Play Bakers Dozen Solitaire Free Online

Bakers Dozen Solitaire

Bakers Dozen Solitaire — free online card game screenshot

Baker's Dozen deals 52 cards into 13 columns of four, all face-up. Kings are automatically moved to the bottom of their columns during dealing — the game's signature rule. Build foundations from Ace to King regardless of suit on the tableau, moving only the top card of each column. Empty columns cannot be refilled. With complete information and no stock pile, it's a pure strategy game with roughly 70% winnability.

How to Play Bakers Dozen Solitaire

Layout

All 52 cards are dealt face-up into 13 columns of 4 cards each. Kings are automatically moved to the bottom of their columns during the deal. Four empty foundation piles sit at the top.

Objective

Move all cards to the four foundation piles, building each from Ace to King by suit.

Step-by-Step Instructions

  1. Only the top (bottom-most visible) card of each column is playable.
  2. Build foundations up by suit: Ace, 2, 3 … Queen, King.
  3. You can move the top card of any column onto another column's top card if it is one rank lower (regardless of suit). E.g. place a 5 on a 6.
  4. Kings start at the bottom of columns and can only be moved to foundations when the time comes.
  5. Empty columns CANNOT be filled — once a column is empty, it stays empty.
  6. There is no stock pile — all cards are visible from the start.
  7. Win when all four foundations are complete.

Guides & Strategy

Read our in-depth guides to master the rules and improve your win rate.

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Bakers Dozen Variations

Bakers Dozen Classicmedium

Play Baker's Dozen Classic - empty tableau columns cannot be refilled.

Bakers Dozen Easyeasy

Play Baker's Dozen Easy - allows refilling empty tableau columns.

Good Measure

Play Good Measure Solitaire online for free — a Baker's Dozen variant.

Portuguese

Play Portuguese Solitaire online for free — a Baker's Dozen variant.

Why Play Bakers Dozen Solitaire Online?

Baker's Dozen lays out 13 columns of 4 cards each, all face-up. Kings are automatically moved to the bottom of their columns, creating a unique constraint. With no stock pile and no empty-column moves allowed, you must plan every move carefully.

Game Features

  • All Cards Visible — Pure strategy with complete information
  • Kings at Bottom — Unique dealing rule prevents King blocking
  • 13 Columns — Wide layout for scanning all options at once
  • Unlimited Undo — Plan the perfect sequence of moves
  • Smart Hints — Identifies which cards to prioritize for foundations
  • No Download — Play instantly in your browser

Bakers Dozen Tips and Strategies

Since empty columns can't be refilled, avoid creating them unless doing so directly advances foundation building. The Kings-at-bottom rule means they won't block you — but they also can't be moved. Focus on building foundations evenly across all four suits. Track which suits have the most accessible low cards.

Bakers Dozen Solitaire Rules

Baker's Dozen Solitaire Rules: Deal all 52 cards face-up into 13 tableau columns - nine columns with 4 cards each and four columns with 5 cards. Before play starts, any Kings are automatically moved to the bottom of their respective columns. Gameplay: Build four foundation piles by suit from Ace to King. Build tableau columns down by rank only (suit doesn't matter). Only one card can be moved at a time - no sequences. Empty columns cannot be refilled. With all cards visible, plan your moves carefully. Strategy: Analyze the full layout before making your first move. Focus on exposing Aces and building foundations evenly. Empty columns are less useful in Baker's Dozen than other games, so use them strategically. Most deals are solvable with careful analysis, making wins very satisfying.

Scoring System

Baker's Dozen scores 10 points for each card placed on a foundation. With all cards face-up from the start, the game is purely strategic. A perfect game with all 52 cards on foundations scores 520 points.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

The key Baker's Dozen mistake is building tableau sequences without considering which foundation cards you need next. Since Kings start at the bottom, focus on freeing the cards above them rather than trying to move Kings around.

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about Bakers Dozen Solitaire.

Why do Kings move to the bottom in Baker's Dozen?

Kings automatically move to the bottom of their columns before play begins to reduce initial blocking. Since only Kings can start foundation piles and they can't be placed on other cards in the tableau, this rule ensures they don't block important cards.

Can you refill empty columns in Baker's Dozen?

No, empty columns cannot be refilled in Baker's Dozen. This makes empty columns less valuable than in other games. Focus on building foundations rather than creating empty columns.

History of Bakers Dozen Solitaire

Baker's Dozen takes its name from the tradition of bakers giving 13 items when a dozen is ordered. The game's 13 columns of 4 cards each mirror this concept. First documented in Victorian-era patience books, it stands out for its rule of moving Kings to the bottom of columns during dealing — a mechanic designed to prevent them from blocking play. With all cards face-up and no stock pile, it is a pure strategy game that has been a favourite in patience collections for over a century.

Cognitive Benefits of Bakers Dozen

Baker's Dozen exercises systematic analysis of open-information puzzles. With all 52 cards visible and no stock pile, success depends entirely on finding the optimal sequence of moves. This pure strategy environment builds methodical thinking and the ability to evaluate complex interdependencies.