When you play Klondike and see two moves that each would flip a hidden card, you need to decide which column to uncover first. The answer depends on the deal's hidden-card counts. The rightmost column hides 6 cards, the most of any column, so it is the one to target first. Here is a method for making that choice every time.
The Deal's Hidden Card Setup
Klondike deals 7 columns with 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 hidden cards from left to right. That is 21 hidden cards in total, plus 7 face-up cards. The stock holds 24 cards, which are never hidden permanently, so tableau hidden cards deserve priority. Knowing exactly how many cards are concealed in each column lets you compare moves by the number of hidden cards they would reveal.
Why Column Choice Matters
Uncovering a card is not the same as winning, but it reduces the number of solitaire face down cards you have to deal with. Each hidden card you flip gives you a new face-up card that can be moved to a foundation or used to build a run. The more hidden cards you turn over early, the more options you have. The question is which column to work on when two moves each would flip a card. The answer comes from comparing the hidden-card counts of the two columns.
Prioritize Columns with More Hidden Cards
Count the Hidden Cards
The rightmost column hides 6 cards, the most of any column. That makes it the strongest candidate when you have a choice. A column with 5 hidden cards is the next best, then 4, and so on. The leftmost column has 0 hidden cards, so it never needs uncovering.
A Simple Rule
- Choose the move that flips a card in the column with the higher number of hidden cards remaining.
- If two columns have the same number of hidden cards, pick the one farther to the right (it has more cards underneath that are still concealed).
- If a move would empty a column entirely, consider whether a King is available to fill it. Only a King (or a King-led run) may fill an empty column.
When an Empty Column Appears
Emptying the leftmost column only matters if a King is available to fill it. If you have a King in the stock or in another column, moving it into the empty space can free up cards underneath. But if no King is available, the empty column gives no immediate benefit. In that case, focus on a column that still has hidden cards. A column with 6 hidden cards is a better target than an empty column that cannot be filled.
A Step by Step Decision Method
When you have two moves that each flip a hidden card, follow these steps:
- Count the number of hidden cards remaining in each of the two columns. Remember the deal's starting counts: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 from left to right.
- Subtract any cards you have already uncovered from that column.
- Choose the column with the larger remaining count. If the counts are equal, choose the column farther to the right.
- If one move would empty a column, check whether a King is available to fill it. If not, choose the other move.
- Make the move and repeat the comparison for the next choice.
Applying the Method with Examples
Example 1: Column 6 vs. Column 4
Column 6 (the rightmost) started with 6 hidden cards, and you have uncovered 2 of them. It now has 4 hidden cards left. Column 4 started with 3 hidden cards, and you have uncovered 1. It now has 2 hidden cards left. Column 6 has the higher count, so work on column 6 first.
Example 2: Column 5 vs. Column 5
Column 5 started with 5 hidden cards, and you have uncovered 3. It now has 2 left. Column 5 in the next spot (the same starting count) also has 2 left. The counts are equal, so pick the column farther to the right. That means the one physically closer to the right edge of the tableau.
Example 3: Empty Column vs. Column With Cards
You have a move that would empty column 2 (which started with 1 hidden card) and a move that flips a card in column 6 (which still has 4 hidden cards). If no King is available to fill column 2, choose column 6. If a King is available, you might empty column 2 and place the King, but only if that helps you reach more hidden cards later.
Tying the Method to Klondike Hidden Cards Strategy
A good klondike hidden cards strategy is to uncover cards as fast as possible. This method gives you a specific way to do that by comparing hidden-card counts. The stock holds 24 cards, but those are never hidden permanently, so tableau hidden cards deserve priority. By always choosing the column with more hidden cards, you reduce the total number of concealed cards in the tableau faster. That is the core of a sound klondike hidden cards strategy. Test this approach at dragon-solitaire.com, where the classic Klondike deal is available.