How many types of solitaire are there?
The honest answer is 'hundreds,' but that number is easier to grasp once you see that almost every variant belongs to one of a few families.
The main families
Most solitaire games sort into a few groups. Builders send cards to foundations by suit, like Klondike, FreeCell and Yukon. Packers form same-suit runs in the tableau itself, like Spider. Matchers clear cards by pairing or sequencing rank, like Pyramid, TriPeaks and Golf. Once you know a family, its members are quick to learn.
Why there are so many
Solitaire spread as a print hobby, and every Games of Patience author added their own twists, so the count ballooned into the hundreds. Many are minor rule tweaks of a common ancestor. Our history of solitaire covers how the catalogue grew from a handful of parlor games to a sprawling family.
What we offer
Rather than overwhelm you, we focus on 11 of the most-loved variants, from beginner-friendly to brutally hard. Browse them all on the more games page or the rules hub, and if you're unsure where to begin, see our beginner guide.
Related questions
Which solitaire game is best for beginners?
Klondike Turn 1 is the classic starting point - simple rules and a high share of winnable deals. 1-suit Spider is even more forgiving. TriPeaks and Golf are fast, casual picks. Once comfortable, FreeCell teaches real planning, and Russian or Forty Thieves await when you want a challenge.
What is Klondike solitaire?
Klondike is the version of solitaire most people simply call 'solitaire.' You deal seven tableau columns, build them down in alternating colors, and move cards up to four foundations by suit from Ace to King. Microsoft bundled it with Windows 3.0 in 1990, making it one of the most-played games ever.
Where does solitaire come from?
Solitaire - called patience in much of Europe - first appears in written records in the late 1700s in northern Europe, likely Germany or Scandinavia. Klondike took its name from the 1890s gold rush, and the game's modern dominance came from Microsoft shipping Solitaire with Windows 3.0 in 1990.