Is Every Game of Solitaire Winnable?

Solitaires Team

Solitaire, the beloved single-player card game, has won the affection of millions worldwide. According to Microsoft data, Solitaires are still played by 35 million people monthly in 65 languages. What percentage of these games were won? Is it possible to develop a perfect strategy that will win Solitaire games 100% of the time? Come along and we will find it out now.

Solitaire: Odds of Winning

Your odds of winning Solitaire vary greatly depending on the type of game you choose. However, let's take a look at the average values of winning games for the most popular Solitaire versions.

Average Solitaire Win Rates

Game Winning Odds
FreeCell 99%
Klondike Solitaire 80%
Spider Solitaire 29%
Scorpion Solitaire 10%

FreeCell

This is one of the most frequently won games among all Solitaire games. This is a game where every deal is theoretically winnable. Its distinctive trait is that all cards are visible from the start of the game, enabling players to make well-informed choices and devise effective strategies. The win rate in this game is up to 99%. If you don't want to rely on luck, but only on your strength, choose FreeCell

Klondike Solitaire

Klondike, perhaps the most well-known version of Solitaire, is the default game found on most computers. In Klondike, players aim to build four foundation piles in ascending order, starting with aces. Despite its widespread popularity, not every game of Klondike is winnable. According to theoretical calculations, about 20% of games are unwinnable. Thus, 80% of games can be won. But in practice, the outcome depends on factors like the initial card layout and the player's strategic choices.

Spider Solitaire

Spider Solitaire comes in three versions with varying degrees of difficulty: one suit, two suits, and four suits. Regardless of the version, the goal is to organize cards of the same suit in descending order on the tableau. While the one-suit version is often winnable, the two and four-suit variations present significantly greater challenges.

Now let's take a look at the actual number of wins in Spider Solitaire games, one of our favorite versions of Solitaire, played on solitaires.com.

Spider Solitaire Win Rates

Game Winning Odds
Spider Solitaire 1 Suit 55%
Spider Solitaire 2 Suits 25%
Spider Solitaire 4 Suits 7%

Сhoose any of these variants depending on your desired difficulty level and test your strategic thinking skills!

Scorpion Solitaire

Considered the most complex and challenging type of Solitaire. Similar to Spider Solitaire, Scorpion Solitaire also comes in three versions, each varying in difficulty. In Scorpion, the tableau is built in descending sequences by suits. The two and particularly four-suit versions pose great obstacles, testing the player's strategic thinking and adaptability. "The Complete Book of Solitaire and Patience Games" by Morehead and Mott-Smith states that the probability of winning Scorpion is 1 in 10.

Skill and Strategy: The Dual Factors 

It should be noted that winning a game is not the same as the odds of winning. 

A game may have a solution, yet it might elude the player. The intriguing challenge of Solitaire lies in the interplay between these two probabilities. When a Solitaire game boasts a high potential for winning but low actual win rates, it often reflects the player's skill level and their capability to identify and execute the optimal strategy for victory. Therefore, nothing but your individual training can help you achieve the highest winning percentage even in the most difficult games.


Solitaires Team

Solitaires Team

"Our mission is to create a Solitaire platform that's not only convenient and enjoyable but also free and accessible globally. We are dedicated to ensuring that our platform provides an engaging experience that transcends borders and languages."