15 Fun Single-Player Card Games to Play Online or with Cards

There’s nothing like beating boredom with a classic single-player card game. Whether you want to play with a standard 52-card deck or try your hand at online challenges, there are plenty of options for you.

We’ve compiled a comprehensive guide to playing 15 of the best single-player card games. If you’re not sure where to start, we have organized the games for you, from easiest to most challenging! Even if you don’t have a deck of cards, you can play many Solitaire variations online for free at Solitaire Bliss.

1. Memory

Memory is a great card game for beginners. Many are familiar with this brain-building game from childhood. And just like its name suggests, playing Memory helps to build your memory skills as well as your concentration.

The objective of Memory is to match all of the pairs in the shortest amount of time and moves. If you have multiple decks or are playing online, you should match cards according to both suit and rank. When playing with a single deck of playing cards, just match cards of the same rank.

How to Play Memory

1. Choose pairs of cards to fill your desired grid size. For example, a six by four grid requires 24 cards (or 12 pairs). Shuffle your deck and lay your cards face down in the grid.
2. Flip two cards to start.
3. If the cards match, remove them from the grid.
4. If the cards don’t match, flip them back over.
5. Turn over two more cards, looking for a pair. Repeat the steps above until you find a match. As you play, try to remember where the cards are located.
6. Keep playing until all pairs are matched.

2. Westcliff

Westcliff is an easy version of Solitaire Turn 1 but with a twist: You can only make one pass through the stockpile. However, since the tableau has ten columns, giving plenty of extra space to arrange cards, it is an excellent game for first-time players.

Winning Westcliff consists of clearing the tableau by moving all the cards to the foundation piles in ascending order from ace to king, using ten columns to arrange the cards in descending order while alternating colors. If you cannot clear the tableau after one pass through the stockpile, you lose the game.

How to Play Westcliff

1. Deal ten columns, each with two facedown cards and a top card facing up. The remaining cards are your stockpile.
2. Build foundation piles in order by suit, from ace to king.
3. Move cards between columns in descending order and alternating colors (for example, a red five on a black six).
4. You can move sequences of cards between columns in the tableau.
5. When you get stuck, turn over cards from the stockpile to keep playing.
6. Any card can be moved to an empty column.
7. Win by completing all four foundation piles.

3. FreeCell Solitaire

FreeCell is almost always winnable and is a great way to practice your Solitaire skills. The goal of FreeCell is to build all four foundation piles by suit from ace to king. You can free cards by organizing them on the tableau in opposite color and descending order or by using the four free cells.

FreeCell is very similar to Baker’s Game except that FreeCell is built by alternating colors, and Baker’s Game is built by suit.

How to Play FreeCell

1. Deal eight columns of seven cards to the first four columns and six cards to the following four columns, all face up.
2. Survey the tableau and determine how to free aces and move them to the foundation piles. Build foundation piles in order, ace to king, by suit.
3. Move cards between columns in descending order and alternating colors in order to uncover cards and move them to the foundation piles.
4. Use free cells to hold single cards.
5. Move sequences of cards between columns. The number of cards you can move at a time is determined by the number of free cells plus one.
6. Any card or sequence can go into an empty column.
7. Continue organizing cards in the tableau until the foundation piles are complete.

4. TriPeaks Solitaire

TriPeaks Solitaire may be easy to learn, but it can be challenging to beat. It combines the layout of Pyramid Solitaire with the gameplay of Golf Solitaire. The goal of TriPeaks is to clear all of the cards from the tableau, arranged in three peaks, to the foundation in sequence, placing a card of one rank higher or lower on the top card of the foundation.

How to Play TriPeaks

1. Deal three peaks with 28 face-up cards. The first row has three cards, creating the top of each peak, the second has six, the third nine and the last ten.
2. Start the foundation with a card from the tableau.
3. Move cards from the tableau to the foundation pile if they are one rank higher or lower than the top foundation pile card.
4. If you run out of moves, draw a new card from the stockpile.
5. Continue until all cards from the peaks are cleared (you win) or the stockpile runs out (you lose).

5. Pyramid Solitaire

If you like TriPeaks, try the more challenging Pyramid Solitaire. The objective of the game is to pair cards with a sum of 13 to remove them from the pyramid or tableau.

How to Play Pyramid Solitaire

1. Set up the game by dealing seven rows of face-up cards, starting with one card in the first row and adding to each subsequent row (28 cards total).
2. Look for exposed pairs in the pyramid that add up to 13, except for kings, which do not need to be paired because they equal 13. Numbered cards are played at face value and face cards are played as follows: Jack = 11, Queen = 12, King = 13
3. If you run out of moves on the tableau, flip a card from the stockpile to the wastepile. This card can also be used for pairing.
4. Continue until the tableau is cleared (you win) or no pairs of 13 can be made (you lose).

