Klondike Solitaire Rules
Can You Move a Card From One Pile to Another in Solitaire?
Yes - moving cards between tableau columns is one of the core moves in Klondike Solitaire. But there are strict rules about which cards can go where. Here is a complete breakdown of every legal move in Turn 1 and Turn 3 Solitaire.
Tableau to Tableau (Column to Column)
You can move a face-up card (or a stack of face-up cards) from one tableau column to another, provided the bottom card of the moving stack is placed on a card of:
- Opposite colour (red on black, black on red)
- Next higher rank (e.g. a red 7 onto a black 8)
Kings can only be placed on empty columns. No card can be placed on top of an Ace in the tableau.
Tableau to Foundation
Cards go to the four foundation piles in suit order, starting with Aces: Ace ? 2 ? 3 ? � ? King. Each suit has its own foundation pile. You cannot skip ranks. This is the primary goal of both Turn 1 and Turn 3 Klondike.
Put the rules into practice
Play Classic Klondike Solitaire Free
Illegal moves are automatically blocked. Learn by playing.
Waste Pile to Tableau or Foundation
The top card of the waste pile can be moved to either the tableau (following tableau rules) or directly to the foundation (if it is next in sequence). In Turn 3, only the top waste card is accessible at any time.
Can You Move Foundation Cards Back to the Tableau?
Yes - in standard Klondike rules, you can move a card from the foundation back to the tableau if it helps you. This is a rare but legitimate move that occasionally unlocks a stuck position. Our implementations of both Turn 1 and Turn 3 support this move.
What Moves Are NOT Allowed?
- Moving a face-down card anywhere
- Placing a card on a foundation out of sequence
- Placing a card of the same colour on a tableau card
- Placing a card of non-adjacent rank on a tableau card
- Moving the middle or bottom card of a stock draw group (Turn 3 only)