Baker's Dozen Strategy: 5 Tips
Every card is visible, so Baker's Dozen is lost only by carelessness. New here? Read the rules first.
1. Locate the aces and twos
Before moving anything, find where the aces and twos are and what sits on them. Those are the cards you must dig out first; plan moves that uncover them.
2. Never bury a low card
Moving a card onto a column covers whatever was on top. If that card is low (or the next for a foundation), find a different parking place.
3. Park on high cards
A queen or king at the top of a column is an ideal spot for a jack; a run built down from a high card can stay there for most of the game without blocking anything.
4. Keep columns alive
An emptied column is useless, so a column holding a single card is a resource: as long as it has a card, it can take the rank below. Don't empty columns casually.
5. Send cards up thoughtfully
A card on a foundation can't be used as a landing place. Before sending a 7 up, check whether a 6 still needs somewhere to go; bring it back down if you must.
Frequently asked questions
What's the most common way to lose Baker's Dozen?
Burying a low card under a long run early, then finding you have no column that can take the cards above it. Before every move, ask what you are covering.
Last updated 2026-10-21