Yukon Solitaire Rules

Yukon is a solitaire card game closely related to Klondike (the classic solitaire most people know). The key difference is that there is no stock pile. All 52 cards are dealt onto the tableau from the start. On top of that, you can move groups of cards even if they are not in proper sequence, which opens up far more possibilities than regular solitaire.

Yukon is named after the Yukon territory in northern Canada, just like Klondike. It is more challenging than standard Klondike, but rewards strategic thinking. A skilled player can expect to win around 80% of their games.

You need a standard 52-card deck (no jokers). Deal the cards into seven columns:

• Column 1: 1 card face up
• Column 2: 1 card face down, then 5 cards face up
• Column 3: 2 cards face down, then 5 cards face up
• Column 4: 3 cards face down, then 5 cards face up
• Column 5: 4 cards face down, then 5 cards face up
• Column 6: 5 cards face down, then 5 cards face up
• Column 7: 6 cards face down, then 5 cards face up

All 52 cards are used: 21 face down and 31 face up. Above the columns, leave space for four empty foundation piles.

The goal is to move all 52 cards to the four foundation piles. Each foundation is built up by suit (♠️, ♥️, ♦️ or ♣️) in ascending order from Ace to King: A, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, J, Q, K.

There are a few important rules for moving cards between columns:

• Build down with alternating colours: A card can be placed on another card that is one rank higher and the opposite colour (red/black). For example, 6♦️ (red) can be placed on 7♠️ (black)
• Move groups: You can move a face-up card along with all cards on top of it, regardless of whether those cards are in proper sequence. Only the bottom card of the group needs to fit the destination card
• Empty columns: Only a King (or a group starting with a King) can be placed in an empty column
• Revealing hidden cards: When you move a card that was directly on top of a face-down card, the face-down card is automatically flipped over
• Moving back from foundations: You can move the top card from a foundation back to a column if you need it for other moves

Two things set Yukon apart from Klondike:

No stock pile: In Klondike, you have a pile of cards to draw from during the game. In Yukon, that pile does not exist. All cards are already on the table, so you work with what you can see.

Free group movement: In Klondike, you can only move cards that form a proper descending sequence of alternating colours. In Yukon, you can pick up any face-up card and everything on top of it comes along, even if those cards are not in order. For example: if you have 7♣️, Q♥️ and 3♦️ stacked together, you can move the whole group onto an 8♥️ or 8♦️, because 7♣️ (black) fits on a red 8.

You win when all 52 cards have been moved to the four foundation piles, sorted by suit from Ace to King.

You lose when there are no more valid moves and cards remain in the columns. Not every deal can be solved, but with good strategy most games are winnable.

A good sign that you are on track: once all cards in the columns are face up and arranged in descending order with alternating colours, the win is guaranteed.