Solitaire facts for kids

A computer Klondike solitaire game.

Solitaire is a fun card game that you play by yourself. You use a regular deck of playing cards. The goal is to sort all the cards into four piles, usually by their suit and number.

There are many different ways to play Solitaire. Some popular types include Klondike, Freecell, Pyramid, Golf, and Spider. Many computers come with simple Solitaire games already installed.

In some countries, people call Solitaire by another name: Patience.

Types of Solitaire Games

Patience (Card Solitaire)

Patience is another name for card solitaire games. In these games, you arrange cards on a table following certain rules. You try to sort them into specific piles. A very common version is Klondike. This is the game often called "Solitaire" that comes with Windows computers.

Mahjong Solitaire

Mahjong solitaire is a puzzle game that uses tiles instead of cards. The goal is to match pairs of identical tiles and remove them from a stack. You keep going until all tiles are gone or you can't make any more moves.

Peg Solitaire

Peg solitaire is a puzzle, not a card game. It uses pegs on a board with holes. You jump one peg over another into an empty hole, removing the jumped peg. The goal is to end up with only one peg left on the board. Once you solve it, you can do it again the same way.

Concentration (Memory Game)

Concentration is also known as Memory or Pairs. In this card game, all the cards are placed face down. You turn over two cards at a time. If they match, you keep them. If they don't, you turn them back over. The goal is to find all the matching pairs.

Images for kids

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  A typical solitaire board

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  In North America, patience games like Klondike are called solitaire.