Solitaire isn’t just about finishing the game — it’s also about how well you play. In classic Klondike Solitaire, your final score is a reflection of how strategically and efficiently you played the game. The scoring system may differ slightly between versions of Solitaire, but most digital and physical formats of this card game follow a common scoring structure. Here’s how it works.
The scoring system rewards smart moves and penalizes inefficient ones. Here's how scores are typically calculated:
Action | Points |
Moving a card to the foundation | +10 |
Turning over a face-down card | +5 |
Moving a card from the waste to tableau | +5 |
Moving a card from foundation to tableau | -15 |
Cycling through the stockpile* | 0 |
* In some Solitaire versions, cycling through the stockpile may reduce your score by anywhere from 20 to 100 points — or not affect it at all, depending on the rules.
In some digital Solitaire games, scoring can also include:
In classic Klondike Solitaire, the highest possible score without any time-based bonuses is 745 points. This assumes a perfect game where every move is made as efficiently as possible.
However, many digital versions of Solitaire introduce time bonuses to encourage faster gameplay. As a result, it’s possible to achieve scores well into the thousands in certain timed game modes.
Here’s a simple breakdown of what different Solitaire scores usually mean.
A "good" score in Spider Solitaire is different and varies by difficulty level (1, 2, or 4 suits). Most versions start you off with 500 points, and you lose 1 point for every move, including undos. Completing a full suit sequence (King to Ace in the same suit) gives a big bonus:
Action | Points |
Completing an in-suit stack | +100 |
Each move or undo | -1 |
The fewer moves you make, the better your score. Strategic planning and minimizing actions is the key.
The theoretical maximum score — based on completing all stacks in the fewest moves — is 1256 points. But hitting that number is extremely rare and requires near-perfect play.
Spider Solitaire scores can vary, but general ranges help indicate a player’s level of skill and efficiency.
Improvement over time is more meaningful than perfection. Track your progress over time to measure success.