When most cards are exposed in a Klondike game, the solitaire endgame begins. At this point, the question is not whether you can win, but how to finish efficiently. A Klondike game is won when all 52 cards are on the four suit piles, each built Ace to King by suit. The 21 cards dealt face down at the start are the main obstacle; once all are turned, the game is almost always winnable. This guide covers the order of suit pile plays, freeing the last hidden card, using the remaining stock, and when auto-complete triggers. Existing articles focus on the opening and middle game, but here you get the specific steps to close out a nearly won game.
Order of Foundation Plays
Building Suit Piles Evenly
Once most columns are face up, the order in which you add cards to the suit piles can determine whether you get stuck. A common mistake is to rush cards onto the suit piles, only to find you lack a landing spot for a needed move. Building suit piles evenly (keeping suits within about two ranks of each other) keeps landing spots available in the columns.
- Prioritize moving cards that free a hidden card or open a column.
- Delay adding a card to a suit pile if you might need it as a landing spot for a longer sequence.
- If one suit is far ahead (e.g., Queen while others are on 5), hold back high cards to keep column space open.
Reusing Suit Pile Cards
In many versions of Klondike, a card can be moved back from a suit pile if you need it as a landing spot. Use this sparingly: only when that card is the key to freeing a stuck card or opening a column.
Freeing the Last Face-Down Card
The 21 cards dealt face down at the start are the main obstacle. Once all are turned, the game is almost always winnable. So your primary goal in the endgame is to turn every hidden card. Here is the procedure:
Step 1: Identify the Column with the Most Hidden Cards
Work from left to right. Each column can hold a descending sequence of alternating colors. Only a King may fill an empty column, so if a column is empty, you can only place a King there.
Step 2: Move Cards Off a Column Until the Last Hidden Card Is Exposed
To turn a hidden card, you must move all cards above it to other columns or suit piles. Look for any card that can be moved to a suit pile, or to a longer sequence in another column.
Step 3: Use Empty Columns Wisely
If you have multiple empty columns, you can temporarily park Kings there to free up space. But remember: only a King may fill an empty column, so don't waste an empty column on a non-King unless you are sure you can move it out later.
Using the Remaining Stock
Working Through the Stock
When the columns are nearly cleared, the stock becomes your only source of new cards. The stock is dealt one card at a time (or three at a time, depending on the version) to a waste pile. The top card of the waste is available to play.
- Cycle through the stock completely at least once before giving up on a card. A card you need might be buried in the waste.
- If you can move a card from the waste to a suit pile, do it immediately if it does not block a needed move.
- If the waste pile is nearly full and you have not seen a needed card, redeal the stock (if the version allows it).
When Auto-Complete Becomes Available
Once the stock and waste are empty or fully playable, and every column card is face up, the game may trigger auto-complete in many apps. Auto-complete automatically moves all remaining cards to the suit piles, winning the game for you.
When Auto-Complete Triggers
Many apps offer auto-complete once every column card is face up and the stock and waste are empty or fully playable. This means you do not need to manually drag each card to the suit pile; the software will finish the game.
How to Trigger Auto-Complete
- Turn all hidden cards in the columns.
- Use the stock completely so that no cards remain in the stock or waste (or all remaining cards are playable to suit piles).
- Ensure all column cards are face up and in sequences that can be moved to suit piles.
If auto-complete does not trigger, check for a hidden card you missed, or a card in the waste that can still be played. Once conditions are met, the game should finish automatically.
Common Endgame Traps
Even when you are close to winning, certain patterns can stall the game. Here are the most common ones and how to handle them:
Stuck Last Hidden Card
If one hidden card remains and you cannot reach it, look for a card that can be moved back from a suit pile. In many versions, a card can be moved back from a suit pile if you need it as a landing spot. This can give you the extra space to free that last card.
No King for an Empty Column
Only a King may fill an empty column. If you have an empty column and no King is available, you are stuck. To avoid this, never empty a column unless you have a King ready to place there, or you are sure you can use the empty column to free a hidden card immediately.
Uneven Suit Piles
Building suit piles evenly (keeping suits within about two ranks of each other) keeps landing spots available in the columns. If one suit is far ahead, you may find no place to build down from a high card. In that case, move a card back from that suit pile to create a landing spot.
Final Moves to Victory
Once all hidden cards are turned and the stock is exhausted, the endgame becomes a simple process of moving cards to suit piles. Work from the highest ranks down. For example, move all Kings to suit piles first, then Queens, and so on. If you have multiple cards of the same rank, move them in any order.
If you are playing on dragon-solitaire.com, the game follows standard Klondike rules with a dragon twist. The endgame strategy described here applies directly. Use the same principles: keep suit piles balanced, reuse cards from suit piles when needed, and watch for auto-complete conditions.