Solitaires Team • Updated February 27, 2024
Solitaire is a popular single-player card game that has been enjoyed by millions of people for generations. The objective of the game is to move all the cards from the tableau to the foundation piles in a specific order. Despite its simple rules and gameplay, the game has different variations, each with its own unique set of rules and difficulties. In this article, we'll learn more about this popular card game and take a look at what is the least amount of moves possible to win Solitaire.
The fewest number of moves required to win Solitaire depends on the variation of the game being played and the order of the cards dealt. And, of course, on the skill of the player.
So, what is the least amount of moves in Solitaire?
In an ideal scenario, where the cards are perfectly arranged to allow for the most efficient play, it has been speculated that a game could be won in as few as 52 moves.
This assumes that each moved card is sent directly to a foundation pile without any moves within the tableau. However, the probability of getting a deal in Solitaire that can be won in the absolute minimum number of moves is exceedingly low and equals 1.24[×]10-68! This indicates that such a deal is extremely rare, to the point of being practically impossible in any given game of Solitaire.
In reality, due to the need to uncover and rearrange cards within the tableau and possibly move cards to and from the waste pile, the number of moves required to win a game typically is much higher than this theoretical minimum.
A more common range for efficient Solitaire games is between 70 to 120 moves, but this can vary widely based on the specific game and the luck of the draw.
The average number of moves required to win a game of Solitaire can vary significantly due to the randomness of the card shuffling and the strategy employed by the player. Unlike the minimum number of moves, which is a more theoretical calculation, the average number of moves considers the practical aspects of playing the game, including moving cards within the tableau, turning over cards from the stock, and moving cards to the foundation piles. However, players and researchers in the field of game theory and computational simulations have made some estimates.
Thus, for experienced players, the average number of moves for a successful game can be between 100 and 140 moves.
We have analyzed over 33,000 games of Solitaire that have been played on Solitaires platform and found that the average number of moves a player makes to win is 243. This is the average number of moves required to win a game for casual players.
The chances of winning Solitaire also depend on the variation of the game. Some variations of Solitaire are more difficult to win than others.
For example, the variation known as Klondike Solitaire Turn One, which is the most well-known and commonly played version of the game, has a winnable percentage of around 40%. Other variations, such as Spider Solitaire, can have even lower winnable percentages.
The chances of winning Solitaire can be increased by using the aforementioned strategies, such as focusing on moving cards quickly and evenly distributing the cards in the tableau columns. However, the outcome of the game largely depends on luck and the order of the cards dealt.
Solitaire is a classic card game that has stood the test of time and continues to be enjoyed by millions of people worldwide. While the least amount of moves to win Solitaire can be determined using mathematical algorithms, the actual number of moves can vary greatly and largely depends on luck. However, the game offers endless hours of entertainment and challenge. With so many different variations to choose from, there’s a Solitaire game for everyone to play on Solitaires.
