Patience: The Classic British Card Game

Quick Start Guide: Play Patience in 30 Seconds

Never played Patience before? No worries! Here's how to start playing straight away:

1. Understand the Goal: Move all 52 cards to the four foundation piles (top right), building each suit from Ace to King.
2. Learn Tableau Moves: In the seven tableau columns, stack cards in descending order with alternating colours—red on black, black on red (e.g., red 7 on black 8).
3. Draw from the Stock: Click the stock pile (top left) to reveal new cards. In Turn 1 mode, you draw one card; in Turn 3 mode, you draw three cards at a time.
4. Start with Aces: Always move Aces to the foundations immediately—they're the foundation of each pile and have no downside to moving early.
5. Expose Hidden Cards: Prioritise moves that flip face-down cards in the tableau, as revealing new cards gives you more options and opportunities.

That's it! Click the "Play Now" button above and you'll be playing Patience within seconds. The intuitive drag-and-drop interface makes it easy to move cards, and the unlimited undo button means you can experiment with different strategies without pressure. Perfect for learning the game at your own pace.

What is Patience? Britain's Favourite Card Game

Patience is a single-player card game played with a standard 52-card deck, where the objective is to build four foundation piles from Ace to King, organised by suit. The game has been a cornerstone of British gaming culture since the Victorian era, providing entertainment and mental stimulation for generations of players across the solitaire family.

The Name "Patience" Explained

The game earned its name from the careful, methodical approach required to win. Unlike games of pure luck, Patience demands patience (as the name suggests), strategic thinking, and the ability to plan several moves ahead. The term comes from French card games known as "réussites" or "patiences" that became fashionable in Britain during the 1800s.

Patience vs Solitaire vs Klondike

These three names refer to the same game, with regional preferences:

• Patience: Traditional British and Commonwealth term, used since the Victorian era
• Solitaire: American term for the family of single-player card games
• Klondike: North American name for this specific variant, from the 1890s Canadian gold rush

Whilst Americans might search for "Klondike Solitaire", British players recognise this as simply "Patience"—the game that's been played in British homes, pubs, and parlours for over a century. At TrySolitaire, we honour both traditions, making the game accessible regardless of what you call it.

A Proper British Card Game

Patience holds a special place in British culture. It's the game you might have learnt from your grandparents on a rainy Sunday afternoon, played during tea breaks at work, or enjoyed whilst commuting on the train. The game appeared in countless British card game books from the Victorian and Edwardian eras, cementing its status as a national pastime. Even today, Patience remains one of the most-played games in Britain, with thousands searching for "patience card game" every month.

How to Play Patience: Complete Rules

Patience is played with a standard 52-card deck containing four suits (Hearts, Diamonds, Clubs, Spades) with 13 ranks each (Ace through King). The game area consists of four distinct zones, each serving a specific purpose:

Game Layout and Card Areas

• Tableau (7 columns): The main playing area with seven columns of cards. The first column has 1 card, the second has 2 cards, continuing up to 7 cards in the seventh column. Only the top card in each column starts face-up, with all other cards face-down. This is where most of your strategic manoeuvring happens.
• Foundations (4 piles): Located in the top-right corner, these four empty spaces are where you build your winning piles. Each foundation represents one suit (Hearts, Diamonds, Clubs, Spades) and must be built sequentially from Ace to King.
• Stock Pile: The face-down deck in the top-left corner containing the remaining 24 cards not dealt to the tableau. Click this pile to draw new cards into the waste pile.
• Waste Pile: Located next to the stock pile, this is where drawn cards are placed face-up. The top card of the waste pile is always available for play.

Objective

The goal of Patience is to move all 52 cards to the four foundation piles, building each foundation from Ace to King in the same suit. You win when all four foundations are complete (Ace through King in Hearts, Diamonds, Clubs, and Spades). It's a brilliant feeling of accomplishment!

