Whether you’re new to Solitaire or just encountered an unfamiliar term, this comprehensive glossary covers every word you’ll come across while playing Klondike, FreeCell, Spider, Pyramid, TriPeaks, and Yukon Solitaire.
A
Ascending order — Building cards from low to high (Ace, 2, 3… Queen, King). Foundations are built in ascending order.
Auto-complete — A feature that automatically moves cards to foundations when all remaining cards are face-up and the game is essentially won. Saves time on the final moves.
Available card — A card that is not covered by other cards and can be legally moved. In column-based games, only the top card (or top sequence) of each column is typically available.
B
Blocked — A card or situation where no legal moves can advance the game. A blocked game is one that cannot be won from the current position.
Build — To place cards on top of each other in a legal sequence. “Building down in alternating colors” means placing a red 5 on a black 6, and so on.
Build down — Placing cards in descending order (King, Queen, Jack… 3, 2, Ace). Tableau columns in most Solitaire games are built down.
Build up — Placing cards in ascending order (Ace, 2, 3… Queen, King). Foundations in most Solitaire games are built up.
C
Cascade — Another term for a tableau column, used especially in FreeCell. The eight columns of face-up cards in FreeCell are called cascades.
Cell — In FreeCell, the four temporary storage spaces in the upper-left corner. Each cell can hold one card at a time. Also called “free cells.”
Chain — In TriPeaks, a sequence of consecutive card removals without drawing from the stock. Longer chains earn higher scores.
Column — A vertical arrangement of overlapping cards in the tableau. Klondike has 7 columns, Spider has 10, and FreeCell has 8.
D
Deal — (1) The initial distribution of cards at the start of a game. (2) In Spider, one of the five stock distributions that places one card on each of the 10 columns.
Deck — A standard set of 52 playing cards (4 suits × 13 ranks). Spider Solitaire uses two decks (104 cards).
Descending order — Building cards from high to low (King, Queen, Jack… 2, Ace). Tableau sequences in most Solitaire games are built in descending order.
Discard pile — See Waste pile.
Double deck — A Solitaire game that uses two standard 52-card decks (104 cards total). Spider Solitaire is the most popular double-deck game.
Draw — To take one or more cards from the stock pile and place them on the waste pile. “Draw 1” means taking one card at a time; “Draw 3” means taking three.
E
Empty column — A tableau column with no cards in it. Empty columns are extremely valuable in games like Spider and FreeCell because they provide flexible temporary storage.
F
Face-down card — A card placed with its back showing, hiding its identity. In Klondike, most tableau cards start face-down and are revealed as the cards above them are removed.
Face-up card — A card placed with its value showing. All playable cards must be face-up.
Foundation — One of four (or eight, in double-deck games) designated piles where cards are built up by suit from Ace to King. Moving all cards to the foundations wins the game in most Solitaire variants.
Free cell — A temporary holding space in FreeCell that can store one card. The four free cells give FreeCell its name and are the key strategic resource.
G
Game number — A unique identifier for a specific card deal. The same game number always produces the same card arrangement, allowing players to replay specific deals or compare solutions.
Gridlock — A game state where no productive moves are available and the game cannot be won. Also called a “deadlock.”
H
Hand — A single game from deal to completion (or loss). “Playing a hand” means playing one game of Solitaire.
Hidden card — See Face-down card.
K
King space — An empty tableau column in games where only Kings can be placed on empty columns (e.g., Klondike). In FreeCell and Spider, any card can fill an empty column.
M
Mixed sequence — A sequence of cards in correct rank order but varying suits. In Spider, mixed sequences cannot be moved as a unit. Also called “off-suit sequence.”
Move — Transferring one or more cards from one location to another. Each distinct card transfer counts as one move for scoring purposes.
O
Off-suit — Cards of different suits. An “off-suit build” means placing cards regardless of suit (common in Spider’s stacking rules).
P
Pack — See Deck.
Pair — In Pyramid Solitaire, two exposed cards whose ranks add up to 13. Pairs are removed from the pyramid together.
Pass — One complete cycle through the stock pile. Some games allow unlimited passes; others limit you to 1-3 passes.
Patience — The European name for Solitaire. Still the primary term in the UK, France, Germany, and most of continental Europe.
Peak — In TriPeaks, one of the three triangular card structures that form the tableau. Each peak has one card at its apex.
Pile — Any stack or group of cards in a specific location. “Foundation pile,” “stock pile,” “waste pile,” and “tableau pile” are common terms.
Pyramid — In Pyramid Solitaire, the 28-card triangular arrangement that forms the main playing area. Cards in the pyramid can only be removed when they are fully exposed (not covered by cards in the row below).
R
Rank — The numerical value of a card: Ace (1), 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, Jack (11), Queen (12), King (13).
Redeal — Picking up the waste pile and turning it back into a stock pile. Some games allow limited redeals; others allow unlimited redeals.
Run — A sequence of cards in consecutive rank order. A “suited run” is all the same suit; a “mixed run” contains multiple suits.
S
Sequence — See Run.
Single deck — A Solitaire game using one standard 52-card deck. Klondike, FreeCell, Pyramid, TriPeaks, and Yukon are all single-deck games.
Stock — The face-down pile of remaining cards from which you draw during the game. Also called the “draw pile” or “talon.”
Suit — One of four card categories: Spades (♠), Hearts (♥), Diamonds (♦), Clubs (♣). Spades and Clubs are black; Hearts and Diamonds are red.
Suited sequence — A sequence of cards in consecutive rank order of the same suit. In Spider Solitaire, only suited sequences can be moved as a group.
Supermove — In FreeCell, moving multiple cards as a group using empty cells and columns as intermediary storage. The number of cards you can supermove depends on available empty spaces.
T
Tableau — The main playing area of a Solitaire game, consisting of columns of cards. Most game actions (building, uncovering, rearranging) happen in the tableau.
Talon — See Stock.
Turn — (1) To flip a card from face-down to face-up. (2) To draw from the stock pile. “Turn 1” and “Turn 3” refer to how many cards you draw at a time.
U
Undo — Reversing one or more moves to return to a previous game state. Most digital Solitaire games offer unlimited undo.
Unwinnable — A game state or deal that cannot be won regardless of the moves made. Some deals are unwinnable from the start; others become unwinnable through poor play.
V
Vegas scoring — A scoring system that simulates casino-style play. You “buy” each game for a set amount and earn money for each card placed on a foundation.
W
Waste pile — The face-up pile where stock cards are placed after being drawn. Only the top card of the waste pile can be played. Also called the “discard pile.”
Win rate — The percentage of games won out of games played. A useful metric for tracking improvement over time.
Wrap-around — In some Solitaire variants, the ability to connect a King to an Ace as adjacent ranks (forming a circular sequence). TriPeaks allows wrap-around; most other variants do not.
Now that you know the vocabulary, play Solitaire online and put these terms into practice.