25 Best Card Games to Play by Yourself — Solo Card Games for One Person
Looking for card games to play by yourself? Whether you have five minutes or an hour, solo card games are one of the best ways to unwind, sharpen your mind, and pass the time. From the iconic Klondike that comes on every computer to brain-bending challenges like Forty Thieves, there is a single player card game for every mood and skill level.
This guide covers 25 of the best solo card games you can play with a standard deck — or right here online for free. We have organized them into five categories so you can jump straight to the type of game you are looking for.
Quick Comparison — 25 Card Games for One Person
Use this table to compare all 25 one person card games at a glance. Click any game name to play it instantly.
| Game | Difficulty | Time | Win Rate | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Klondike | Easy | 10–15 min | ~30% | Beginners, everyday play |
| Spider | Medium | 15–20 min | ~33% | Pattern recognition |
| FreeCell | Medium | 10–15 min | ~99% | Strategic thinkers |
| Pyramid | Easy | 5–10 min | ~2% | Quick mental math |
| TriPeaks | Easy | 5–10 min | ~90% | Casual relaxation |
| Yukon | Medium | 10–20 min | ~25% | Klondike fans wanting more |
| Forty Thieves | Hard | 20–30 min | ~10% | Expert challenge |
| Baker's Game | Hard | 15–20 min | ~75% | FreeCell graduates |
| Seahaven Towers | Medium | 10–15 min | ~89% | Methodical planners |
| Russian Solitaire | Hard | 15–20 min | ~15% | Experienced players |
| Golf | Easy | 5 min | ~35% | Speed rounds |
| Clock Solitaire | Easy | 3–5 min | ~1% | Pure luck, no decisions |
| Aces Up | Easy | 5–10 min | ~10% | Quick elimination fun |
| Monte Carlo | Easy | 5–10 min | ~25% | Visual pair matching |
| Carpet | Easy | 5–10 min | ~35% | Relaxed play |
| Scorpion | Hard | 15–20 min | ~10% | Spider fans wanting harder |
| Canfield | Hard | 10–15 min | ~15% | Experienced gamblers |
| La Belle Lucie | Hard | 10–15 min | ~15% | Patience and redeals |
| Calculation | Hard | 10–15 min | ~20% | Math-oriented players |
| Crescent | Hard | 20–30 min | ~20% | Double-deck epic sessions |
| Accordion | Medium | 5–10 min | ~2% | Compact, anywhere play |
| Black Hole | Medium | 5–10 min | ~85% | Satisfying chain combos |
| Osmosis | Medium | 10–15 min | ~15% | Something totally different |
| Grandfather's Clock | Medium | 10–15 min | ~70% | Unique visual theme |
| Wish Solitaire | Easy | 3–5 min | ~5% | Quick luck-based diversion |
Classic Solitaire Games
These are the most recognizable card games to play by yourself. If you have ever played solitaire on a computer, you have probably encountered at least one of these classics.
1. Klondike Solitaire
Difficulty: Easy | Time: 10–15 minutes | Win Rate: ~30%
Klondike is the world's most popular solo card game and the version most people picture when they hear "solitaire." Deal seven tableau columns of increasing size, flip cards from the stock, and build four foundation piles from Ace to King by suit. The mix of hidden cards and strategic choices makes every game feel fresh. If you have never played a card game by yourself before, start here.
2. Spider Solitaire
Difficulty: Medium | Time: 15–20 minutes | Win Rate: ~33% (1-suit)
Spider Solitaire uses two decks and ten tableau columns. Build descending sequences of the same suit to remove them from the board. The 1-suit version is great for beginners, while the 4-suit variant is one of the most challenging single player card games around. Spider rewards patience and long-range planning — perfect for anyone who finds Klondike too simple.
3. FreeCell
Difficulty: Medium | Time: 10–15 minutes | Win Rate: ~99%
FreeCell is the thinking person's solitaire. All 52 cards are dealt face-up, so there is zero luck — every game is a pure puzzle. Four free cells give you temporary storage to maneuver cards between eight tableau columns. Over 99% of deals are solvable, making it one of the fairest solo card games you can play alone.
4. Pyramid Solitaire
Difficulty: Easy | Time: 5–10 minutes | Win Rate: ~2%
Pyramid arranges 28 cards in a triangle. Remove pairs of exposed cards that add up to 13 — Kings are removed alone, Queens pair with Aces, and so on. Despite simple rules, the low win rate makes it addictive to chase a perfect clear. It is one of the fastest card games for 1 person, ideal for short breaks.
5. TriPeaks
Difficulty: Easy | Time: 5–10 minutes | Win Rate: ~90%
TriPeaks (also called Tri Towers) lays out three overlapping peaks of cards. Remove cards that are one rank higher or lower than the waste pile card to create long clearing streaks. The high win rate and combo-chasing gameplay make TriPeaks one of the most relaxing one person card games. Great for when you want to play alone without too much pressure.
Strategic Solitaire
If you want single player card games that reward deep thinking and forward planning, these five games deliver. Every move matters, and careless plays can lock you out of a win.