Legal Moves in Patience

Understanding what moves are allowed is crucial to mastering Patience. Here are the complete rules for moving cards:

Moving Cards to Foundations:

• Foundations must start with an Ace and build upward in the same suit: A → 2 → 3 → 4 → 5 → 6 → 7 → 8 → 9 → 10 → J → Q → K
• You can move cards to foundations from the tableau, waste pile, or even from other foundations (though this is rarely beneficial)
• Only one card can be moved to a foundation at a time—you cannot move sequences
• Example: If the Hearts foundation shows a 5♥, you can only place the 6♥ on it next

Foundation building in Patience: Each suit must progress from Ace to King in sequential order

Moving Cards in the Tableau:

• Cards must be placed in descending rank order (King, Queen, Jack, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2)
• Cards must alternate colours: red cards (Hearts, Diamonds) must be placed on black cards (Clubs, Spades), and vice versa
• You can move single cards or entire sequences of cards that follow the alternating colour and descending rank pattern
• Example: A black 8 can be placed on a red 9, then a red 7 on that black 8, then a black 6 on the red 7—this entire sequence (8-7-6) can be moved together as a unit
• Only Kings (or sequences starting with Kings) can be placed on empty tableau columns
• When you move a face-up card and reveal a face-down card beneath it, the face-down card automatically flips face-up

Valid tableau moves in Patience: Red on black, black on red, always descending in rank

Drawing from the Stock Pile:

• Turn 1 Mode: Click the stock to draw one card at a time into the waste pile. The drawn card is immediately available for play.
• Turn 3 Mode: Click the stock to draw three cards at a time. Only the top card of the three is playable; you must use it before accessing the cards beneath.
• When the stock is empty, click the empty space to recycle the waste pile back into the stock and continue drawing
• TrySolitaire allows unlimited recycling in both modes, giving you maximum strategic flexibility

Winning and Losing

You win when all 52 cards have been successfully moved to the four foundations, with each foundation showing a complete sequence from Ace to King in one suit. Absolutely brilliant!

You lose when no legal moves remain and you cannot progress further towards victory. This happens when all tableau columns are blocked, the stock has been fully cycled, and no cards can be moved to foundations or between tableau columns. In TrySolitaire, you can use the unlimited undo feature to try different move sequences and avoid premature losses.

Turn 1 vs Turn 3 Patience: Which Should You Play?

Patience comes in two main variants that differ in difficulty based on how you draw cards from the stock pile. Understanding the difference helps you choose the right challenge for your skill level and mood.

Which variant should you choose? If you're new to Patience or want to maximise your win rate whilst learning advanced strategies, start with Turn 1. It's the perfect training ground for understanding optimal play patterns. Once you're consistently winning Turn 1 games, challenge yourself with Turn 3 for a true test of strategic foresight and adaptability. Many expert players enjoy both variants for different reasons: Turn 1 for satisfying strategic depth, and Turn 3 for its unforgiving challenge.

Both variants are available instantly at TrySolitaire—just select your preferred mode from the settings menu before starting a new game. No registration, no adverts, just straightforward Patience whenever you want it.

Visual comparison: Turn 1 draws one card (easier), Turn 3 draws three cards with only the top card playable (harder)

Patience Strategy Guide: Win More Games

Whilst Patience involves some luck in the initial deal, expert players can achieve win rates of 40-50% in Turn 1 mode by following proven strategies. Here are the essential strategic principles that separate casual players from Patience masters:

Advanced Strategic Concepts

Sequence Preservation: When you have a choice between breaking up a long alternating sequence or keeping it intact, preservation is often better. A sequence like K-Q-J-10-9-8-7 can be moved as a unit, giving you incredible flexibility. Breaking it apart means you'll need to rebuild it later, wasting valuable moves.

King Placement Timing: Since Kings can only go in empty columns, placing a King is a significant commitment. Wait until you've revealed several face-down cards and have a clearer picture of the game state before committing Kings to empty columns. A poorly placed King can block crucial moves later in the game.

Foundation Return Strategy: Advanced players sometimes move cards from foundations back to the tableau when a low-ranked card is needed to continue a sequence. For example, if you have a 4 in the foundation but need it to place a 3 on, moving it back can unlock the game. Use this technique sparingly and strategically.

