Portuguese Solitaire

Portuguese Solitaire is a Baker's Dozen variant with a twist: Kings are not automatically moved to the bottom of columns. This seemingly small change has a big impact — Kings can appear anywhere in a column, blocking the cards beneath them. You must work around these King blockers, adding a layer of strategic depth absent from standard Baker's Dozen.

How to Play Portuguese Solitaire

What’s Different from Classic Baker's Dozen?

Baker's Dozen without the Kings-to-bottom rule. Kings can block mid-column, adding a new obstacle.

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

Only the top (bottom-most visible) card of each column is playable.
Build foundations up by suit: Ace, 2, 3 … Queen, King.
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.
Kings start at the bottom of columns and can only be moved to foundations when the time comes.
Empty columns CANNOT be filled — once a column is empty, it stays empty.
There is no stock pile — all cards are visible from the start.
Win when all four foundations are complete.

Other Baker's Dozen Variations

Or go back to Baker's Dozen Solitaire.

Classic Baker's Dozenmedium

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 fo...

Easy Baker's Dozeneasy

Baker's Dozen Easy relaxes certain restrictions from the standard game, making the puzzle more forgiving. The core experience — 13 columns, face-up cards, Kings at bottom — remains...

Good Measure Baker's Dozeneasy

Good Measure is an easier Baker's Dozen variant where two Aces are dealt to the foundations at the start. The remaining 50 cards are dealt into 10 columns of five. Like Baker's Doz...

Why Play Portuguese 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

Portuguese Tips and Strategies

Since Kings aren't at the bottom, they can block critical cards mid-column. Plan your moves to work around King-blocked columns. Prioritize freeing cards trapped behind Kings. The lack of the Kings-to-bottom rule means column management is more important than in standard Baker's Dozen.

Portuguese Solitaire Rules

A Baker's Dozen variant. All 52 cards dealt face-up into 13 columns of 4. Unlike standard Baker's Dozen, Kings are NOT moved to the bottom during dealing. Build foundations up by suit from Ace to King. Build tableau down regardless of suit. Only single cards can be moved. Empty columns cannot be refilled.

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 Portuguese Solitaire.

What is Portuguese Solitaire?

Portuguese Solitaire is a classic card game you can play for free online at Solitaire.fyi. No downloads or registration required — play instantly in your browser on any device.

Why are Kings important in Portuguese Solitaire?

Unlike Baker's Dozen where Kings are pre-sorted to column bottoms, Portuguese Solitaire leaves Kings wherever they're dealt. A King in the middle of a column blocks access to all cards below it, making these "King blockers" the primary obstacle to solve around.

Is Portuguese Solitaire free to play?

Yes — 100% free at Solitaire.fyi with no hidden costs, no sign-up, and no ads that interrupt gameplay. Play unlimited games on desktop, tablet, or mobile.

What is a good win rate for Portuguese Solitaire?

Win rates vary by variant and skill level. Experienced players typically win 30-60% of games depending on the variant. Using undo and hints can help you improve.

History of Portuguese 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 Portuguese

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.

Play Portuguese Solitaire Free Online