Monte Carlo Solitaire
Monte Carlo is a fast, pattern-spotting solitaire where you remove adjacent pairs of the same rank from a 5x5 grid. Each time you clear a pair, the grid tightens toward the top-left and the stock refills the empty spaces. See the Monte Carlo Solitaire win rate for realistic expectations.
Learn (FAQ + Glossary)
How to Play
- Layout: 25 cards are dealt face up into a 5x5 grid. The remaining cards form the stock.
- Remove pairs: You may remove two cards of the same rank if they touch horizontally, vertically, or diagonally.
- Consolidate: After removing pairs, cards slide left and up to fill gaps (like reading order).
- Refill: Empty spaces are filled from the stock until the grid is full again.
Which pairs count as touching?
Suit and color do not matter. A queen of hearts can pair with a queen of clubs, but the two positions must share an edge or a corner.
| Two equal-rank cards at | Can you remove them? |
|---|---|
| Row 2, columns 2 and 3 | Yes, horizontally adjacent. |
| Row 2, column 2 and row 3, column 3 | Yes, diagonally adjacent. |
| Row 2, column 5 and row 3, column 1 | No. Consecutive reading positions do not touch on the board. |
| Row 2, columns 1 and 3 | No. A card-sized gap separates them. |
After a pair disappears, the remaining cards keep their reading order as the board compacts. Check the new positions before choosing your next pair. You win by removing all 52 cards; an empty stock alone is not a win.
Quick Strategy Tips
- Try not to remove a pair if it will separate another match that could become adjacent after consolidation.
- Clear pairs near the left side early to influence how the grid collapses.
- When you have multiple choices, prefer moves that create new adjacencies after the slide.
Other matching games
Try Pyramid Solitaire for pairs adding to 13, or Royal Marriage for a different adjacency puzzle. Browse more free solitaire games.
Need Help or Want to Contact Us?
Any comments, complaints, bug reports, questions, or anything else should be sent to help@onlinecardgames.io. We can't respond to everyone, but we try to respond to as many as we can. If you just have a quick question make sure it isn't covered in our FAQ. You can also often get help from other users in our community.