Solitaire scoring varies wildly between games. Klondike awards points for card moves and penalizes time. Golf uses stroke-style scoring. FreeCell typically just tracks wins and losses. Understanding how scoring works helps you optimize your play beyond just winning.
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The classic Windows Klondike scoring system (still widely used) awards points as follows:
| Action | Points |
|---|---|
| Move card to foundation | +10 |
| Move card from waste to tableau | +5 |
| Turn over face-down card | +5 |
| Move card from foundation to tableau | -15 |
| Pass through stock (Draw 1) | -2 per pass after first |
| Pass through stock (Draw 3) | -20 per pass after first |
| Time penalty (Standard scoring) | -1 per 10 seconds |
The heavy penalty for moving cards back from the foundation encourages you to only play cards to the foundation when you're confident you don't need them in the tableau.
Golf Solitaire Scoring
Golf Solitaire uses a stroke-play scoring system inspired by actual golf — lower is better. Each card left in the tableau at the end of a round counts as one stroke (penalty). If you clear all cards, you may receive bonus negative strokes.
Over multiple rounds, scores accumulate. Getting a total of 0 or negative is the ultimate goal — the equivalent of an under-par round in real golf.
Spider Solitaire Scoring
Spider typically awards 500 points for each completed suit sequence moved to the foundation (8 sequences × 500 = 4,000 maximum) and deducts 1 point for every move made. A perfect game scores as close to 4,000 as possible by using the fewest moves.
FreeCell Scoring
FreeCell traditionally doesn't use a point system — the metric is your win/loss record and win streak. Some implementations award a bonus based on time and number of moves used. The real FreeCell score is your all-time win percentage.
Maximizing Your Score
Tips for scoring higher across all games:
- Klondike: Move cards to the foundation as soon as possible, minimize cycling the stock, and flip face-down cards efficiently
- Golf: Plan your tableau clears to leave as few cards as possible; chain long runs of consecutive cards
- Spider: Complete suit sequences with the fewest total moves; avoid unnecessary card shuffling
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Klondike solitaire scoring work?
Klondike awards 10 points for moving a card to the foundation, 5 for moving from waste to tableau, and 5 for flipping a face-down card. Penalties apply for moving cards back from the foundation and for recycling the stock.
In Golf Solitaire, is a lower or higher score better?
Lower is better in Golf Solitaire, just like real golf. Each card remaining in the tableau at game end costs one stroke. Clearing all cards earns bonus negative strokes. The goal is the lowest possible total score over many rounds.
Does FreeCell keep score?
Traditional FreeCell doesn't use a point system. Most versions track your win/loss record and win percentage. Some modern implementations add bonus points for speed and efficiency.
What is a perfect Spider Solitaire score?
In the classic scoring system, Spider awards 500 points per completed suit (8 total = 4,000 points) minus 1 point per move. A perfect game would complete all 8 suits in the minimum possible number of moves.
Why do Klondike scores go negative?
Scores go negative in Klondike when penalty actions (moving cards back from foundation, cycling the stock multiple times) exceed your earned points. A negative score doesn't mean you lost — it just means you used inefficient moves.