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)
Penguin Solitaire
Penguin Solitaire is a strategic FreeCell-family patience game that you can win nearly every time—now playable free and full-screen on solitairex.io. Invented by British games scholar David Parlett while he was writing The Penguin Book of Patience, the layout features a unique “beak” card, seven “flipper” cells, and a win-rate of about 99.9 %, making it one of the most rewarding solo card puzzles on the web.
Game Overview
- Family & difficulty: Member of the FreeCell group—perfect-information games where every card is dealt face-up; skilful play, not luck, decides the outcome.
- Deck & deal: One 52-card deck is dealt into seven columns of seven cards; the first card dealt becomes the beak and its three mates leap straight to the foundations.
- Foundations: Built up in suit, wrapping King→Ace, starting from the beak’s rank.
- Tableau: Built down in suit, also circular; complete in-suit runs move as a single block, with no free-cell count limit.
- Flipper cells: Seven single-card reserves give flexibility but punish careless parking.
- Empty-column rule: Only a card (or run) one rank below the beak may start a vacant column—mastering this rule is the key to fast clears.
How to Play Penguin Solitaire Online
- Free the beak early. Clearing the leftmost column unlocks the fourth foundation and speeds up the rest of the build.
- Keep flipper cells transient. Always plan how you’ll empty a cell before you fill it; seven slots evaporate fast.
- Create at least one empty column. A vacant pile functions like a super-cell for whole suit sequences that begin one rank below the beak.
- Move full runs whenever possible. Because runs ignore cell limits, sliding a long suit sequence can unblock multiple cards in one stroke.
- Finish foundations aggressively. Unlike Klondike, there’s no penalty for building early—send cards home the moment they’re free.
History & Origins
- Created by David Parlett (b. 1939). Parlett is an award-winning designer (Hare & Tortoise) and historian of card games; Penguin is one of several original solitaires he published in the late 1970s.
- Named for The Penguin Book of Patience—Parlett wrote the rules while compiling that landmark 1980 compendium.
- Solver statistics. A 50-million-deal computer analysis estimates only 1 in 1 667 deals is unwinnable (≈ 99.94 % success), slightly tougher than classic FreeCell yet easier than Eight Off.
Why Play on SolitaireX?
- Instant play, no downloads—just open the game and start planning your sequence.
- Mobile-first design—smooth on phones, tablets, and desktops.
- More FreeCell challenges: After you conquer Penguin, explore dozens of other FreeCell variants in our FreeCell collection.
- Try the classic: Prefer the original four-cell puzzle? Jump straight to FreeCell Classic—also 100 % free and solvable.
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
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.
Data Insights and Strategies to Improve Your Win Rate
Classic Solitaire (Klondike) is a game of both skill and luck, and even seasoned players don’t win every deal. In fact, last month on SolitaireX.io, 913,106 games of Classic Solitaire were played, with 409,374 wins and 503,732 losses, an overall win rate of about 45%.
Why We Created Rouge et Noir Solitaire
Many of us fell in love with solitaire by watching our elders play by a warm hearth, marveling at their patience and strategy. This nostalgia and passion for card games fueled our desire to revive Rouge et Noir Solitaire on solitairex.io
Latest guides crafted by Stoyan Shopov and Kalin Nikolov
How to play Spider Solitaire Online: A 10-Year Veteran’s Guide
If you’ve played a lot of Klondike or 2‑/4‑Suit Spider, 1‑Suit feels like breathing room: every descending run is automatically same‑suit, so any ordered sequence can move as a block. That simplicity shifts the skill ceiling from “re‑suiting” to tempo and space management—when you open empty columns, how you sequence cascades, and whether you deal from the stock at the right moment. Ask yourself: are you making moves just because they’re legal, or because they unlock more moves two steps later?
How to play Solitaire Turn 3 Online: A 20-Year Veteran’s Guide
Turn 3 is the same familiar Klondike—only the door to progress opens every third knock. Once you respect the rules (Kings‑only spaces; top‑waste access; preserved order on redeal) and the variant you’re in (unlimited vs. capped passes), the game shifts from “hoping for good flips” to engineering good flips. Practically, that means mapping the waste, using one‑move nudges to elevate key second cards, opening King‑ready columns, and pacing your foundations to keep both colors alive.
Rouge et Noir Solitaire Guide
Expert guide to master Rouge et Noir Solitaire: advanced tactics, data-driven tips, cognitive perks, and win-rate analytics for serious players. Rouge et Noir is not your everyday solitaire – it’s a hidden gem among solitaire games, a lesser-known classic that “mixes the best of Spider and Klondike into one compelling challenge,” as the creators of SolitaireX describe. In this guide, we’ll journey through everything you need to deepen your game knowledge and enjoyment of Rouge et Noir.
How to Play Classic Solitaire (Klondike) Online: A 20-Year Veteran’s Guide
If you’ve ever wondered how to play Solitaire online, this guide is for you. Written by a passionate player with over 20 years of experience, it walks you through the classic Klondike rules, how to navigate the online interface, and practical strategies to improve your win rate. Whether you're a complete beginner or returning fan, you'll find easy-to-follow steps, helpful visuals, and expert tips to master the game.
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SolitaireX offers a premium online solitaire experience with new features and an innovative gaming platform. Discover how the platform reimagines traditional gameplay with customizable modes, leaderboards, and seamless accessibility.
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SolitaireX, an innovative online solitaire platform, offers an immersive and dynamic experience with customizable gameplay, daily challenges, and a competitive community.
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