6. Yukon Solitaire
Difficulty: Medium | Time: 10–20 minutes | Win Rate: ~25%
Yukon looks like Klondike but plays very differently. There is no stock pile — all 52 cards are dealt to the tableau at the start. You can move any face-up card along with all cards on top of it, regardless of sequence. This creates powerful combo moves but also tricky dead ends. Yukon is perfect for Klondike players ready to graduate to a more strategic solo card game.
7. Forty Thieves
Difficulty: Hard | Time: 20–30 minutes | Win Rate: ~10%
Forty Thieves is the gold standard for difficult card games to play by yourself. Two decks, ten tableau columns with only the top card playable, and building by suit — the constraints are severe. Creating empty columns is the key to victory, and even then the win rate hovers around 10%. If you want a serious mental workout, this is it.
8. Baker's Game
Difficulty: Hard | Time: 15–20 minutes | Win Rate: ~75%
Baker's Game is the ancestor of FreeCell — same layout, same free cells, but tableau building must follow suit instead of alternating colors. This single rule change drops the win rate significantly and demands more precise planning. Mastering Baker's Game will make you a stronger FreeCell player too.
9. Seahaven Towers
Difficulty: Medium | Time: 10–15 minutes | Win Rate: ~89%
Seahaven Towers deals 50 cards into 10 columns (the remaining two start in the free cells). Like FreeCell, all cards are visible. Only Kings can fill empty columns, which limits your flexibility and forces creative sequencing. The high solvability rate means most losses come down to player error, not bad luck.
10. Russian Solitaire
Difficulty: Hard | Time: 15–20 minutes | Win Rate: ~15%
Russian Solitaire is a tougher version of Yukon where tableau building must be by suit rather than alternating colors. The restriction makes untangling columns extremely difficult and requires planning many moves ahead. If you find Yukon too forgiving, Russian Solitaire will put your skills to the test.
Quick & Easy Games
Short on time? These card games to play alone wrap up in under 10 minutes and have simple rules that anyone can learn in seconds. Perfect for coffee breaks or winding down before bed.
11. Golf Solitaire
Difficulty: Easy | Time: 5 minutes | Win Rate: ~35%
Golf Solitaire deals 35 cards across seven columns of five. Clear cards by playing them to a waste pile if they are one rank higher or lower than the top card — suit does not matter. The goal is to clear all tableau cards before the stock runs out. Quick rounds and satisfying streaks make Golf one of the best 1 person card games for a fast solo session.
12. Clock Solitaire
Difficulty: Easy | Time: 3–5 minutes | Win Rate: ~1%
Clock Solitaire (also called Clock Patience) arranges 12 piles in a clock face plus one pile in the center. Flip the top card, place it at the clock position matching its rank, and flip the new top card there. The game plays itself — there are zero decisions. You win if all cards are revealed before all four Kings land in the center. Pure luck, but oddly mesmerizing.
13. Aces Up
Difficulty: Easy | Time: 5–10 minutes | Win Rate: ~10%
Aces Up starts with four cards dealt to four columns. Discard any card whose suit is shared by a higher-ranked card on top of another column — Aces are high and the last cards standing. Deal four more cards and repeat until the stock is empty. The goal is to finish with only the four Aces remaining. Simple rules, tricky execution.
14. Monte Carlo
Difficulty: Easy | Time: 5–10 minutes | Win Rate: ~25%
Monte Carlo lays out a 5×5 grid of cards. Remove adjacent pairs of the same rank (horizontally, vertically, or diagonally), then consolidate the grid and deal new cards to fill gaps. Keep going until all pairs are removed or no more moves remain. It is a visual, spatial card game that feels more like a puzzle than traditional solitaire.
15. Carpet Solitaire
Difficulty: Easy | Time: 5–10 minutes | Win Rate: ~35%
Carpet Solitaire deals 20 cards face-up in a 5×4 grid (the "carpet") with four foundation piles above. Move any carpet card to the foundations if it continues the sequence, then refill empty carpet spots from the stock. The open layout makes decisions straightforward, and the decent win rate keeps things encouraging. A great option when you want an easy card game for 1 person.
Challenging Expert Games
Ready for the hardest solo card games? These five will test your skills, your patience, and sometimes your luck. Low win rates mean every victory feels earned.
16. Scorpion Solitaire
Difficulty: Hard | Time: 15–20 minutes | Win Rate: ~10%
Scorpion is a close relative of Spider but plays by suit from the beginning and allows you to move any face-up card with its entire pile. Three reserve cards are dealt later, which can make or break a game. The punishing difficulty and moments of dramatic reversals make Scorpion one of the most thrilling card games to play by yourself.
17. Canfield Solitaire
Difficulty: Hard | Time: 10–15 minutes | Win Rate: ~15%
Canfield was originally a casino game — players paid $52 for a deck and won $5 for every card placed on the foundations. The reserve pile of 13 cards, wrapping tableau builds, and limited redeals make for a tense game with a low win rate. If you enjoy the pressure of Klondike but want something harder, Canfield delivers.
