Yukon Solitaire Strategy: 6 Tips to Win More Games
Yukon rewards planning more than luck: every card is dealt at the start and big moves are allowed, so almost every deal can be won with care. New to the game? Read the rules first.
1. Dig, don't tidy
Moving cards just to build neat runs wastes moves. Ask of every move: does it turn a face-down card over, or make that possible next turn? Start with the columns that hide the most cards.
2. Use the big move
The rule that makes Yukon different is that you can carry a messy pile along. If the only face-up card on a buried column is an 8, look for a black 9 anywhere, move the whole pile onto it, and the card underneath turns over.
3. Keep a King ready for each empty column
An empty column is only useful if a King (ideally one with cards on top of it that you'd like to shift) can fill it. Before you empty a column, check that a King is free to move.
4. Don't rush the foundations
Aces and 2s go up at once. Higher cards may be needed as a landing spot for a pile: a red 9 in a column can take a black 8 pile, but a 9 on the foundation can't. Move it up when the black 8s are already home.
5. Plan the colours
Before a big move, count the cards you'll need as landing spots. If both black Queens are buried, a red Jack pile has nowhere to go; dig for the Queen first.
6. Undo is free
If a move uncovers nothing useful, undo and try another. Finding the order that reveals hidden cards fastest is the whole skill.
Frequently asked questions
What's the most important Yukon tip?
Turn over face-down cards. There's no stock, so the 21 hidden cards are the whole game: every move should either turn one over or set up a move that will.
Should I move cards to the foundations as soon as I can?
Aces and 2s, yes. Higher cards are often more useful in the columns, where they can hold a pile you need to move. Send them up once the other-colour cards a rank lower are already home.
Last updated 2026-10-20