Colour Distribution Awareness: Pay attention to whether you have roughly equal numbers of red and black cards available. If your tableau is all red cards, you can only make moves when black cards appear from the stock. Balanced colour distribution maintains flexibility and creates more opportunities.

By internalising these strategies and practising regularly, you'll see your Patience win rate climb steadily. Remember: every game is a learning opportunity, even the losses! The beauty of Patience is that it rewards thoughtful play whilst still offering the unpredictability that makes each game unique. Looking for different challenges? Try Spider Solitaire for a two-deck strategic challenge, or FreeCell where 99% of games are winnable with perfect play.

Patience Win Rates and Statistics

One of the fascinating aspects of Patience is how the game balances skill and luck. Understanding the statistics behind Patience helps set realistic expectations and appreciate the skill ceiling of this classic British game.

According to extensive computer simulations and mathematical analysis, approximately 79% of Patience Turn 1 deals have at least one winning solution. This means that in roughly 4 out of 5 games, the initial card distribution allows for victory if you make all the optimal moves. The remaining 21% of games are mathematically impossible to win regardless of strategy.

However, achieving a 79% win rate requires perfect play—knowing the optimal move at every decision point. In reality, even expert human players typically achieve win rates of:

• Beginner Players: 5-10% win rate (1 in 10-20 games)
• Intermediate Players: 15-20% win rate (1 in 5-7 games)
• Advanced Players: 25-35% win rate (1 in 3-4 games)
• Expert Players: 40-50% win rate (1 in 2-2.5 games)

The gap between the theoretical 79% and even expert players' ~50% win rate reveals Patience's hidden depth. Many games have only one or two winning paths amongst dozens of possible move sequences, making it challenging to find the optimal route without computer-level calculation. This is precisely why the game is called "Patience"—it requires careful thought and persistence!

Turn 3 Patience Statistics

Turn 3 Patience (drawing three cards at a time) is significantly more difficult:

Only about 30% of Turn 3 deals are solvable, and typical player win rates range from 1-5% for beginners to 10-15% for experts. The three-card draw mechanic dramatically reduces available options, making many cards temporarily inaccessible. This variant truly tests your patience and strategic foresight!

Game Duration Statistics

• Average Winning Game: 8-12 minutes (casual pace), 2-4 minutes (expert pace)
• World Record Speed: Under 30 seconds for extremely favourable deals with perfect execution
• Average Game (Including Losses): 5-8 minutes, as unwinnable games are often abandoned early
• Perfect for Tea Breaks: A game of Patience fits brilliantly into a 10-minute break at work or home

Move Statistics

• Minimum Moves to Win: Theoretically as few as 52 moves (one per card), but practically 80-150 moves
• Average Winning Game: 120-180 moves including stock draws and repositioning
• Stock Cycles: Winning games typically cycle through the stock 2-5 times in Turn 1, 3-8 times in Turn 3

Track Your Statistics with TrySolitaire

TrySolitaire automatically tracks your Patience statistics including:

• Games played and games won
• Current win streak and best win streak
• Best completion time
• Overall win rate percentage

Watching your win rate improve over time is one of the most satisfying aspects of playing Patience. As you internalise the strategies above, you'll see measurable progress in your statistics. It's brilliant motivation to keep practising and refining your technique!

History of Patience in Britain

Patience has been an integral part of British gaming culture for over 150 years, with roots stretching back to the Victorian era. The game's journey from French parlours to British homes tells a fascinating story of cultural adoption and enduring popularity.

Victorian Era Origins (1870s-1900s)

Patience games arrived in Britain during the Victorian period, imported from France where they were known as "réussites" (successes) or "patiences". The term "patience" was particularly apt for British sensibilities, emphasising the careful, methodical approach required to win. Early British card game books from the 1870s and 1880s documented dozens of patience variants, cementing the games' place in British culture.

