Yukon vs Russian Solitaire
The Short Answer
Yukon uses alternating colors (red on black). Russian requires same-suit building (♠ on ♠ only). This single rule change cuts the win rate in half—from 25-30% down to 10-15%.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Yukon | Russian |
|---|---|---|
| Win Rate | 25-30% | 10-15% |
| Building Rule | Alternating colors | Same suit only |
| Stock Pile | None | None |
| Move Buried Cards | Yes | Yes |
| Difficulty | Medium | Very Hard |
| Best For | Intermediate players | Expert players |
The One Rule That Changes Everything
Both games share the same foundation:
- All 52 cards dealt to the tableau at the start
- No stock pile to draw from
- Any face-up card can move with all cards on top of it
- Only Kings fill empty columns
The critical difference is the building rule:
Yukon: Alternating Colors
Red cards go on black, black on red:
- ♥7 can go on ♠8 or ♣8
- ♠Q can go on ♥K or ♦K
- 4 possible target cards for each move
Russian: Same Suit Only
Cards must match exact suit:
- ♥7 can ONLY go on ♥8
- ♠Q can ONLY go on ♠K
- 1 possible target card for each move
Why This Matters So Much
In Yukon, a red 6 can land on ANY of four cards (♠7, ♣7, ♠7, ♣7 from the second deck... wait, there's only one deck). With one deck: 2 possible targets. In Russian, that ♥6 has exactly ONE home: the ♥7. This 4x reduction in options cascades into dramatically fewer solvable games.
Which Should You Play?
Choose Yukon If:
- You're new to the Yukon family
- You enjoy strategic games with reasonable win rates
- You're coming from Klondike (same color rules)
- You want a medium-difficulty challenge
Choose Russian If:
- You've mastered Yukon and want something harder
- You enjoy "puzzle-like" games requiring perfect play
- You don't mind losing most games
- You want to test your strategic planning skills
Strategy Differences
Yukon Strategy Focus
- Reveal face-down cards quickly
- Create empty columns for Kings
- Build long alternating sequences
Russian Strategy Focus
- Plan 5-10 moves ahead (fewer options = more planning required)
- Prioritize same-suit sequences even over revealing cards
- Accept that some deals are unsolvable from the start
- Empty columns are even more valuable