeper cards in the tableau.
The rules for moving cards are straightforward:
- Building on the tableau: You can build downward by suit on the tableau piles. This means you can place a card only on a next-higher card of the same suit. For example, you could move a 10♡ onto a J♡. If you form a proper descending sequence (e.g. 10♡-9♡-8♡…), you can move that whole sequence as a unit onto another tableau pile.
- Using the flipper (cells): You may move the top card of any tableau pile into an empty reserve cell to free up the card beneath. Each flipper cell can hold only one card. Later, you can play that card either back to a tableau column or onto a foundation if it fits.
- Foundations: You build the foundation piles up by suit, starting from the beak’s rank and wrapping “around the corner” if needed (King up to Ace). For instance, if the beak was a 5, you would build each foundation in suit sequence up from 5 to 4 (5→6→…→K→A→2→3→4). Ultimately, each foundation pile will contain 13 cards.
- Empty columns: When you clear a tableau column (i.e. remove all its cards), that empty space can only be filled by a card (or a descending sequence) that is one rank lower than the beak. For example, if the beak is an Ace, only a King (or a sequence starting with a King) can be placed in an empty column. This restriction adds an extra puzzle element compared to FreeCell’s “any card” rule for empty columns.
The game is won when every card has been moved to the foundations. Thanks to its open layout and ample reserves, Penguin Solitaire has a very high win rate – most deals are solvable with good strategy. Now, let’s walk through how to play the game step by step.
How to Play Penguin Solitaire
Ready to dive in? Follow these step-by-step instructions on how to play Penguin Solitaire:
- Deal the cards and set up: Shuffle a standard 52-card deck and deal out seven columns of seven cards each, all face-up. Deal the cards from left to right, row by row, creating a 7x7 grid layout. The very first card you deal (top of the first column) is special – this card is called the beak.
- Establish the foundations: Take the beak card and set it aside; it will be the starting rank for your four foundation piles. Also, as you were dealing, whenever the other three cards of the beak’s rank appeared, you should immediately move them to the foundation area as well. By the end of the deal, you’ll have four foundation piles each beginning with the beak’s value. (For example, if your beak was a 5, all four 5s are now on the foundations as the base of each pile.)
- Identify the layout: You now have the main tableau with seven piles (7 cards each) and the four foundations started. Above or below the tableau, set aside space for seven reserve cells (the “flipper”), which are empty at the start. You’ll use these to hold cards during play. Every card is visible, so take a moment to scan the tableau for possible moves.
- Make your moves on the tableau: On the tableau, only the bottom card of each column is available to move. You can move a bottom card onto another tableau column if it creates a descending sequence in the same suit. For instance, if a column ends in 8♣, you may place a 7♣ from another pile onto it. If multiple cards in a column form a continuing descending-suit sequence, you can move that entire sequence as a group onto another column (no need to move one-by-one).
- Use the flipper cells wisely: If you can’t move a card within the tableau, consider moving it to a free flipper cell. You can take any available card (the bottom of a tableau column) and park it in an empty reserve cell to free up the card beneath it. Use the flipper to hold cards that are blocking important moves. But remember, you have seven cells only – try to keep at least one or two empty for flexibility.
- Build up the foundations: Whenever you uncover a card that can go onto a foundation, play it there. You’ll build each foundation pile upward by suit, following sequential order. Thanks to the special starting rank, you may have to “turn the corner” – after King comes Ace – when building the sequence. For example, if the foundations started at 5, once you reach King, the next card needed is Ace, then 2, and so on. Keep adding cards to the foundations whenever possible, since getting cards out of the tableau is key to victory.
- Fill empty columns strategically: As you clear out cards, you might empty a tableau column. An empty column can be very powerful, but in Penguin Solitaire you can only fill it with a card (or sequence) whose starting card is one rank below the beak. For example, if your beak is a 6, only a 5 can be placed into an empty space (you could move a single 5 or a sequence starting with 5). Use empty columns to reposition long sequences and reveal hidden cards – just make sure you have the correct starting card available to fill the space.
- Keep going and win the game: Continue moving cards around – transferring sequences on the tableau, using the flipper reserves, and building up the foundations. With patience and clever planning, you will eventually free up all cards and move them to the foundation piles. You win when all 52 cards are on the foundations in order! Most deals of Penguin Solitaire are winnable, so don’t give up easily; think ahead and maybe undo a few moves if needed to find the path to victory.
By following these steps, you’ll get the hang of Penguin Solitaire. Next, let’s look at some tips and tricks to improve your gameplay and increase your winning chances.
Tips and Tricks for Penguin Solitaire
Even though Penguin Solitaire is highly winnable, it still requires strategy. Here are some useful tips and tricks to help you play smarter and win more often:
- Free the beak early: A key strategy is to work on freeing the beak card as soon as possible. Getting the beak out from under its column and onto the foundation allows all four foundation piles to be in play, which is crucial. In other words, you want all suits available on the foundations so you can start building them up. Many moves in the early game should focus on uncovering and moving the beak.
