The existence of Solitaire card games dates back to the 19th-century. The game is played with a standard fifty-two deck of playing cards, and there’s no doubt that the inception of personal computers had a massive impact on introducing these games to the masses. These card games are also known as patience games because they used to be single-player games that kept people engaged for hours.
One of the biggest reasons for Solitaire becoming enormously popular is Microsoft. The simple version of Solitaire used to be a standard feature in Microsoft’s OS with Windows 3.0, which came out in 1990. During this time, desktop or personal computers had just started becoming a household and workplace staple. People were still getting around to using computers and learning how to move the mouse or type using the keyboard. The Solitaire card game was included in Windows 3.0 to guide new users in grasping and mastering the use of the mouse and its several features, such as dragging and dropping items.
In the later years, improved versions of Windows OS were introduced. However, even though users became well-versed with the mouse and keyboard, Microsoft included Solitaire variations in the package. Some of the later variations were FreeCell and Spider. This development helped revolutionize the global office culture, and Solitaire became the most used software program, even ahead of Excel and Word.
The popularity of Solitaire card games still hasn’t waned, and the game keeps evolving to cater to the requirements of modern gamers. Read along to find out some of the top Solitaire games that you can play online right away and keep your boredom at bay.
● Spider
Solitaire Spider takes the top spot among the different versions of Solitaire card games. Eight foundations must be built to win the game, similar to the eight legs of a spider.
Two standard 52-decks of playing cards are used in the game and based on the difficulty level, and the decks may contain one, two, or four suits. In addition, the game board features a discard pile, a stockpile, and a tableau. When all the cards are exposed and they’ve been arranged, they must be sent to the foundation pile.
The goal is to build stacks of thirteen cards in complete sequences, from Ace to King.
● Klondike
Klondike is the classic version of the card game and has been around since the 19th-century. The game originated in the Klondike region of Canada, and thus, the name.
The game features a tableau of seven columns, and the goal is to move all the cards into suit-specific foundation piles. The cards must be transferred to the foundations in ascending order.
● FreeCell
FreeCell resembles Klondike, but it is much more tactical and strategic than the latter. Playing FreeCell requires a lot of thought and concentration. Even then, FreeCell is known to have the highest solvable probabilities.
The game uses a single deck of playing cards, and they are dealt into seven piles. All the cards are dealt with in this version, and there is no stockpile. Also, all the cards are visible to the players as they face forward. Players have to build the foundations by suit, and they must be arranged in ascending order.
The primary difference between Klondike and FreeCell is the existence of four empty spaces on the tableau. Players can send cards to these empty cells and leave them there so that the cards under them can be freed and used.
Once you have placed a card in a free cell, you cannot exchange those cards but only call them to play to build a foundation sequence.
● Cube
Cube Solitaire is also played with a standard of 52-cards and four suits. It is a simple variant of Solitaire and is best for beginners. However, even experienced players enjoy playing this version of the game. The objective here is to form sets of similar suits in ascending order. Then, the sequences must be transferred to the foundation pile.
● Pyramid
Pyramid Solitaire is another popular game variant that gets its name from the single pyramid shape of the cards dealt on the tableau. Unfortunately, even though the rules and layout of the game are simple, the winning probability is the lowest out of all the Solitaire games.
Winning a game of Pyramid Solitaire depends on the strategic approach taken by the players and the position of the cards on the tableau. Unfortunately, the chances of winning are low because the game’s rules allow players to only go through the stockpile once.
The game is played with twenty-eight cards on the tableau. All of the cards face forwards while being in a pyramid shape. The cards that are not covered are the only ones that can be called into play. The objective is to deconstruct the pyramid and pair the cards whose total must be thirteen points, regardless of their suit.
Conclusion
All the different variants of the Solitaire card game can be played online, and generally, you can play them for free. You can download the game of your choice and play practice games for free. Once you are confident of your skills, you can move on to participating in tournaments and contests to win big rewards while enjoying the thrill of competing against real-time opponents.
