Russian Solitaire Strategy: 5 Tips
Russian Solitaire punishes casual moves. Rules first? See how to play.
1. Dig for face-down cards
Twenty-one cards start hidden. Any move that turns one over gains information and usually options; prefer it over tidying moves.
2. Kings make columns
An empty column is only useful for a King. Before emptying a column, make sure a King is waiting somewhere it can leave.
3. Trace the chain
Every card has exactly one card it can move onto. Before moving a pile, find where its base card's target is and whether the cards above the target can be shifted later.
4. Don't bury the next card
Dropping a pile onto a column hides everything beneath it. Check that the covered cards are not the next ones a foundation or a key column needs.
5. Test with undo
Undo is unlimited. When two lines look possible, play one out several moves, and if it stalls, come back and try the other.
Frequently asked questions
Is Russian Solitaire really that much harder than Yukon?
Yes. In Yukon a black 8 can go onto either red 9; here it can go only onto the 9 of its own suit. Roughly half as many moves are available at every turn, so deals that would be routine in Yukon become puzzles.
Last updated 2026-10-21