- Don’t clog your reserves: While freeing the beak is important, avoid the temptation to dump too many cards into the flipper cells right away. If you fill up all seven reserves, you’ll have no flexibility left to maneuver. It’s often self-defeating to use every cell too quickly. Instead, use just a few cells at a time and try to clear them by moving cards to the foundation when possible, keeping some cells open for later tough spots.
- Plan several moves ahead: Since all cards are visible, take advantage of that perfect information to plan your moves. Before you relocate a card, check what’s underneath it and what moves that will allow next. Try to foresee how clearing one card will enable another move. Penguin Solitaire rewards careful, forward-thinking play – much like chess or a puzzle, you should anticipate the consequences of each move.
- Use empty columns to your advantage: An empty tableau column is one of your most powerful tools in solitaire. In Penguin Solitaire, remember you can only fill an empty space with a card one rank below the beak, so plan to free up such a card. Once you have a valid card to play into an empty column, you can use that space to temporarily park a whole descending sequence and free up more cards elsewhere. Effectively using empty columns can be the turning point in solving a difficult deal.
- Move sequences in bulk: Unlike standard FreeCell, you aren’t limited by the number of free cells when moving sequences in Penguin Solitaire. You can move even long suit sequences in one go. This freedom means you should always look for opportunities to move a whole run of cards to reposition them. It can save a lot of time and open up the tableau quickly.
- Always build on the foundations when you can: Because there’s no hidden stock or draw pile, there’s rarely a downside to moving a card up to the foundation at the first chance. It only gets it out of your way and closer to victory. Especially low cards (Ace, 2, 3, etc.) should be moved to foundation whenever available. This will free up spaces and cards in the tableau, making the rest of the game easier.
- Stay patient and persistent: Remember, Penguin Solitaire is designed to be won most of the time. If you find yourself stuck, take a deep breath and review the tableau for any missed moves. Sometimes moving one card to a reserve or shifting a sequence can unlock a flurry of new moves. With patience, you can solve almost any deal – after all, fewer than 1 in 1500 deals are thought to be unwinnable! Don’t hesitate to undo moves or try a different approach; practice will improve your skills.
Fun Facts and Features of Penguin Solitaire
Penguin Solitaire comes with some interesting quirks and background that make it stand out. Here are a few fun facts and features about the game:
- Modern invention: Unlike many solitaire games with mysterious origins, Penguin Solitaire has a known creator – David Parlett invented it in the late 20th century. It’s a fresh addition to the solitaire world rather than a centuries-old classic.
- Penguin-themed terminology: The game embraces its “Penguin” name with playful terms. The first card dealt is called the “beak”, and the seven reserve slots are collectively called the “flipper” – a nod to a penguin’s beak and flippers!
- Nearly every deal is winnable: Penguin Solitaire has an extremely high probability of winning. It’s estimated that less than 1 in 1500 deals is truly unsolvable. In other words, if you lose a game, it’s very likely due to a missed opportunity or a poor move, not a bad shuffle. This makes the game very encouraging for players – victories are more about skill than luck.
- Open information & skillful play: All 52 cards are visible from the start, making Penguin a game of skill and strategy. There’s no guessing or luck of drawing the right card – success comes from planning and clever moves. Parlett himself describes it as a game of “perfect information” that demands maximum skill. This is great for players who enjoy a logical challenge.
- Popular among solitaire enthusiasts: Penguin Solitaire may be less known than Klondike or Spider, but it has a devoted following. It appears in many solitaire apps and collections, and has been noted as one of the top 15 most-played solitaire games in certain collections. If you enjoy FreeCell, chances are you’ll find Penguin Solitaire just as addictive and satisfying to play.
Play Penguin Solitaire Online for Free
One of the best ways to experience this game is digitally. Playing online Penguin Solitaire allows you to enjoy the game anytime, anywhere, without the need to shuffle real cards. There are several websites and apps where you can find Penguin Solitaire. For instance, SolitaireX.io lets you play Penguin Solitaire free, right in your browser, with no downloads required. Online play also typically offers helpful features like undo, hints, and automatic moves to foundations, which can make learning the game easier for casual players.
Because Penguin Solitaire is so close to FreeCell, many online solitaire collections include it by default – you might find it listed under FreeCell variants or simply by its name. Give it a try on your computer, tablet, or phone, and practice the strategies you learned here. With its high win rate and engaging gameplay, Penguin Solitaire is a perfect game for casual players to relax with while still giving the brain a pleasant challenge.
Whether you’re a longtime solitaire fan or just looking for a new card game to play, Penguin Solitaire is definitely worth a try. Its blend of familiar FreeCell-like mechanics and unique twists (like the beak and flipper) offers something fresh and fun. Now that you know the history, rules, and winning tactics, you’re all set to enjoy Penguin Solitaire. Shuffle the cards (or launch your favorite solitaire app) and see if you can guide your penguins to victory!