How Many Different Solitaire Games Are There? Exploring All Solitaire Variants

Solitaire is ubiquitous as one of the most comprehensive card game genres around, but just how many variations are there?

Since its invention in the 18th Century, the game of Solitaire has generated hundreds of variations, reflecting its widespread popularity. While there isn’t space to cover each and every variation in a single article, we’ve rounded up some of the top variations for you.

If you’re looking for some amazing Solitaire variations to test your skills, you’ve come to the right place!

How many games of Solitaire are there?

Solitaire or “patience" games are typically single-player sorting games played with a standard playing card deck. However, many Solitaire games don’t fit this exact description. Hundreds of variations on the basic Solitaire premise exist – some using cards, some pegs and holes. Some variations stick to the single-player format, some allow for multiple players.

You’ll find that many of the most popular Solitaire variations follow a formula. They’re games in which you must sort your cards under certain restrictions to create a new “build" of cards. Creating order from chaos is at the heart of Solitaire. While we won’t catalog every known variation or rule change of Solitaire here, we can present some of the most unique and popular Solitaire-type games today.

7 different Solitaire games to challenge your gameplay

The Solitaire games on this list can be a great way to get started with Solitaire-type games, or to mix up your existing gameplay.

Spider Solitaire

What you’ll need: To play Spider Solitaire, you’ll need two decks of 52 playing cards, making 104 cards in total.

Game Length: Completing a game of Spider may take anywhere from 20-40 minutes.

Difficulty: Spider Solitaire is a quite difficult game compared to standard Klondike Solitaire, with double the number of cards and unique rules. Unlike in Klondike Solitaire, cards don’t need to be stacked in an alternating color format, a small change which, thankfully, dramatically increases opportunities for moves.

How to play: To set up the game, you’ll need to build ten columns in the tableau. The first four columns on the left-hand side of the tableau should contain six cards in total. That’s one card face-up, and five cards face-down. The next six columns should contain five cards in total. One card face-up, and four cards face-down. Any remaining cards become your stockpile.

Objective: To win Spider Solitaire, you must strategically play through your tableau and turn the ten starting columns into eight sorted foundations. When a fully sorted stack is built in your tableau, it will automatically be turned into a foundational pile, as you cannot build directly into your foundational spaces. These foundations are built with an individual suit and color, built and sorted in descending order by the values of the cards within. The highest-value card is the King, and the lowest-value card – which ends a foundational pile – is the Ace.

Pyramid Solitaire

What you’ll need: This one’s no scheme. To play Pyramid Solitaire, you’ll need a single deck of 52 playing cards.

Game Length: Completing a game of Pyramid can take anywhere from 15-30 minutes.

Difficulty: Pyramid isn’t the most difficult Solitaire game in the world, not by a long shot. Most players should be able to complete this fun variation with a bit of practice.

How to play: Shuffle your deck and remove 28 cards. Arrange these cards face-up in a pyramid formation, with 7 cards making up the bottom and a single card at the top.

Objective: To win the game, you must remove every card from the “pyramid" by combining cards from the pyramid and the stockpile mathematically. To do this, combine cards from the pyramid with each other or with cards from the remaining stockpile so their value equals thirteen – only then can they both be removed.

Yukon Solitaire

What you’ll need: To play Yukon Solitaire, you’ll need a single deck of 52 playing cards.

Game Length: Completing a game of Yukon can take anywhere from 15-30 minutes.

Difficulty: Yukon Solitaire plays like a simpler variant of Klondike, and isn’t nearly the most difficult out of all of our Solitaire variations. Many newcomers should feel at home playing this.

How to play: To set up this game you’ll need to create seven tableau piles. From left to right, your first tableau pile will contain six cards, with the bottom-most card facing down and the other five facing up. Your tableau will increase in size by one hidden card until your final tableau pile, with six cards face-down and five face-up.

