Solitaire History: What the Evidence Actually Shows
Trace Solitaire from early patience references to printed rulebooks and Windows, and learn which familiar origin stories remain unproven.
The Solitaire blog
Explore Solitaire history, card-game names, scoring differences and practical ways to learn from your games. For move-by-move help, browse the guides; for probabilities and measured results, visit Research.
History, comparisons and learning
Patience, Solitaire and Klondike: What the Names Mean
Understand the overlapping names Patience, Solitaire and Klondike, then identify a game by its layout, stock and movement rules.
Why Windows Included Solitaire: Cards and Mouse Skills
Learn how Windows Solitaire made dragging cards approachable, what Microsoft says about its 1990 release, and what modern players can still notice.
Solitaire Scoring Explained: Points, Time and Vegas
Compare PlaySolitaire points, a time-and-moves score and Vegas-style accounting, with worked examples and the exact rules used here.
FreeCell vs Klondike: Rules and Decisions Compared
Compare FreeCell and Klondike using their layouts, hidden information, empty-column rules and a worked example of how spare space changes a move.
Replaying Solitaire Deals: A Practical Learning Routine
Use one recorded decision, a controlled replay and a fresh deal to learn from Solitaire mistakes without confusing remembered cards with first-try skill.