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Classic Solitaire, also known as “Patience” in Britain, is a timeless card game meant to be played alone. In America at least, kids without internet could spend hours playing the desktop version that came programed into their Windows computers.
Solitaire was always a way to kill time, like at work when you’re waiting for something to do. Nowadays it is a bit of a throwaway game in this era of smartphones and video game consoles. This doesn’t stop people from seeking it out to play.
Now, with the internet as far reaching as it is, more than just the original Solitaire is available. There are a plethora of variations to play online. Make sure you have time to spare; it can be quite a bit more engrossing than you remember.
Double Klondike or “Double Solitaire” is normal Klondike Solitaire times two. It is as basic as it sounds; just add on another full deck of cards to your game, and carry on as you normally would. It can add a good length of time to your usually succinct game.
Double Klondike is just like solitaire. The difference is that there are two decks of cards to help elongate the game. Let’s go off the assumption that you already know how to play classic solitaire; the general rules are the same.
The player must organize their cards by suit sequence
The Goal Of The Game: Get all the cards to the foundation to win.
The foundation will be set into eight piles instead of solitaires usual four. You must start with the Ace of a specific suit and then count upwards to end with the King on top of the stack.
For example, if you had the Ace of Spades you would need the 2 of Spades, then the 3 of Spades, then so on and so forth until you complete with the King of Spades on top. In Double Klondike there would need to be eight piles stacked in such a manner.
When you’ve placed a card on the foundation then it is permanently stuck there. There’s no moving it around back onto the tableau to help you organize. Usually, that’s just fine and doesn’t overcomplicate anything. Ultimately, you want to be able to say you have the most cards stacked on the foundation.
The problem is, you don’t want to end up stock with all the remaining cards in your stock to be unplayable. That’s why it’s important to look at all your available cards each time you have a move to make.
The Tableau: Where much of the game is played sorting the cards by suit and sequence.
The tableau is laid out in preparation for nine unequal stacks. It layered fairly simply. The first pile is just one single card facing up. The second pile is made up of two cards, the second facing up. The third pile is made up of three cards, the third facing up.
This follows for the whole line of nine, until there are nine in the final stack with the last card facing up.
Once the tableau is set up, the stock sectioned off, and the player ready, you begin.
There isn’t a need to rush. One of the best parts about solitaire is that you can take your own pace as you start out. If you wanted to add a bit more suspense to the game then you could, just like chess, add a timer.
A timer would definitely increase the stakes and push you to make your decisions faster. Especially without another player to be up against this can make the game more challenging and fun to play. Of course, this opens up more room for possible mistakes. Leave the timer off until you feel more confident with your Double Klondike strategies.
Stock to the left; tableau directly in front of you; foundation between you and the opposite player.
Once everything is set up you may begin your game of Double Klondike. Pull three cards from the stock to the left, keeping them face down in the same order. Once there are three in your hand flip them around and put them in the waste, where you’ll be able to see them lightly fanned. These cards, along with the ones face up in your tableau, will be the available cards to choose from.
Scan quickly to see if there are any Aces that catch your eye. As soon as all the Aces are up locked in on the foundation the faster the game can go. This is because there will be more opportunities to continue to square your cards in order of suit and sequence, which is how you finish the game.
Don’t get caught up in all the Ace magic though. Take your time, especially if this is your first game, to focus on all the available cards that are face up. After checking your tableau and reserve, move on.
You want to start squaring your cards up by numerical order in alternating colors. This means that ultimately, each pile in the tableau should start with a red King, then a black Queen, then a red 10 and so on until you get down to the lowly number 2. In this case, they don’t need to be stacked by suit. That trouble is for the foundation.
Once a few Aces have been placed in the foundation and you have organized your tableau as best as you can for now, check if you have any 2 cards available in the suit of Aces that you have in the foundation. If you do, stack them on top of the corresponding Ace in the foundation. Perfect. If there are no longer any cards to move or match up, return any remaining cards in the waste to the bottom of the stock and draw three more.
