How do our three levels compare?
Easy is the clearest starting point when learning which cards can move. Medium changes access to stock cards by dealing in packets of three. Hard keeps draw three and adds a limited number of stock passes.
| Level | Cards per draw | Total stock passes |
|---|---|---|
| Easy | 1 | Unlimited |
| Medium | Up to 3 | Unlimited |
| Hard | Up to 3 | 3: initial pass + 2 redeals |
Why can you see a card but not play it?
Imagine a packet dealt into the waste in this order: ace of spades, 5 of hearts, then 9 of clubs on top. The exposed 9 is the available card. The ace does not become playable merely because its corner is visible in the fan.
If the tableau has a red 10, the black 9 can move onto it. That exposes the red 5, which could move onto an available black 6. Only after removing both covering cards can you use the ace on its foundation. If the 9 cannot move, you cannot reach underneath it to take the ace.
This is a teaching packet, not a promise about the cards in your next deal. Its point is the order of access, rather than a fixed sequence you should copy regardless of your tableau.
What is a pass, and what is a redeal?
A pass is one trip through the stock. When the stock is empty, a redeal turns the remaining waste back into stock. Hard allows two such redeals after the first trip, giving three passes total. It does not mean three redeals plus an initial pass.
Removing a waste card changes which cards remain for a later pass. Pay attention to the exposed card after each move and each new draw instead of assuming a covered card is available immediately.
How should your decisions change?
- Check exposed cards before drawing. Look for a foundation move or a useful tableau placement. Drawing another packet can cover a card you could use now.
- Uncover hidden tableau cards. A legal move that releases a face-down card often gives you more information than moving an entire face-up run back and forth.
- Have a use for empty columns. Only a king or a king-led run can fill them. Do not assume any card can be parked in a new space.
- Track the pass limit on Hard. Before recycling the waste, check whether a useful exposed move remains. A limited pass is a resource rather than a free way to reset every decision.
Which mode should you choose?
Choose Easy to learn the layout and legal moves with direct access to each stock card. Choose Medium when you want to think about packet order without also worrying about a pass limit. Try Hard when you understand those two ideas and want to manage them together.
The app selects deals from solver-checked lists, but careless choices can still leave your current position stuck. A hint or undo can help you examine a decision; neither changes the basic draw rule.
For a complete explanation of columns, empty spaces and foundations, read our Solitaire rules. Then open the game below and choose the mode in its lobby.
Questions
- Can I choose any of the three visible waste cards? No. Only the exposed top card is playable. Removing it may expose another card from the same packet.
- Does draw three always mean limited passes? No. Our Medium mode has draw three with unlimited passes. Hard has draw three and three total passes.
- Do tableau rules change on draw three? No. Columns still descend in alternating colours, foundations ascend by suit, and only kings start empty columns.