6. Golf Solitaire

Golf Solitaire is an easy-to-learn, quick-to-play Solitaire game. You can play one game or nine scored rounds (just like in golf) to add more variation to the game and prevent boredom.

To win a round of Golf Solitaire, you must empty all the cards from the tableau by moving them to the foundation pile. Cards can be moved to the foundation pile if they are one rank higher or lower than the top card on the foundation pile.

How to Play Golf Solitaire

1. Deal seven columns of five face-up cards (35 total). Place the remaining cards in the stockpile and flip a single card face-up into the foundation pile.
2. Move exposed tableau cards, regardless of suit, to the foundation if they are one rank higher or lower than the foundation’s top card.
3. If no moves are possible, draw a card from the stockpile to reset the foundation.
4. Continue until all tableau cards are cleared (you win) or the stockpile runs out (you lose).

7. Solitaire

This is a classic! Also known as Klondike Solitaire, this is the most popular form of Solitaire. Fun, familiar, and simple to play are some of its most loved features. You will build four foundation piles by suit, ascending from ace to king, to win.

How to Play Klondike Solitaire

1. Deal 28 cards in seven piles across the tableau, dealing left to right. Each column has the same number of cards as its column number, with the last card in each column facing up. For example, column one has one card, and the last column has seven cards. The remaining cards are your stockpile.
2. Build foundation piles in order by suit, from ace to king.
3. Move cards between columns in descending order and alternating colors (for example, a red five on a black six).
4. You can move sequences of cards between columns in the tableau.
5. When you get stuck, turn over cards from the stockpile to keep playing.
6. Only kings can be moved to an empty column.

8. Eight Off

Eight Off is similar to FreeCell, but a little more challenging. Winning the game requires moving the cards to their foundation by suit from ace to king. You have eight free cells to work with, but four are filled with cards at the beginning of the game.

How to Play Eight Off

1. Deal six cards face up into eight columns on the tableau. Place the remaining four cards in four of the eight free cells.
2. Look for aces to start the foundation piles. Build foundation piles from aces to kings by suit.
3. To free cards for the foundation piles, organize the tableau by moving cards between columns in descending order by suit (for example, six of hearts on seven of hearts).
4. Use the eight free cells to store cards and help organize the tableau. Prioritize moving the four cards placed in the free cells at the beginning of the game so that you have more flexibility.
5. Only kings can go into empty tableau columns.
6. Win the game by clearing the tableau.

9. Australian Patience

Australian Patience is a challenging solitaire game where the goal is to build four foundation piles by suit in ascending order, from ace to king. What sets this game apart is the unique ability to move a mixed group of cards, as long as the bottom card in the group is one rank lower than the card it’s being placed on. Success requires careful strategy and thoughtful planning, making it a favorite for experienced players.

How to Play Australian Patience

1. Deal four face-up cards into seven columns on the tableau; the remaining cards are the stockpile.
2. Build tableau columns in descending order by suit. For example, an eight of diamonds can be placed on a nine of diamonds. You can also move piles (like a ten of spades, three of diamonds, and five of hearts) on top of another card as long as the base card of the pile is one rank lower and the same suit as the card it is being placed on.
3. Only kings can go into empty columns.
4. Draw from the stockpile when no moves are available.
5. Win the game by completing all four foundation piles.

10. Yukon

While similar to Australian Patience in its gameplay and Klondike Solitaire in its setup, Yukon is one of the more challenging games. The use of concentration and visualization skills are crucial to planning moves and creating a winning tableau. The goal is to move all cards into four foundation piles, by suit, from ace to king.

How to Play Yukon Solitaire

1. Deal all cards across seven columns. The first card has one face-up card. Deal one face-down card and five face-up cards in the second column. Deal the remaining columns, adding an additional face-down card to each column until the seventh row has five face-down cards and five face-up cards.
2. Move cards between columns in descending order, alternating colors (e.g., a red five on a black six).
3. You can move any group of face-up cards as long as the card that begins the group is placed on a card that is one rank higher and alternates in color.
4. Flip exposed face-down cards.
5. Move aces to the foundation piles and build by suit, ace to king.
6. Continue playing until all cards are placed on the foundations.

