One of the most common solitaire questions: can every game be won? The honest answer is no — but it depends entirely on which game you are playing. Some are nearly always solvable; others are genuinely unwinnable in a significant percentage of deals.
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Play Free Solitaire →Solvability by Game
| Game | Theoretical Win Rate | Genuinely Unwinnable Deals? |
|---|---|---|
| FreeCell | ~99.999% | Yes (~8 in original 32,000) |
| Spider One Suit | ~100% | Extremely rare |
| Spider Four Suit | ~99%+ | Very rare |
| Klondike Draw 1 | ~82% | Yes (~18% of deals) |
| Klondike Draw 3 | ~20% | Yes (most deals) |
| Baker's Game | ~75% | Yes (~25% of deals) |
| Seahaven Towers | ~50-60% | Yes (~40-50% of deals) |
| Golf Solitaire (clear all) | ~2-5% | Yes (most deals cannot be fully cleared) |
What "Unwinnable" Really Means
"Unwinnable" means that even with perfect play and full knowledge of all hidden cards, the game cannot be completed. This is proven through exhaustive computer analysis for certain games.
This is different from "I cannot win" — which could be a skill issue. If FreeCell is unwinnable due to skill, you can learn and improve. If Klondike #X is provably unwinnable, no amount of skill will change the outcome.
How to Know If You Are Stuck vs Game Over
In FreeCell: if you are stuck, try undo and alternate paths — almost every game has a solution. In Klondike: if you have cycled the stock 3+ times with no new moves, the game may be unwinnable. In Golf: finishing with 5+ cards left is normal, not a failure.
Frequently Asked Questions
What solitaire game can always be won?
No solitaire game is guaranteed 100% winnable. FreeCell is the closest at ~99.999%. Spider One Suit is also very close to 100% with good strategy.
Can a computer always win at Klondike Solitaire?
No — even with perfect play and full knowledge of all cards (face-down and stock order), about 18% of Klondike draws are genuinely unwinnable.
How do I know if a FreeCell game is unsolvable?
If you are playing a numbered FreeCell game (like in Microsoft's implementation), game #11982 and 7 others in the 32,000-game set are unsolvable. In a random deal system, the chance of hitting an unsolvable game is extremely small.
Is it my fault if I lose Klondike Solitaire?
Sometimes yes, sometimes no. About 18% of Klondike deals are unwinnable regardless of skill. Of the remaining 82%, skilled players win 50-60% — so some "winnable" deals are still lost due to skill. Both are possible.
Why do I win more FreeCell than Klondike?
FreeCell has a 99.999% theoretical win rate vs ~82% for Klondike. More importantly, FreeCell provides all information upfront, eliminating bad luck from hidden cards and stock draw order.