Turn 1 vs Turn 3 Solitaire
The Core Difference
In Turn 1, you draw one card at a time from the stock pile. In Turn 3, you draw three cards but can only play the top one. This seemingly small change nearly halves your win rate.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Turn 1 | Turn 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Win Rate | 43-52% | 18-35% |
| Cards Drawn | 1 at a time | 3 at a time |
| Card Accessibility | Every card reachable | Some cards may be blocked |
| Passes Through Stock | Unlimited (usually) | Unlimited (usually) |
| Difficulty | Beginner-Friendly | Medium |
| Strategy Depth | Lower | Higher |
Why Turn 3 is Harder
The key insight is card accessibility:
Turn 1: Full Access
Every card in the stock becomes available:
- Draw cards one at a time
- Each card goes to the waste pile
- Eventually see and can play every card
- No cards are "locked" behind others
Turn 3: Limited Access
Only every third card is immediately playable:
- Draw 3 cards, only top one available
- Must play top card to access the next
- Some cards may never become playable
- Order of stock pile matters critically
Example: The Blocking Problem
Imagine cards are stacked: A♠ → 5♥ → K♦ (K♦ on top). You can only play the K♦ first. If you can't play K♦, you can't reach A♠ or 5♥ on this pass. In Turn 1, you'd see each card individually and could play A♠ immediately.
Which Should You Play?
Choose Turn 1 If:
- You're learning Klondike Solitaire
- You want a relaxing game with good win odds
- You prefer games where skill matters more than luck
- You get frustrated by "unwinnable" games
Choose Turn 3 If:
- You've mastered Turn 1 and want more challenge
- You enjoy deeper strategic planning
- You like the "traditional" Klondike experience
- You don't mind lower win rates
Strategy Differences
Turn 1 Strategy
- Focus on revealing face-down cards in the tableau
- Don't worry too much about stock pile order
- Build to foundations whenever possible
Turn 3 Strategy
- Pay attention to card positions in the stock
- Sometimes delay playing a card to change stock pile order
- Empty columns become more valuable (help manipulate card order)
- Think about which cards you're "blocking" with each play
Historical Note
Turn 3 is considered the "traditional" version of Klondike, originating from physical card games where drawing one card at a time was considered too easy. Turn 1 became popular with digital solitaire games, particularly Microsoft Solitaire (1990), which offered both options.