Klondike Solitaire Turn 1

0 moves · 0:00 · Stock: 24 · Score: 0

How to play Klondike Solitaire Turn 1

Move all 52 cards onto the four foundations, building each suit up from ace to king. Clear every card and you win.

Seven tableau columns hold one to seven cards each, with only the top card face up. The other 24 cards form the stock, and this page always deals turn 1 rules.

Klondike opening layout: stock, waste, four foundations, and seven tableau columnsStockWasteFoundationsTableau
The opening deal: 28 cards in seven tableau columns, 24 in the stock, and four empty foundations.
  • Tap the stock to turn over exactly one card at a time. Every stock card gets its chance on every pass.
  • On the tableau, build downward in alternating colors: a red six goes on a black seven.
  • Face-up runs move together. When the stock empties, tap it again to recycle the waste as often as you like.
  • Only a king can fill an empty column, and aces start the foundations.

Turn 1 tips

  • With one card per draw, you will see everything eventually, so hold moves until they uncover something.
  • Flip face-down tableau cards first; the stock can wait, hidden columns cannot.
  • Keep foundations even. Racing one suit up strands the low cards you still need as parking spots.

Turn 1 means exactly what it says: each tap on the stock turns over one card. That single rule makes this the friendliest form of Klondike, because every card in the stock becomes playable on every pass. Nothing stays buried behind an unlucky draw order.

If you are learning solitaire, start here. The rules are identical to classic Klondike in every other way, so everything in the how to play guide applies directly, and good habits you build here carry straight over to the harder modes.

Why turn 1 is the beginner mode

In turn 3, cards reach the waste three at a time and only the top one is playable, so some cards can hide behind their neighbors for an entire pass. Turn 1 has no such trap: you always see the next card, and with unlimited passes you can wait for it to come around again. That is why clearly more turn 1 deals can be won than turn 3 deals. The exact figures, measured by our own solver, live on the odds of winning page.

Ready for more

Winning most of your turn 1 games? Move up to turn 3 for the classic hard mode, or put money on the table with Vegas scoring. Our strategy guide explains which habits matter most before you make the jump.

Turn 1 solitaire FAQ

What does turn 1 mean in solitaire?

Turn 1 (also written turn one or 1-card draw) means each tap on the stock turns over a single card. Every stock card becomes playable on every pass through the deck. The alternative is turn 3, where cards flip in threes and only the top card of each three can be played.

Is turn 1 easier than turn 3?

Yes, noticeably. Because every stock card is reachable on every pass, more deals can be won and fewer wins depend on draw order luck. Turn 3 hides two of every three cards behind the top one, so it demands more planning. Most people learn on turn 1 and graduate later.

How many times can I go through the stock?

On this page, as many times as you like. When the stock runs empty, tap it again and the waste flips back over to form a new stock in the same order. Some scoring systems punish recycling, and Vegas rules cap the passes, but plain turn 1 leaves it unlimited.

Can every turn 1 deal be won?

No, a small share of deals are dead on arrival no matter how well you play. If that bothers you, open Settings and switch on winnable deals only: new games will then start from deals our solver has already proven can be won, so every loss is recoverable with undo.

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