What is the Win Rate for Russian Solitaire?
10-15% Win Rate
Russian Solitaire is one of the hardest Solitaire variants. It uses the same Yukon-style movement but requires building by same suit instead of alternating colors.
Why Russian Solitaire is So Hard
The same-suit building rule cuts your options in half:
- Half the flexibility: Only 4 legal destinations per card instead of 8
- Same movement as Yukon: Any face-up card can move with cards on top
- 21 hidden cards: Still must uncover all face-down cards
- Easy to get stuck: Wrong early moves can doom your game
Comparison
In Yukon, a red 7 can go on any black 8 (2 suits × 4 possible cards = 8 options). In Russian, a 7♥ can ONLY go on an 8♥ (1 option). This dramatically increases difficulty.
Strategy for Russian Solitaire
- Empty columns are gold: Moving Kings is your only way to restructure the tableau
- Create empties early: Prioritize clearing columns before building foundations
- Think ahead: Each move in Russian has bigger consequences than Yukon
- Accept losses: Many deals are unwinnable—don't spend forever on impossible games
Russian vs Yukon vs Alaska
| Variant | Win Rate | Building Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Yukon | 25-30% | Alternating colors |
| Alaska | 15-20% | Same suit, up OR down |
| Russian | 10-15% | Same suit, down only |
Fun Fact
Russian Solitaire is sometimes confused with "Russian Patience," which is a completely different two-deck game first described in 1876. They share nothing but the name!