How to Play Patience (Solitaire): Complete Rules for Every Major Variant

"Patience" is the British term for Solitaire. Dozens exist. Here are the big ones with complete rules summaries so you can start playing immediately.

🃏 Klondike (Classic Solitaire)

• Deal: 7 columns, 1–7 cards, top face-up. Rest = stock.
• Play: Build tableau down alternating colors. Move to foundations (A→K by suit). Draw 1 or 3 from stock.
• Win: All 4 foundations complete.

🕷️ Spider

• Deal: 2 decks (104 cards). 10 columns, 5–6 cards each, top face-up.
• Play: Build down in suit (K→A). Move sequences. Empty column = any card/sequence.
• Win: 8 suit sequences removed.
• Modes: 1 suit (easy), 2 suits (med), 4 suits (hard).

🆓 FreeCell

• Deal: All 52 face-up in 8 columns.
• Play: 4 free cells (temp storage). Build foundations A→K by suit. Tableau down alternating colors.
• Win: All foundations complete. >99.9% deals solvable.

🏔️ Pyramid

• Deal: 28 cards in pyramid (7 rows). Rest = stock.
• Play: Remove exposed pairs summing to 13 (K=13 solo, Q+A, J+2, 10+3, 9+4, 8+5, 7+6).
• Win: Pyramid cleared.

⛳ Golf

• Deal: 7 columns × 5 cards face-up. 1 foundation (first stock card).
• Play: Play card 1 rank above/below foundation (A↔K wraps). No suit matter.
• Win: All tableau cleared.

🎯 Canfield (Demon)

• Deal: 13-card reserve (top face-up). 4 foundations start with same rank. 4 tableau cards.
• Play: Build foundations up in suit (wrapping K→A). Tableau down alternating colors. Draw stock 1-by-1.
• Win: All to foundations. Hard (~3% win rate).

📱 Play Free Now

• Solitaired.com: All above + 500 variants. Stats, undo, hints.
• Green Felt / World of Solitaire: Fast, clean.
• MobilityWare apps: Best mobile (Klondike, Spider, FreeCell, Pyramid).

Tell me which variant you want full rules for, or describe the layout you remember!