Is it cheating to use undo or hints?

This one comes down to what you're playing for. There's no solitaire police - only the standard you set for yourself.

Quick answer: No. Undo and hints are learning tools, not cheating - they let you explore lines of play and understand why a deal is won or lost. If you want a pure test, play without them, but nothing stops you using them casually. Leaderboard times naturally reward players who solve cleanly and quickly.

Why they're not cheating

Undo and hints turn solitaire into a puzzle you can study. Rewinding a dead-end line teaches you why it failed; a hint points you at a move you'd have found with more experience. For learning a new variant - say FreeCell or Spider - they dramatically shorten the path from confused to competent.

When you might skip them

If you want a clean test of skill, play a deal start-to-finish with no undo and no hints - especially on the daily challenge or in multiplayer, where a single confident run is the whole point. That's a personal choice, not a rule.

What the leaderboard rewards

Ranked times naturally favour clean solves: hesitating, undoing and re-planning all cost seconds, and ties break toward fewer moves. So even though undo is always available, the leaderboard quietly rewards the players who don't need it.

Try a clean solo run

Related questions

How is solitaire scored?

It depends on the mode. Standard scoring rewards cards moved to the foundations plus a speed bonus, so faster, tidier solves score higher. Vegas scoring is a cash game: you "buy" the deck for $52 and earn $5 per card banked, so your score can go negative. Leaderboards rank by finish time.

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.

Is solitaire good for your brain?

Solitaire exercises genuinely useful mental skills: planning several moves ahead, remembering which cards have appeared, weighing risk against reward, and spotting patterns quickly. It is not a miracle brain trainer, but it is engaging mental activity many people find calming and focusing.