18. La Belle Lucie
Difficulty: Hard | Time: 10–15 minutes | Win Rate: ~15%
La Belle Lucie (The Beautiful Lucille) deals all 52 cards into 17 fans of three cards plus one single card. Only the top card of each fan is playable, and you get two redeals where all remaining cards are reshuffled into new fans. The redeals give you a second and third chance, but even with three attempts, winning is far from guaranteed.
19. Calculation
Difficulty: Hard | Time: 10–15 minutes | Win Rate: ~20%
Calculation is unlike any other solitaire game. Four foundation piles build up by different intervals — one counts by 1s, another by 2s, another by 3s, and the last by 4s (all wrapping around). You play cards from the stock to four waste piles or directly to foundations. Remembering which cards to save and where to stash them is a unique mental challenge among single player card games.
20. Crescent Solitaire
Difficulty: Hard | Time: 20–30 minutes | Win Rate: ~20%
Crescent uses two full decks arranged in a crescent shape around the foundations. Four foundations build up from Aces; four build down from Kings. You get three shuffles that move the bottom card of each pile to the top, injecting new possibilities. The double-deck scale and the bidirectional building create an epic, long-form solo card game experience.
Unique & Unusual Games
Tired of the usual tableau-and-foundation format? These 1 person card games break the mold with unconventional layouts, offbeat rules, and gameplay that feels genuinely different.
21. Accordion
Difficulty: Medium | Time: 5–10 minutes | Win Rate: ~2%
Accordion (also called Idle Year) deals cards in a single row. A card can be moved onto the card immediately to its left or three positions to its left if they share a suit or rank. The goal is to compress the entire deck into one pile. With a win rate near 2%, it is deceptively hard despite the tiny footprint — one of the most compact card games to play alone.
22. Black Hole
Difficulty: Medium | Time: 5–10 minutes | Win Rate: ~85%
Black Hole places one Ace in the center (the "black hole") and deals the remaining 51 cards into 17 fans of three. Play any exposed card that is one rank higher or lower than the black hole card, regardless of suit. Wrapping from King to Ace (and back) is allowed. The high win rate and cascading chain moves make this a satisfying and unique solo card game.
23. Osmosis
Difficulty: Medium | Time: 10–15 minutes | Win Rate: ~15%
Osmosis (also called Treasure Trove) is one of the strangest solitaire games. Four foundation rows build by suit in any order, but a card can only be placed on a foundation row if a card of the same rank already appears in the row above. This cascading constraint creates a domino effect where progress on one row unlocks moves on others. It is unlike any other card game for 1 person.
24. Grandfather's Clock
Difficulty: Medium | Time: 10–15 minutes | Win Rate: ~70%
Grandfather's Clock arranges 12 foundation cards in a circle resembling a clock face, with each foundation starting at a different value so that when complete, the top cards read 1 through 12 like clock positions. The remaining 40 cards are dealt into eight tableau columns. With a high win rate and a visually striking layout, this is one of the most charming solo card games you will encounter.
25. Wish Solitaire
Difficulty: Easy | Time: 3–5 minutes | Win Rate: ~5%
Wish Solitaire deals 32 cards face-down into eight piles of four. Flip the top card of any two piles — if they match in rank, discard both. Keep matching until all cards are removed (you win) or no matches remain. Traditionally, you make a wish before starting, and it comes true if you win. A fun, whimsical way to end a solo card gaming session.
How to Choose the Right Solo Card Game
With 25 options, picking the right card game to play by yourself depends on your mood and experience level:
- Brand new to solitaire? Start with Klondike or TriPeaks. Both have intuitive rules and forgiving gameplay.
- Want a quick 5-minute game? Try Golf, Clock Solitaire, or Black Hole. Fast rounds, minimal setup.
- Love deep strategy? FreeCell, Forty Thieves, and Baker's Game offer pure-skill challenges with zero hidden information.
- Looking for something different? Osmosis, Grandfather's Clock, and Calculation break the standard solitaire formula.
- Chasing a tough win? Scorpion, Canfield, and La Belle Lucie have win rates below 15% that will keep you coming back.
Tips for Winning More Solo Card Games
No matter which single player card game you choose, these general strategies will help you win more often:
- Uncover hidden cards first. In games like Klondike and Yukon, prioritize moves that reveal face-down cards. More information means better decisions.
- Keep your options open. Avoid filling free cells or empty columns unless the move leads to a clear sequence of plays. Flexibility is your most valuable resource.
- Think ahead. Before moving a card, ask what the next two or three moves will be. Random moves are the biggest source of losses in strategic solitaire games.
- Learn to let go. Not every deal is winnable (except in FreeCell). If you are stuck, start a new game rather than frustrating yourself with an impossible position.
- Use undo sparingly. Undo helps you learn, but relying on it too much prevents you from developing genuine foresight. Try to plan without it once you know the basics.
Start Playing Card Games by Yourself — Free & Online
Every solo card game in this guide is available to play for free right here on Solitaire.fyi. No downloads, no sign-ups — just pick a game and start playing. Whether you are looking for a quick Golf round during lunch or an epic Forty Thieves session in the evening, there is always a perfect card game for one person waiting for you.
Ready to find your new favorite? Browse all our card games to play by yourself and discover which solo solitaire challenge suits you best.