Solitaire FAQ: questions and answers
Here are quick answers to the questions players and grown-ups ask most about Solitaire. Each answer links to the page with all the details.
What kind of game is Solitaire?
It is a card game for one person that you play in your web browser. You put a deck of cards in order, following simple rules. It is calm: no timer, no other players and no way to lose. See the guide's front page.
Which solitaire games are included?
Four classic games: Klondike (with Turn 1 or Turn 3), Pyramid, Spider (with 1, 2 or 4 suits) and FreeCell. There is also a Daily deal, the same Klondike deal for everyone each day, and twelve Goals, small jobs on Klondike deals. Read about the Daily deal and Goals.
Is Solitaire free?
You can try it in your browser with the demo. The full game is part of the Contenta Games membership, which opens every game on the portal; see what a membership gives you.
Do I need to download or install anything?
No. The game runs in your web browser on a computer, a phone or a tablet. Just open the page and play.
Does it work on an iPad, an Android tablet or a phone?
Yes. Tap a card and it jumps to its best place, or drag it with your finger. On a phone, hold it sideways while a deal is on the table. The title screen, the goals and the settings also work upright. See touch and mouse controls.
Can I play with a keyboard or a controller?
Yes. On a keyboard, the arrows and Enter move cards, H is Hint and Z is Undo. On a controller, the D-pad and A move cards, LB is Hint and B is Undo. Every key and button is on the controls page.
Is every deal winnable?
With the setting Only deals you can win on (it is on when you start), every Klondike and Pyramid deal comes from a list of deals a computer player has won, so all of them can be won. The Daily deal and the Goals can always be won too. FreeCell and Spider deals are random: almost every FreeCell and 1-suit Spider deal can be won, but Spider with 2 or 4 suits is much harder. See Settings.
Is using Hint cheating?
No. Hint is there to help you learn, and there is no penalty for using it. It follows a plan that wins the deal, so it is a great way to see why one move is better than another. Read how the Hint works.
How many times can I undo?
As many times as you like, all the way back to the start of the deal. Undo takes away one move from your move count each time.
What is the difference between Turn 1 and Turn 3?
They are two ways to play Klondike. In Turn 1, each tap on the draw pile turns one card, and every card can be played. In Turn 3, each tap turns three cards and only the top one can be played, which makes it harder. See the Klondike rules.
Is there a timer or a score?
There is no timer. The game counts your moves, and keeps your fewest moves for a win as your Best. You can try to beat it, but you don't have to. You can't lose either: if there is no move left, a bar offers Undo, Restart this deal or New deal, and a deal you didn't win is never counted as a loss.
How do I unlock new card backs and table cloths?
Win deals. Every win in every game counts, and new looks open after 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10, 15 and 20 wins. There is no shop. See all card backs and table cloths.
How is my game saved?
The game saves by itself after every move, in the browser on the device you play on. If you leave in the middle of a deal, Keep playing on the title screen brings it back. In a private window, or if the browser blocks saving, the game tells you that it can't keep your progress. See saving, save slots and your stats.
Can my brother or sister have their own game?
Yes. There are three save slots, Save 1, Save 2 and Save 3. Each one has its own wins, card backs, settings and deal in progress. Switch with the Save slots button on the title screen or in the Menu.
What happens to my deal if I start a different game?
Each save slot keeps only one deal in progress. If you start another game, the new deal replaces the kept one. To go back to the old deal, tap Keep playing on the title screen before you start anything else.
Why can't I deal a new row in Spider?
In Spider, you can't deal while a pile is empty. The game says "Fill the empty pile first". Move any card into the empty pile, then tap the draw pile. See the Spider rules.
Are there ads in the game?
No. There are no ads in Solitaire and nothing to buy inside the game. Card backs and table cloths are earned by winning.
Which languages does Solitaire speak?
Nine: English, Swedish, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Chinese, Japanese and Korean. Change the language in Settings; your deal stays on the table.
See also
- For grown-ups: content, saving and devices in short.
- Tips for beginners: win more deals.
- Glossary: every card word explained.
- Play Solitaire, or see all our game guides.