The Victorian era's emphasis on self-improvement and mental discipline made patience games particularly fashionable. Unlike gambling card games, patience was seen as a respectable pastime suitable for all ages and classes. Ladies and gentlemen alike could enjoy a game of patience during quiet afternoon hours, making it a staple of British parlour entertainment.

British Playing Card Traditions

Britain has a rich tradition of playing card manufacturing, with companies like Waddingtons (founded 1896) and De La Rue producing distinctive British-suited cards. Whilst most patience games use the French-suited cards (hearts, diamonds, clubs, spades) familiar today, the British connection to card games runs deep. Playing cards became more affordable and widely available during the late Victorian period, contributing to patience's growing popularity across all social classes.

Literary and Cultural References

Patience appears in numerous works of British literature from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The game served as a metaphor for Victorian values: patience, persistence, and the belief that careful effort would eventually lead to success. British authors used patience scenes to depict characters in contemplation, passing time, or seeking solace during difficult moments.

The game became so embedded in British culture that "playing patience" became synonymous with methodical, solitary activity requiring concentration and care. This cultural association continues today, with patience remaining one of the most recognised and beloved British card games. Other British favourites include Canfield, which has casino origins, and Pyramid, a quick-playing matching game.

World War Era (1914-1945)

During both World Wars, patience games provided crucial entertainment and stress relief for British civilians and soldiers alike. The game's portability (requiring only a deck of cards) and single-player nature made it ideal for soldiers in trenches or civilians during air raids. Patience offered a mental escape and a sense of control during uncertain times.

Military personnel returning from the wars brought their patience skills home, further cementing the game's status as a British institution. Card game compendiums from this era often featured patience variants prominently, recognising the game's widespread popularity. Variants like Russian Solitaire and Scorpion also gained followings during this period.

Post-War Popularity (1950s-1980s)

The post-war decades saw patience remain a household staple across Britain. With television not yet universal and before the digital revolution, patience provided accessible entertainment requiring no special equipment beyond a standard deck of cards. British families typically owned at least one deck specifically for patience, often kept in a drawer ready for rainy afternoons or quiet evenings.

This era solidified patience as a multi-generational game, with grandparents teaching grandchildren the rules and strategies. The game became part of Britain's cultural heritage, passed down through families alongside other traditions.

Digital Revolution (1990s-Present)

The arrival of personal computers brought patience to new audiences. Microsoft's inclusion of "Solitaire" (the American term for patience/Klondike) in Windows introduced the game to millions worldwide, including many British users. However, older British players continued to refer to the game as "patience" despite Microsoft's American naming convention.

Today, patience enjoys renewed popularity through digital platforms like TrySolitaire, which combine traditional gameplay with modern conveniences: unlimited undo, statistics tracking, customisable card designs (including traditional British styles), and the ability to play on any device. The core game remains unchanged from Victorian times, but the experience has been enhanced for contemporary players. Modern players can also enjoy Golf Solitaire, TriPeaks, and even puzzle games like Sudoku and 2048 on the same platform.

Modern British Gaming Culture

In modern Britain, patience remains one of the most-played card games, with thousands of British players searching for "patience card game" every month. The game bridges generations, offering something familiar to older players who learnt with physical cards whilst attracting younger players through digital versions. Whether on a mobile during the morning commute, on a laptop during a work break, or with a traditional deck on a Sunday afternoon, patience continues its century-long tradition as Britain's favourite solitary card game.

The enduring popularity of patience speaks to the game's perfect balance of simplicity, strategy, and the very British quality of patient persistence. It's a game that rewards careful thought, doesn't rely solely on luck, and provides satisfying mental stimulation—qualities that have kept it beloved for over 150 years. Explore the broader history of solitaire games or discover Yukon, a challenging Patience variant with all cards visible from the start.

Patience vs American Solitaire: Same Game, Different Names

One of the most common questions British players ask is: "What's the difference between Patience and Solitaire?" The straightforward answer: they're exactly the same family of games, just with different regional names.

Terminology Comparison

Why Different Names?

British "Patience": Derived from French card games called "patiences" that became popular in Britain during the Victorian era. The name emphasises the careful, methodical approach required—you need patience to win!

