Russian Solitaire is Yukon with one rule tightened: you build down in suit, not in alternating colours. All 52 cards are dealt into seven columns, 21 of them face down, and there is no stock. You can still move any face-up card with every card on top of it, in order or not, but each card now has exactly one landing spot in the whole deck: the next higher card of its own suit. That single change makes it one of the hardest one-deck solitaires. Press Play now above to deal a solo game right here, no account needed; a free account adds races against a bot or another player.
Mobile gameplay: Russian Solitaire
See the game board, controls and moves on a mobile screen.
How to play
- The deal is Yukon’s: seven columns of 1, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 cards. The first column holds one face-up card; every other column has one to six face-down cards under five face-up ones.
- Build down in the same suit: only the Eight of spades can go on the Nine of spades.
- Any face-up card moves with all the cards on top of it, in order or not. Only the bottom card of the group has to fit.
- Only a King, with whatever is on top of it, can fill an empty column. Uncovered cards turn face up.
- Build the foundations up by suit from Ace to King. Cards there stay there; you win by sending all 52 home.
Example
The Five of hearts has a Jack and a Three lying on it, and the Six of hearts is the last card of another column. Move the Five, the Jack and the Three onto the Six: the move is legal because the Five fits the Six, and the card under the Five is uncovered.
Playing tip
Before you move, find where each suit’s low cards are buried. A card has only one place to go in the whole deck, the next card up in its suit, so a move that buries that card can block a whole suit.
Choose a variant
Klondike Solitaire Online: How to Play with Cards
Free Online Spider Solitaire: 1, 2 or 4 Suits
FreeCell Online: Free Solitaire Rules and Play
Pyramid Solitaire: Rules and Play
Free TriPeaks Solitaire: Play and Rules
Yukon Solitaire: Rules and Free Online Play
Alaska Solitaire Game: Play Free and Learn the Rules
Frequently asked questions
How is Russian Solitaire different from Yukon?
The deal and the group moves are the same. Yukon builds down in alternating colours; Russian Solitaire builds down in the same suit, which leaves each card only one place to go.
Is Russian Solitaire hard?
It is one of the harder one-deck games, and far fewer deals come out than in Yukon. Plan several moves ahead, and in solo practice use undo to try another order.
What is Double Russian Solitaire?
A two-deck version of the game. This page and its game are the classic one-deck Russian Solitaire.
Can I play Russian Solitaire online for free?
Yes. Press Play now at the top of this page and a solo game opens right here, with no download and no account. Sign in with a free account to race a bot or another player on the same deal.