Solitaire – also known as Patience – is one of the most famous and most addictive computer games in the world. Did you know it was installed as a free game on Microsoft computers as a smart way to get people to engage with the new technology of a mouse? It’s the perfect way of getting someone used to dragging and dropping objects around a screen.
Today, there are many versions of the card game, such as Spider Solitaire and Freecell, but they all have one thing in common – it can be frustratingly difficult to win. If you would like to improve your performance, read on for some little known and hacks and strategies. Luck is the main thing that determines whether you will win or lose, but targeted strategies will undoubtedly enable you to get the best out of a game.
Basic strategies
If you had just one trick to winning at Patience, here it is: Turn over as many face downs as possible.
Preferably choose a left column (where there are fewer cards), and concentrate your efforts on it. You will hopefully free up a slot, allowing you to put down a card from another column and turn over an additional one. This is particularly appropriate if a King is immediately available to occupy the slot.
Likewise, try to clear in priority the right columns which contain the most hidden cards. Indeed, it is usually on this side that the cards that block the card game are found.
Finally, while this advice goes without saying, quickly play your Aces, 2s and 3s.
An essential strategy for the card game is to give the cards lying down priority over the deck of cards. Here is an example:
Let’s say you have a red five on the pile and a red five in one of the lower rows. If it is now possible to add one of the cards to a black 6, then you should take the 5 from the bottom row.
The cards from the rows always have priority over the pile so you can create space to layout more kings.
Work the cards from right to left, so try to clear the larger piles first. If you have managed to free a row again, you do not immediately place the next best king in this free row.
Do not try to occupy empty rows again immediately but leave them blank until you really need them; this allows you to stay mobile.
For those initiated into this card game, you can draw the cards three by three.
However, by simultaneously pressing the Ctrl + Alt + Shift keys on your keyboard while pressing the left mouse button on the card pile, you can deal the cards one by one. This is ideal when you have a card you are interested in but cannot use in the three cards turned over.
For Instant Win, press Alt, Shift, and ‘2’, although as this game is only played against yourself, there is little point in our opinion.
Advanced techniques
The 7s, 8s, 9s, and 10s are cards that are not easy to play: plan well the three or four moves which will follow once you have moved them. The main objective should remain to reveal hidden cards.
Do not rush if, by chance, you find yourself at the start of the game with Ace, 2, 3, 4, 5 of the same suit. Indeed, the higher cards will undoubtedly be invaluable to you in building up your columns (for example, with the 4 of another color, which is just waiting to be moved) and thus win your game.
The two most popular variations of classic Solitaire, also found on recent versions of Microsoft Windows, require even more skill.
In addition to the previous strategies, here are some tips specific to these game modes:
Hacks to increase your chances of winning at Spider:
Start your stacking with the strongest cards and, if possible, of the same suit.
Always keep at least one or two columns free to be able to proceed with exchanges more easily.
Tips for Freecell:
Clear a column at the start of the game if it contains an Ace, even better.
Do not add too many cards to a column with low height at the top, as it will only be more difficult to free it.
Avoid using all four empty boxes at the same time, at the risk of getting stuck shortly.
Finally, here are some hacks to help you win at Freecell, although these really come under the category of cheating!
- Hold down Ctrl, Shift and F10 while playing, then click Abort.
- Now move one card.
Hidden Freecell Game Modes
- Go to the “Game” menu and choose “Select Game”
- Here, you can choose from game mode 1 to 1,000,000. However, -1 and -2 will also work
Well there you have it folks, a few strategies, tips and tricks to help you play better and win at Solitaire, no matter the version. Be warned though, we are not responsible for loss of your productivity 😉
By: D.C. Cutler, U.S.A.
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