7 Best Card Games to Play By Yourself ()
Seven solo card games, from a familiar Klondike deal to tougher planning puzzles. Pick the rules and challenge that suit you, then play free.
Choose your game
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Accordion PatienceMatch suits or ranks to shrink the rowSolo · Simple rules
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Yukon SolitaireMove groups and uncover cardsSolo · A little practice
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Agnes BernauerPlan around a reserve of cardsSolo · A little practice
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Forty ThievesA demanding two-deck puzzleSolo · Challenging
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Russian SolitaireBuild groups in matching suitsSolo · Challenging
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Aces & KingsBuild up from Aces and down from KingsSolo · A little practice
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Klondike Turn 3A step up from Turn 1Solo · A little practice
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1. Accordion Patience
If you love puzzles like Tetris or Candy Crush, Accordion Patience will be your new obsession. Unlike traditional solitaire where you build piles, here you are constantly compressing a single long line of cards.
The goal is simple: compress the entire deck of 52 cards into one single pile. You can pile a card onto another if it matches the suit or the rank of the card immediately to its left, or three spots to the left.
Why it's great for solo play:
- One-hand friendly: Since it's just one line of cards, it's perfect for mobile play.
- Pure strategy: There are no hidden cards. Every card is visible from the start (as you deal them), meaning your success depends entirely on your choices, not luck.
- It's fast: A game can be finished in under 5 minutes.
2. Yukon Solitaire
Yukon is often described as "Klondike without the stock pile." All cards are dealt onto the tableau at the start, some face up, some face down. The twist? You can move any group of face-up cards, even if they aren't in sequence.
This freedom of movement makes Yukon incredibly dynamic. It rewards planning ahead and creating "empty slots" to maneuver your Kings.
3. Agnes Bernauer
For those who find standard Klondike too reliant on luck, Agnes Bernauer is a refreshing alternative. It uses a "reserve" of 7 cards that are available to help you when you get stuck. This extra strategic layer makes the game winnable far more often than classic solitaire.
4. Forty Thieves
Known for its difficulty, Forty Thieves is for the serious strategist. You play with two decks, and the rules are strict: you can only move one card at a time. It requires patience and foresight, making every win feel like a monumental achievement.
5. Russian Solitaire
A variation of Yukon, Russian Solitaire adds a difficulty spike: you must build your tableau piles in the same suit (e.g., 6 of Hearts on 7 of Hearts), rather than alternating colors. It's tough, brutal, and incredibly satisfying to crack.
6. Aces & Kings
This double-deck game gives you four foundation piles starting with Aces and four starting with Kings. Your job is to meet in the middle. It's a unique "bidirectional" challenge that forces you to think about card sequences in a completely new way.
7. Classic Klondike (Turn 3)
No list is complete without the classic. While "Turn 1" is easier, "Turn 3" is the definitive way to play. Drawing three cards at a time from the stock restricts your options and forces you to prioritize which cards to use and when.
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Ready to start playing? Check out our full collection of free card games to find your perfect match.