American "Klondike": Named after the Klondike Gold Rush in Canada's Yukon Territory (1896-1899), where prospectors played this game during long winter months. Americans adopted "Klondike" as the specific name for this variant, whilst using "Solitaire" as the general term.

American "Solitaire": The general American term for all single-player card games, from French "solitaire" meaning "alone" or "solitary".

Same Rules, Same Game

Despite the different names, the rules are identical:

• Build foundations from Ace to King by suit
• Arrange tableau cards in descending order with alternating colours
• Draw from stock pile (Turn 1 or Turn 3)
• Win by completing all four foundation piles

Whether you call it Patience or Klondike, whether you spell it "colour" or "color", you're playing the same brilliant game that's entertained millions for over a century. At TrySolitaire, we respect both traditions and make the game accessible to players worldwide, regardless of what they call it.

If you'd like to read more about the North American perspective on this game, visit our Klondike Solitaire page which uses American terminology throughout. For more solitaire variants, explore Forty Thieves (two-deck challenge), Gaps (unique puzzle-style), or Accordion (extremely difficult). Looking for different types of games? Try Minesweeper for logic-based puzzles.

Frequently Asked Questions About Patience

More Solitaire Games to Explore

Love Patience? TrySolitaire offers 15 more free solitaire and puzzle games with no adverts and no sign-up required. Explore these popular alternatives:

Classic Solitaire Games

• Spider Solitaire - Strategic two-deck game with 1-suit, 2-suit, and 4-suit difficulty levels. Build King-to-Ace sequences to win.
• FreeCell - 99%+ of deals are winnable with perfect play! Use four free cells to strategically manoeuvre cards.
• Yukon Solitaire - A challenging Patience variant with no stock pile. All cards are dealt to the tableau from the start.
• Pyramid Solitaire - Match cards totalling 13 to clear the pyramid. Fast-paced and brilliant fun!
• TriPeaks Solitaire - Clear three peaks of cards in ascending or descending order. Quick games perfect for tea breaks.
• Golf Solitaire - Clear the tableau in as few moves as possible. Simple rules, surprising depth.

Advanced Solitaire Variants

• Russian Solitaire - Yukon's strategic cousin with unique building rules and high replay value.
• Scorpion Solitaire - Build tableau columns from King down to Ace. No foundations required!
• Canfield Solitaire - Originally played in casinos with strict rules. A proper challenge!
• Forty Thieves - Two decks, strict building rules. One of the hardest solitaire games.
• Gaps Solitaire - Arrange cards in ascending order using strategic gaps. Unique puzzle-like gameplay.
• Accordion Solitaire - Compact all cards into one pile. Extremely challenging with a very low win rate.

Puzzle Games

• Sudoku - Daily challenges and multiple difficulty levels. Classic number puzzle game beloved in Britain.
• 2048 - Combine numbered tiles to reach 2048. Includes relaxed and timed modes.
• Minesweeper - Classic logic puzzle game. Clear the board without hitting mines.

Popular Pages and Guides

• All Solitaire Games - Complete collection of 13 solitaire variants
• What is Solitaire? - Comprehensive guide to solitaire history and variants
• Klondike Solitaire - The same game as Patience, explained with American terminology
• Best Solitaire Games - Rankings and reviews of top solitaire variants
• Best Puzzle Games - Top-rated puzzle games for mental challenge
• Easiest Solitaire Games - Perfect for beginners and casual play
• How to Play Solitaire - Complete beginner's guide with rules and strategy
• Solitaire Strategy Guide - Advanced tips to improve your win rate
• Google Solitaire Alternative - Why TrySolitaire offers a better experience
• 247 Solitaire Alternative - Compare features and discover TrySolitaire's advantages
• Solitaire Bliss Alternative - Comprehensive feature comparison
• Solitaired Alternative - Find the best free solitaire experience

All games are completely free, work offline, and include unlimited undo, statistics tracking, and customisable themes. No adverts, no sign-ups, just brilliant gaming. Start playing now!

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