Yukon Solitaire

Yukon Solitaire is a single-deck card game that you can play for free in your browser, right on this page. The board above is ready to play, and you do not need an account to start. All 52 cards are dealt at the start, with no stock pile and no redeals, so every move comes from the cards on the table.

The game offers two rule sets. Yukon (alternating colours) lets you build down in alternating colours, and Russian (same suit) lets you build down in the same suit. Whichever you choose, the game tracks your moves and time, keeps your win stats, and works with a mouse, touch screen or keyboard. Unlimited undo, hints and shareable deal numbers come with both versions.

How to play yukon solitaire online

1. Choose a rule set with the Variant menu: “Yukon (alternating colours)” or “Russian (same suit)”. Changing the variant starts a new game.
2. Drag a face-up card, with every card on top of it, onto a column or the foundation row. Legal targets are outlined while you drag.
3. Or tap a card. It goes to its foundation first, then the first column it fits, then an empty column if it is a King. Tap the same card again to send it to the next legal place.
4. Move the cards on top of a face-down card. It turns face up automatically.
5. Leave Auto-move to foundations set to “On (safe moves)” to let safe cards go up after each move, or set it to “Off”.
6. Press Hint for a suggested move. The group and its destination are outlined for 5 seconds.
7. Press Undo to step back. You can undo all the way to the start of the deal.
8. When every card is face up and the foundations can take the rest, Auto-finish becomes available. Press it to send them all up.
9. Press New game for a fresh deal, or Restart this deal to play the same deal again.

Keys: N new game, U undo, H hint; click the board and press Enter or Space to steer a cursor with the arrow keys. The deal number and variant appear in the address bar, so a link like ?seed=123&variant=russian shares the deal.

Yukon solitaire rules

Yukon Solitaire uses one 52-card deck with no stock, no waste and no redeals. All the cards are dealt at the start. There are seven tableau columns. Column 1 has one face-up card. Columns 2 to 7 have 1 to 6 face-down cards, with 5 face-up cards on top. That makes 31 face-up cards and 21 face-down cards.

The goal is to build four foundations, one for each suit, from Ace up to King. You win when all four foundations hold 13 cards. Only a single top card of a column can go to a foundation. A face-down card turns face up automatically when the cards on it are moved away.

In the tableau, cards build down. In Yukon, a card goes on a card exactly one rank higher of the opposite colour. Only a King, with any cards on it, can be placed in an empty column.

What is the difference between yukon and russian solitaire?

Both versions use the same deal for the same seed, and the variant only changes which moves are legal. In Yukon, a card goes on a card one rank higher of the opposite colour. In Russian, it must be one rank higher of the same suit.

For example, in Yukon 6♠ can go on 7♥ because the colours are opposite. In Russian it cannot, because 6♠ needs to go on 7♠ and 6♥ needs to go on 7♥. Russian therefore usually has fewer legal moves, so the same deal can be harder to build in that variant.

Can you move a group of cards at once in yukon solitaire?

Yes. Any face-up card can be picked up together with every card on top of it. The cards in the group do not need to be in sequence. The whole group moves onto a column if its lowest card fits that column’s top card.

In one worked example, the group 9♣ with 2♥ and K♠ on it moves onto 10♥ as one move. The 5♠ underneath then turns face up. A group that already starts a column is never offered an empty column, because moving it there would change nothing.

Yukon solitaire strategy and tips

These tips follow from the rules.

• Look for moves that uncover face-down cards. You cannot pick up a face-down card, so moving the cards on top of it is the only way to reach it.
• Keep an empty column for a King. Only a King can fill an empty column, so an empty column is useful only when a King is ready to go into it.
• Think in groups. Moving a face-up card with everything on it may free the card underneath, so plan the whole stack at once.
• Remember that foundations are not final. You can drag the top card of a foundation back to a column, which helps when a card is blocking you.
• Use Undo to test a line. It is unlimited and restores the exact earlier position, including cards turned face up.
• Auto-move only sends cards it considers safe. Set it to Off if you want a card to stay in a column for a later move.
• Use Hint when you are stuck, but remember it suggests a move and does not solve the deal.

Can every yukon solitaire deal be won?

No. Some deals cannot be won. The game shows a “No more moves” dialog when no group can be moved anywhere. That dialog offers Undo, New game and Close. The game cannot tell you that a deal is unwinnable while moves remain, so you need to judge that yourself.

Frequently asked questions

Is yukon solitaire free, and do I need to sign up?

Yes, the game is free to play in your browser on this site. You do not need an account or sign-up. Your options and stats are saved in your own browser.

Can I play yukon solitaire on my phone?

Yes. The board fits 375 px and 320 px wide screens without sideways scrolling. You can drag cards with your finger, or tap a card to send it to its best place.

Is my game saved?

Yes, the game in progress is saved in your browser after every move. This includes the deal, the variant, your full undo history and the elapsed time. Reloading the page restores it. A finished game is not saved.

Does yukon solitaire keep score?

No. The game has no score or points and no time limit. It shows a moves counter and a timer, which starts at your first move and stops when you win. The best time for each variant is kept.

How do I share a specific deal?

Copy the link from the address bar. It includes the deal number and variant, for example ?seed=123&variant=russian. Anyone who opens that link starts the same deal.

What do “played” and “won” mean in the stats?

A deal counts as played once you make your first move, so a deal you only look at is not counted. A game counts as won when it is finished. Win % is won divided by played for that variant.

Is there a daily challenge or an online leaderboard?

No. The game has no daily challenge, no online leaderboard, no account and no sound.

More games

• Klondike Solitaire: the same seven-column layout, but with a stock and only ordered runs moving.
• Scorpion Solitaire: also moves any face-up card with everything on it, building down by suit.
• Canfield Solitaire: a 13-card reserve, a stock, and foundations that start at the rank of the first card dealt.
• FreeCell: every card face up from the start, with four free cells for parking cards.
• Spider Solitaire: build runs of one suit from King down to Ace across ten columns.
• Forty Thieves Solitaire: two decks, ten columns, built down by suit one card at a time.