Odessa Solitaire

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Odessa Solitaire

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Odessa Solitaire
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What is Odessa Solitaire?

Odessa is a Yukon variant where empty columns accept any card instead of requiring a King. All 52 cards are dealt face-up across 7 columns in the standard Yukon layout (1-2-3-4-5-6-7 cards per column with extra cards dealt face-up). There is no stock. Build down by alternating color in the tableau. Any face-up card can be moved along with all cards below it, regardless of sequence. The win rate is approximately 75 percent.

Odessa Solitaire history

Odessa takes its name from the Ukrainian port city and belongs to the Yukon family of patience games. While standard Yukon restricts empty columns to Kings only (mirroring Klondike's rule), Odessa relaxes this constraint. This small change opens up significantly more movement options and makes the game noticeably more forgiving. The free empty-column rule combined with Yukon's powerful tail-move mechanic creates a flowing, satisfying game with a high win rate.

How to play Odessa Solitaire

All 52 cards are dealt face-up across 7 tableau columns. There is no stock or waste pile. Build four foundations up by suit from Ace to King.

  1. Move any exposed Aces to foundations, then play any card that continues a foundation sequence.
  2. Build down by alternating color in the tableau. You can move any face-up card along with every card stacked below it, even if those cards do not form a proper sequence.
  3. Empty columns accept any card or group of cards. Use empty columns as staging areas to reorganize the tableau.
  4. Look for opportunities to move large groups that expose face-down cards or reveal needed sequence cards.
  5. Continue until all cards are on foundations or no more productive moves exist.

Strategies to win Odessa Solitaire

  • Use the relaxed empty-column rule aggressively. Move partial columns to empty spaces to expose buried cards. This is Odessa's biggest advantage over standard Yukon.
  • Focus on building foundation sequences early. The high card visibility means you can plan long chains of moves to send multiple cards to foundations in a single sequence.
  • Avoid filling empty columns with large groups unless you have a clear plan for the cards underneath. An empty column is a valuable resource.
  • Build long alternating-color descending runs in the tableau to consolidate cards and create flexibility for future moves.

Odessa Solitaire rules and objective

Objective: move all 52 cards to four foundations (A to K by suit). 7 tableau columns with all cards face-up. Build down by alternating color. Move any face-up card plus all cards below it as a group. Empty columns accept any card. No stock, no redeals.

Game setup
ElementSetup
Deck1 standard 52-card deck
Tableau7 columns, all cards face-up (Yukon layout)
Foundations4 piles, built A to K by suit
Build ruleDown by alternating color
Tail movesMove any face-up card plus all cards below it
Empty columnAny card (not restricted to Kings)
StockNone
Win conditionAll 52 cards on foundations

Odessa Solitaire variants and similar games

Yukon Solitaire is the standard version where only Kings can fill empty columns. Russian Solitaire uses same-suit building instead of alternating color. Alaska Solitaire uses same-suit bidirectional building.

How difficult is Odessa Solitaire?

Odessa is one of the easier Yukon variants. The relaxed empty-column rule provides much more flexibility than standard Yukon, and the tail-move mechanic means you can always move large card groups to reorganize the layout. Most deals are winnable with careful play.

What is Odessa Solitaire win percentage?

Odessa wins approximately 75 percent of the time with attentive play. This is higher than standard Yukon's roughly 65 percent win rate because the relaxed empty-column rule prevents many deadlocks that occur when you need an empty column but have no King to fill it.

What is the difference between Odessa and Yukon Solitaire?

The only rule difference is the empty-column rule. In standard Yukon, only a King (or a group starting with a King) can fill an empty column. In Odessa, any card or group can fill an empty column. Everything else is identical: same Yukon deal, same alternating-color building, same tail-move mechanic where any face-up card can be moved with all cards below it. The relaxed rule increases the win rate from about 65 percent to approximately 75 percent.

Odessa Solitaire FAQ

Can any card go in an empty column in Odessa Solitaire?

Yes. Any single card or group of cards can fill an empty tableau column. This is the key difference from standard Yukon, where only Kings are allowed in empty columns.

Do cards need to be in sequence to move together in Odessa?

No. Like all Yukon variants, you can move any face-up card along with every card stacked below it, regardless of whether those cards form a proper alternating-color sequence. The only requirement is that the moved card must be face-up.

Is Odessa easier than Yukon Solitaire?

Yes. The relaxed empty-column rule means you never get stuck because you lack a King to fill an empty space. This added flexibility makes Odessa win roughly 75 percent of the time compared to Yukon's 65 percent.

Is there a stock pile in Odessa Solitaire?

No. All 52 cards are dealt to the tableau at the start. There is no stock, no waste pile, and no redeals. Every card is visible from the first move, making it a pure strategy game.

How should I use empty columns in Odessa Solitaire?

Use empty columns as temporary staging areas. Move blocking card groups to empty columns, reorganize the underlying cards, then move things back. The key is to keep at least one empty column available as a buffer for complex rearrangements.

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