Solitaire Strategy

What's the Best Opening Move in Solitaire?

The best opening move in Klondike Solitaire is almost always the one that reveals a face-down tableau card. Specifically: move the largest exposed stack to free the deepest buried card. Here is the full decision framework.

The Golden Rule: Reveal Face-Down Cards First

Every face-down card in the tableau is a locked door. You do not know what is behind it, but you do know it could be the Ace, the 7, or the King that unlocks the rest of the game. On your opening move in Solitaire Turn 1 or Turn 3, always ask: "Which move reveals the most face-down cards?" That is almost always the right play.

Opening Move Priority Ranking

  1. Move a column's entire face-up stack to reveal the face-down card beneath it
  2. Move an Ace to the foundation if one is immediately visible
  3. Move a 2 to the foundation if the matching Ace is already there
  4. Draw from the stock if no tableau move reveals a face-down card
  5. Move cards within the tableau to enable step 1 on the next turn

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Open a New Solitaire Game Challenge Yourself With Turn 3

Turn 3-Specific Opening Consideration

In draw-three mode, the first pass through the stock is essential reconnaissance. Do not play a bad tableau move just because you can. Draw through the entire stock on your first pass to get a map of what is accessible, then make your tableau choices with that information.

When Kings Are Your Best Opening Move

If a King is the exposed card at the bottom of an occupied column, moving it to an empty column creates space and may unlock several face-down cards. This is a valid first move - but only if you have an empty column available, or if moving the King enables a cascade that reveals three or more face-down cards.

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