The best card games for a work break
Card games have been the office break since Solitaire shipped with Windows. They suit it well: a deal has a clear start and end, the rules are familiar, you can stop between moves, and nobody can hear you play.
There are seven solitaire games on this site, and they are not interchangeable. Some are a three-minute run of quick decisions, some a quarter-hour of planning. Here is how they compare, shortest first.
Quick deals: three to four minutes
These are the card games for a short break. Each turn is a single choice, and a deal is over before your coffee is cool enough to drink.
- Golf Solitaire
Play a card one rank above or below the top of the waste and clear seven columns before the stock runs out. Scored like golf strokes. The Wrap K–A variant lets Kings and Aces connect.
- TriPeaks
Golf’s livelier cousin: clear three peaks by playing one up or one down, and long runs score more with every card. A deal takes about three minutes.
- Pyramid Solitaire
Pair uncovered cards that add up to 13 to dismantle a 28-card pyramid. Kings go on their own. Simple arithmetic, quick decisions.
The classics: about eight minutes
The middle of the shelf, for a regular coffee break. These reward a little planning, and the familiar rules mean there is nothing to learn.
- Solitaire
Klondike, the one everybody knows. Draw 1 is the gentle game; Draw 3 with no redeals is a serious one. Unlimited undo, and wins, streaks and win rate tracked per variant.
- FreeCell
Every card dealt face up, four free cells to park cards in, and almost every deal winnable. Pure planning, no luck in the draw — good if you prefer puzzles to chance.
- Yukon
Like Klondike with no stock: every card is dealt, and you can move any face-up card together with everything on top of it. The Russian variant builds in suit and is harder.
The long game: ten minutes and up
For lunch, or for a break you have decided to take properly.
- Spider Solitaire
Two decks, ten columns, eight King-to-Ace runs to complete. One suit is relaxed, two suits takes real thought, four suits is one of the hardest solitaires there is.
How to choose
Pick by the break, not by the game. With three minutes, play Golf or TriPeaks — they end cleanly and every turn is quick. With five to eight, Klondike or FreeCell. Save Spider for a long lunch, and start with one suit.
Pick by temperament, too. If you hate losing to the shuffle, choose FreeCell: almost every deal can be won with enough care. If you like a bit of luck and quick decisions, TriPeaks and Golf. If you like adding up, Pyramid.
All seven are ranked against yourself. Timed games count wins by time per variant, and every board shows the house’s Junior, Expert and Pro targets so you always have something to beat.
Questions
What is the quickest solitaire game?
Golf and TriPeaks: a deal typically takes about three minutes. Pyramid is close behind at around four.
Which solitaire game is the most winnable?
FreeCell. Every card is visible from the start and nearly every deal can be won with careful play, so a loss is down to the moves rather than the shuffle.
Which is harder, Spider or Klondike?
It depends on the suits. One-suit Spider is about as forgiving as Klondike Draw 1, just longer. Two- and four-suit Spider are much harder than any Klondike variant.
Do the card games work on a phone?
Yes. Every card game supports tap and drag on touchscreens, and the layout scales down to a phone screen.