Once three cards are placed in the reserve, you may only use them in the order they are fanned. So the card whose full face you can see must be used first and the third one must be used last. This can be frustrating if you see a card you need, but the first one available is useless to you.
This is why going slow at first can be more helpful. If you try to move too quickly you could lose a card in the shuffle, or miss a chance to move one card so you can take another.
Start moving the cards in your tableau and matching them by alternation color and numerical sequence. Once you clear out one of the nine stacks you have space for a King card. This is important because you can only move cards onto the next matching card in the sequence. The King starts it all out.
Then, you have more room to maneuver your cards. The more cards facing up and out of your stock, the better chance you have of finding the next number in the suit for your foundation.
One of the more irritating aspects of this game is that you can get stuck. If there are no open spots on your tableau and nothing you draw matches your foundation, you can be at an impasse. This means there’s no way forward.
Depending on the type of person you are, you’ll be allowed to undo a move or two. This is helpful so that you can complete a game instead of staring at your cards in dismay. The spirit of this challenge is of course honesty, and some might claim you gave up any chances of winning by not paying enough attention overall.
You want to be able to keep playing. If you stop being able to play mid game you won’t be able to finish the game and the cards have won.
Continue onward until you run out of cards. Then you’ve won the game.
The best strategy for Double Klondike is fairly easy to guess: Don’t Lose.
In all seriousness though, when you’re playing a game like this, your best friend is taking it slow.
You need time to examine every face up card that is available and match every single one of them up. If you miss one, you miss the chance to use it to your advantage. Say you have two 4 of Spades. One is black and loose and one is red and fanned downwards.
You notice the red card that is fanned downwards first and move to place it on the foundation where you have an available spot. This means you’ve lost a chance to take the black card that is alone, and then use that space to put a new King for a whole new fan of cards to organize. You cannot place the lone black card into the space you just vacated because they need to be organized by alternating colors.
Often there are terms which are well known to the average card player. It is important to know the right terminology so that you can play the game properly and be informed enough to know what you’re talking about.
Basic card terms:
Available Cards: Cards that have no restrictions and can be played.
Base Card: The first card that can be placed down to start playing; like the Aces in the foundation.
Marriage: Placing a card in the same suit on the next number, lower or higher.
Released Cards: When you use a topmost card and the one beneath becomes accessible.
Suitable Cards: Cards that fit into the game and can be played from the position that you’re in.
Some basic solitaire terms:
Fanned: The cards are spread out in a fan like shape, overlapping over one another. The card suits and numbers can still be seen.
Foundation: The topmost row in front of you. It’s where you start squaring up your cards from Ace onwards.
Reserve: The cards pulled from the stock available to play.
Squared: The cards are stacked in a way that the edges are aligned with one another.
Stock: The pile of cards from which you draw your next card.
Tableau: The row of cards in front of you from which you start your game. Some are face up, some are face down, and you sort them.
Waste: The pile of cards where the stock goes after you’ve drawn your cards into play.
Instructions for building are pretty straight-forward. Here are a few examples:
By Suit: Cards have to be placed on their same suit.
By Suit Sequence: Cards have to be placed on their same suit in order of numbers.
By Color: Cards have to be placed on like colors.
By Alternating Colors: Cards have to be placed back and forth on alternating colors.
There is one other variation called Gargantua. The difference between them is that cards pulled from the stock can only be done so one at a time.
Do I have to know how to play solitaire to play Double Klondike?
Yes, you have to know how to play solitaire. That’s because Double Klondike is just a variation of the original classic, just expanded upon. Of course, if you have no idea how to play solitaire you can try and learn through Double Klondike. It’s just easier to start with a smaller amount of cards to play with.
Can I use any card I draw from the stock?
Yes, but you have to use them in the order in which they’re laying. You can’t use the third card before the first.
Can I move a King to the top of a fan?
No, you would have to move the downward fan to the King, and it would have to be a full stack up to the Queen. If you have other cards to move though you can add them in descending order, then move a stack to it.
Are Jokers used in Double Klondike?
No, Jokers are not used in Double Klondike so that there are 104 cards in play.