11. Easthaven

Easthaven is enjoyed by those who love Klondike Solitaire but are looking for a challenge. It is a cross between Spider Solitaire and Klondike. If you’re looking to up your game, Easthaven is a fun choice. The goal is to arrange all the cards into four foundation piles, by suits, and ascending in order from ace to king.

How to Play Easthaven

1. Arrange a pile of three cards into seven tableau columns with only the top card face up. The rest become your stockpile.
2. Move cards to the foundation piles in ascending order by suit (ace to king).
3. Build tableau columns in descending order, alternating colors.
4. Move sequences of cards that follow the color and rank rule (descending order, alternating colors).
5. Fill empty columns with any card or sequence.
6. Deal a new card to the bottom of each column from the stockpile when no moves are available.
7. Continue until all cards are in the foundations.

12. Baker’s Dozen

While Baker’s Dozen is similar to FreeCell Solitaire, winning is more difficult as you must build the cards by suit. If you have already mastered FreeCell, this game will give you a new challenge. The goal of Baker’s Dozen is to move the cards to their foundation piles by suit in order from ace to king.

How to Play

1. Deal eight columns with seven cards in the first four columns and six cards in the last four, all face up.
2. Move aces to the foundation piles and build by suit, ace to king.
3. Build sequences in the tableau in descending order by suit.
4. Use the free cells to hold cards one at a time temporarily.
5. The game ends when all cards are moved to the foundations.

13. Canfield

Canfield, also known as Demon Solitaire, is a great game to pass the time. Easy to set up but more difficult to win, this Solitaire version gives you a solid choice for building strategy skills. The goal of Canfield is to move all of the cards to their foundation piles, arranged by suit and in ascending order from the base card assigned at the deal.

How to Play Canfield Solitaire

1. With a standard 52-card deck, deal a reserve pile of thirteen cards facedown to the left of the tableau with the last card turned face up.
2. Deal one card face up into the first foundation pile. This is your base card, meaning each foundation pile must begin with this rank. For example, if the base card is a three of hearts, all your foundations will begin with a three.
3. Place one card each face up into four columns for the tableau, and the rest of the cards are your stockpile placed above the reserve.
4. Build the tableau in descending order, alternating colors, like Solitaire Turn 1.
5. Draw three cards at a time from the stockpile, with only the top card being playable. If you play that card, you can access the next one.
Place cards into the foundations in ascending order and wrap ranks. When you reach the king, you can then play an ace, two, and so on.
6. To win, arrange all cards into their foundation piles in ascending order by suit.

14. Simple Simon

Simple Simon is a Solitaire card game that gives you the advantage of seeing all 52 cards from the deck at once on the tableau. But this game requires strategy to make the right choices and allow yourself continued moves throughout the game. With a 25% chance of winning, only the most experienced players dare try their hand.

The goal of Simple Simon is to complete four foundation piles by suit in descending order, from king to ace.

How to Play Simple Simon

1. Set up the entire 52-card deck face up on the tableau in ten columns. The first three columns have eight cards, and the following columns have one less card than the previous column. The fourth column has seven cards, the fifth six, and so on.
2. Though you can move the top card of any column to another card as long as it descends in order, regardless of suit, you can only move sequences in order by suit. All cards not in descending order and suit will move one by one.
3. Any single card or an entire descending same-suit sequence can be moved to an empty column.
4. Once you have built a complete sequence from king to ace of the same suit, it is removed from the tableau.
5. Your tableau is cleared once you have created complete sequences of all suits, and you win.

15. Scorpion Solitaire

Some say that Scorpion Solitaire is a game of luck. Though it is played much like Yukon Solitaire, it takes a lot of work to beat. This fun game has earned its place as the most difficult solo card game on the list.

The goal of Scorpion Solitaire is to build all four ordered suits from king to ace on the tableau.

How to Play Scorpion Solitaire

1. Deal a standard deck into seven piles of seven columns. The first three cards of the first four columns are dealt facedown, the rest of the cards are face up. The remaining three cards go facedown as your stockpile.
2. Move cards between columns in descending order of the same suit (for example, six of hearts on seven of hearts). Your stockpile is small, so you want to save this as a last resort.
3. You can move a card even if the cards on top of it aren’t sequenced as long as the card that begins the group is placed on a card that is one rank higher and of the same suit.
4. When you uncover a hidden card, flip it over.
5. Only kings can fill empty spaces.
6. Build sequences of all four suits descending from king to ace to win.

Ready to Play?

Ready to try your hand at these single-deck games? Take the guesswork out of setup and play any of these solo card games online at Solitaire Bliss. You can sign up for free with your email to track your statistics and compete with others playing card games online.