Printable Solitaire
Sometimes you want solitaire away from a screen. A printable or blank solitaire layout is a simple diagram that shows where each pile goes, so you can set up a game with a real deck of cards. This page explains what those layouts are, who they help, and exactly how to deal the most popular game by hand. When you would rather just play, you can always play free in your browser instead.
Heads up: Solitaire.now does not offer a downloadable PDF yet. This page shows you how to set up and play solitaire with real cards, plus links to play every game online.
What a printable solitaire layout is
A printable layout is just a picture of the table before you start: the columns of the tableau, the foundation spots, and the stock. Some people print a blank grid and place real cards on top of it. Others only need the instructions to remember how many cards go in each pile. Either way, the goal is the same, to make setting up a physical game quick and correct.
Who wants a printable layout
- Teaching kids. A clear diagram helps a child see where cards belong while they learn the rules.
- Playing offline. On a plane, a porch, or anywhere without a device, a real deck and a layout are all you need.
- Practicing layouts. Dealing by hand a few times is the fastest way to memorize how each game is built.
How to set up solitaire with a real deck
Here is the classic Klondike setup, the version most people mean when they say "solitaire". You need one standard 52-card deck.
- Shuffle the deck well.
- Deal seven columns left to right, with 1 card in the first column, 2 in the second, and so on up to 7 in the last. This uses 28 cards.
- Deal each column so only the last (bottom) card is face up. Every card above it stays face down.
- Leave space above the columns for four foundation piles, one for each suit. They start empty.
- Put the remaining 24 cards face down to the side as the stock.
- To play, build the foundations up by suit from Ace to King. In the columns, build down in alternating colors, and flip the stock when you are stuck.
New to the rules? The full walkthrough for every game lives on the solitaire rules hub.
Solitaire layouts at a glance
Different games use different setups. Here is how the most common ones are dealt.
| Game | Columns | Cards dealt | Foundations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Klondike | 7 | 28 (1 to 7 per column) | 4 |
| Spider | 10 | 54 (2 decks) | 8 |
| FreeCell | 8 | 52 (all cards) | 4 |
| Forty Thieves | 10 | 40 (2 decks) | 8 |
Or just play in your browser
No printer and no deck handy? Every game deals itself for you online, for free, with no download. Try Klondike, Spider, or FreeCell and the site handles the shuffle, the deal, and the rules for you.
Printable solitaire FAQ
Do you have a printable solitaire PDF?
Not yet. For now, this page gives you the layouts and step-by-step setup so you can deal any game with a real deck, or you can play the full games free online.
What layout does classic solitaire use?
Classic Klondike uses seven tableau columns holding 1 to 7 cards, with only the bottom card of each column face up, four empty foundation spots, and a stock of the remaining 24 cards.
Can I teach kids solitaire with a printed layout?
Yes. A simple diagram of the columns and foundations makes it easy for kids to see where each card goes. Start with Klondike, then move on to easier matching games once the tableau idea clicks. The rules hub keeps every game in plain English.