How to play Klondike

The rules

1. Seven piles are dealt, one to seven cards, with only the top card of each face up. The other 24 cards are the stock.
2. On the piles you build down in alternating colours: a red 7 goes on a black 8. You may move a whole face-up run at once.
3. When a face-down card is uncovered, it is turned over.
4. Only a King, or a run that starts with a King, may be placed on an empty pile.
5. The four foundations are built up by suit from Ace to King. A card may be taken back from a foundation.
6. Turn cards from the stock one at a time (Turn 1) or three at a time, playing only the top one (Turn 3). Go through the stock as often as you like.

Five habits that win more games

1. Turn over face-down cards first. A move that uncovers a card is nearly always better than one that does not.
2. Work on the longest face-down pile before the short ones: that is where the game is lost.
3. Do not empty a pile unless you have a King to put there.
4. Do not rush cards to the foundations. A low card left on the table may be the only place for the next one you need.
5. On Turn 3, remember that taking one card from the stock changes which cards you will see on the next pass.