What is Solitaire Turn 3?

Solitaire Turn 3 is a more challenging version of classic Solitaire. Instead of drawing one card, three cards are drawn at a time from the deck, and only the top card can be played. The goal remains the same: organize all 52 cards into four foundation piles, sorted by suit from Ace to King — but Turn 3 requires more strategy, planning, and memory to win.

Objective of Solitaire Turn 3

The objective of Solitaire Turn 3 is to move all 52 cards into four foundation piles, organized by suit from Ace to King, by drawing three cards at a time from the stock pile and using strategy, planning, and smart card management to access and play the correct cards.

Solitaire Turn 3 Setup

• Tableau: The tableau is the main playing area with 7 columns arranged from left to right. The first column has 1 card, the second has 2 cards, and this continues until the seventh column has 7 cards. Only the top card in each column is face-up.
• Stock: The remaining cards are placed face-down in the stock pile. You draw cards from the stock when no more moves are available on the tableau.
• Waste: Cards drawn from the stock are turned face-up and placed into the waste pile. The top card of the waste pile can be used to make moves.
• Foundations: There are four foundation piles where cards are stacked by suit in ascending order, starting with Ace and ending with King.

How to Play Solitaire Turn 3

You move cards between the tableau waste, and foundations following classic Klondike rules, with one key difference - cards are drawn in groups of three from the stock pile:

• Only face-up cards can be moved.
• Cards in the tableau must alternate colors and descend in rank.
• Only Kings can be placed into empty tableau columns.
• Foundation piles must be built by suit in ascending order.
• When stuck, draw cards from the stock pile.
• You can redeal the stock when it runs out.

Solitaire Turn 3 Rules

• Move Only Face-Up Cards: you can only move cards that are face-up. Face-down cards remain locked until the card on top of them is moved. Playing a face-up card from the waste pile or tableau not only advances your sequences but can also uncover another face-up card, giving you additional moves. Focusing on face-up cards ensures that you make legal moves while gradually revealing hidden cards and creating new opportunities to progress in the game.
• Move Cards Between Tableau Columns by Alternating Color and Rank: you can move a card from one tableau column to another only if it is one rank lower than the target card and of the opposite color. For example, a 6 of Clubs (black) can be placed on top of a 7 of Diamonds or 7 of Hearts (red). This rule allows you to build descending sequences in alternating colors, which is essential for organizing the tableau, freeing up face-down cards, and creating space to eventually move cards to the foundation piles. Following this rule carefully helps maintain flexibility and opens up more strategic moves.
• Moving a group of Sequence of Cards: A sequence of cards may be moved together only if the top (highest-ranked) card of the sequence is placed onto a card of the opposite color and exactly one rank higher.
• Revealing Face-Down Cards in tableau columns: When the top face-up card in a tableau column is moved, the face-down card beneath it is automatically turned face-up and becomes available for play.
• Building the Foundation Piles: Each foundation pile begins with an Ace. Cards must then be added in ascending order by suit. For example, in the Spades foundation, the card following the Ace of Spades must be the 2 of Spades, followed by the 3 of Spades, and so on.
• Placing Kings in Empty Columns: Only Kings, or properly sequenced groups of cards that begin with a King, may be placed into empty tableau columns.
• Using the Stock Pile: When no moves are available in the tableau, flip a card from the stock pile. Continue flipping cards from the stock until a playable card becomes available for placement in the tableau or the foundation.
• Redealing the Stock Pile: After all cards from the stock pile have been moved to the waste pile, you may redeal by clicking the waste pile. The cards will flip face-down and return to the stock pile, allowing them to be used again.

Time & Moves Tracking

Every game tracks the number of moves you make and the total time taken to finish. When you win, you’ll see a detailed summary showing:

• Total time taken to complete the game
• Total number of moves used
• Chance to beat your personal best

Strategies to Win

• Make Uncovering Cards Your First Priority: Revealing face-down cards is one of the most important strategies in Solitaire because hidden cards limit your choices and slow down progress. When more cards are turned face-up, you gain access to new moves, discover important cards needed to build sequences, and reduce uncertainty in your decisions. Each revealed card increases your ability to plan ahead, clear tableau columns, and create space for Kings. Whenever possible, choose moves that uncover face-down cards, even if they don’t seem immediately beneficial,as this greatly increases your chances of winning the game.
• Check the Stock Pile Before Making Your First Move: Before making your first move, flip the top card from the stock pile and treat it as part of your available options. This card may immediately fit into a tableau sequence or move to a foundation, giving you more choices right from the start. In many cases, the stock card can help you create a sequence that leads to uncovering a face-down card in the tableau. By checking the stock pile early, you avoid missing better opening moves and can plan your strategy more effectively.
• Review the Tableau Before Making a Move: At the start of the game, take a moment to scan the entire tableau along with the face-up card in the waste pile before making any moves. This quick overview helps you understand which cards are available, what sequences can be built, and which moves may help reveal face-down cards. By assessing all possible options first, you can avoid rushed decisions and choose moves that open up more opportunities as the game progresses.
• Move Aces and 2s to the Foundations Immediately: Start building your foundation piles as early as possible by playing any available Aces right away. Aces have no strategic use in the tableau, so moving them clears space and simplifies the layout. As soon as a 2 of the same suit becomes available, place it on the foundation as well. Playing Aces and 2s early helps organize the game, opens up new moves in the tableau, and creates a strong foundation for completing each suit efficiently.
• Prioritize Moves in Larger Tableau Columns: Larger tableau columns contain more face-down cards, and these hidden cards are often essential for building sequences and completing the game. Because they hold more unknown cards, focusing on these columns first gives you a better chance of uncovering important cards early. Revealing cards from longer columns opens up more possibilities and reduces blocking situations, while shorter columns are easier to clear later since they contain fewer cards. Concentrating on larger columns whenever possible increases your overall chances of success.
• Use Tableau Cards Before Moving Them to the Foundations: Although it may seem better to move cards to the foundation as soon as possible face-up cards in the tableau are often more valuable when used to build sequences and reveal face-down cards. Cards of higher ranks are frequently needed to continue sequences or unlock hidden cards, so moving them too early can limit your options. Aces and 2s are the exception and should be moved right away, but for other cards—such as a 4 of Diamonds—it’s best to first check whether they can help form a sequence or uncover another card. Using tableau cards wisely before sending them to the foundations gives you more flexibility and improves your chances of winning.
• Reuse Foundation Cards When Needed: Although foundation piles are meant to be built upward, there are situations where moving cards back from the foundation to the tableau is the smarter choice. Replaying foundation cards can help you build or extend tableau sequences, uncover face-down cards, or create new opportunities that were previously blocked. If returning a card from the foundation opens up more moves or helps reveal hidden cards, it is often worth doing. Using foundation cards flexibly when necessary can significantly increase your chances of progressing and winning the game.
• Clear Tableau Columns to Make Room for Kings: Empty tableau columns are extremely valuable because only Kings can be placed in them. Whether or not a King is currently available, you should try to clear tableau columns whenever possible. Having an empty column ready allows you to immediately place a King when one becomes available, which can help move large sequences of cards and uncover face-down cards. Preparing space for Kings in advance gives you more flexibility and creates powerful opportunities to reorganize the tableau effectively.
• Make Use of the Undo Button: The undo button is a powerful tool in Solitaire that allows you to experiment with different moves without penalty. If you make a move that doesn’t work out or want to explore alternative strategies, using undo lets you backtrack and try a better option. This helps you learn from mistakes, test new sequences, and plan more effectively, ultimately increasing your chances of winning the game.