Objective: Similar to Klondike, your goal is to move all of your tableau cards to the foundations, where they will be sorted according to suit and stacked from aces up. The main key difference is that there is no stockpile to add more cards to your tableau. Clear the board and fill your foundations to win the game.

Golf Solitaire

What you’ll need: To play Golf, you’ll need a single 52-card playing deck.

Game Length: Completing Golf Solitaire may take anywhere from 15-20 minutes.

Difficulty: Most of the difficulty of Golf Solitaire is simple luck and intelligently disposing of your cards.

How to play: To set up Golf, you’ll shuffle your deck and build your tableau with seven columns. Each column consists of five cards, all face up. There will be no foundation, only a waste pile, and the remaining cards of the deck become a stockpile. It’s as simple as that.

Objective: In Golf Solitaire, you must dispose of all your available cards in the waste pile. When a card is placed in the waste, either from your tableau or the stockpile, you can place another card on top of it so long as it is equal to +1 or -1 of that card’s value. So, if you waste a seven of any suit, you can either play any six or any eight on top of it. Dispose of all of your cards to win!

Wasp Solitaire

What you’ll need: Wasp Solitaire is a unique variation of Klondike Solitaire played with a 52-card playing deck.

Game Length: Completing a game of Wasp Solitaire can take anywhere from 15-30 minutes.

Difficulty: More difficult than standard Klondike Solitaire, Wasp Solitaire is best for those who are looking for an extended challenge of their favorite ruleset.

How to play: To set up Wasp you’ll need to build four tableau columns, filled with seven cards on the left-hand side. Three of the cards in each face-up, and the next four face-down. Three foundational columns are also formed with the random leftovers of cards, all cards face-up. Leave three cards left over to make up the only cards to be stored in your stockpile.

Objective: Sort every card from your tableau into the foundations in descending numerical order, according to their suit. Clear the tableau and complete the foundation to win!

Tripeaks Solitaire

What you’ll need: To play Tripeaks, you’ll need a single 52-card playing deck.

Game Length: Completing a game of Tripeaks Solitaire can take anywhere from 30-45 minutes.

Difficulty: Tripeaks can be very difficult for players who’ve never experienced a game of Golf Solitaire.

How to play: To set up Tripeaks, you’ll need to form your tableau. To create the “peaks", form three piles. Each pile/peak should consist of six cards, with all cards arranged facing down. A horizontal range of ten cards will be above these pyramid peaks, with each card face-up. The remaining twenty-four cards of the deck make your stock. Take your first stock card and discard it to form your foundational waste pile.

Objective: Similar to Golf Solitaire, your goal is to discard your entire board. You may only place cards in the waste with a value of +1 or -1 of the current “face" card. Reveal the hidden cards of the peak as they’re uncovered and clear the board to complete the game.

Scorpion Solitaire

What you’ll need: To play Scorpion Solitaire, all you’ll need is a single playing card deck with 52 cards.

Game Length: Completing a game of Scorpion Solitaire can take anywhere from 20-40 minutes.

Difficulty: Scorpion Solitaire, refreshingly, is always winnable! You can freely arrange cards across your board and don’t need to worry about stacking in sequence.

How to play: To set up your own game of Scorpion, you’ll need to build four tableau columns filled with seven cards on the left-hand side. Three of the cards in each stack will be face-up, and the next four cards will be face-down. Three foundational columns are also formed with the random leftovers of cards, all face-up. Save the three final cards to create the stockpile, which can be drawn from at any time.

Objective: Sort every card from your tableau into the foundations in descending numerical order. The suit is not important to win the game. When the tableau is completely cleared and the foundation is completely organized, you’ve won!

Play all your favorite Solitaire variations online at 247 Solitaire

There you have it! Hopefully, you’ve found a fun new game variation to try out today. If you’re eager to play some different Solitaire games online, check out 247 Solitaire for the best online collection of Solitaire games on the web!

DISCLAIMER: The games on this website are using PLAY (fake) money. No payouts will be awarded, there are no "winnings", as all games represented by 247 Games LLC are free to play. Play strictly for fun.