general | June 10, 2026

Is every solitaire winnable?

Not all Solitaire games are winnable, but the great majority is. On average, around 80% of every Solitaire game is winnable. A game is considered winnable when there is at least one path to victory. When games have several paths available, there is a higher chance that the player will find at least one of these.

How many winnable games of solitaire are there?

Overall, almost 80% of solitaire games are winnable, but players do not win 80% of games played. That is because at least one bad move results in the game being un-winnable. If one lets the cards from the final pile be moved back to the table in order to create more moves, then the odds do go up between 82% and 92%.

Is there a strategy to Solitaire?

5 solitaire tricks you’ve never heard of that will help you win. For your first move, draw a card from the deck to give yourself more options. Play aces and twos right away. Don’t leave an empty space if you don’t have a king to put on it.

Is there strategy to solitaire?

Solitaire is one of the oldest card games known that is fun to play. While many people may think that it is just a simple card game that requires no strategy, it isn’t the case. The game is simple but it does involve some deep strategy to win the games consistently.

Why is Solitaire so addicting?

The game has a learning curve. This makes it more addictive because people can see how they improve over time and eventually want to beat their own scores. As a result, Solitaire can fuel dopamine receptors in the brain, with each successive high score providing a (theoretically) better dopamine rush.

Is Solitaire a skill or luck?

If you have a good deck of cards and a good start in your card arrangement, which is essentially luck, you will stand a great chance of winning if you also put in strategy and focus. Some Solitaire games are purely skill-based and require patience, for example, FreeCell.

Are there any games of Solitaire that are winnable?

Beyond FreeCell, a few other solitaire games have been studied for winnability. For the most part, most games have unwinnable hands. Spider, for example, while the vast majority of games appear winnable, has a few unwinnable possible hands. Very few, if any, solitaire games are absolutely always winnable with every possible hand.

Are there any games that are always winnable?

 For the most part, most games have unwinnable hands.  Spider, for example, while the vast majority of games appear winnable, has a few unwinnable possible hands.  Very few, if any, solitaire games are absolutely always winnable with every possible hand.

Can you play Klondike in Pretty Good Solitaire?

In Klondike in Pretty Good Solitaire, setting the rules to 3 card deal and KingOnly (only Kings allowed in spaces) would be the same game as Microsoft Solitaire. Setting the rules to a 1 card deal and turning KingOnly off, however, results in very nearly every hand being winnable.

How many solvable games are there in Klondike?

For a “standard” game of Klondike (of the form: Draw 3, Re-Deal Infinite, Win 52) the number of solvable games (assuming all cards are known) is between 82-91.5%.