Yukon Solitaire's defining rule — move any face-up card regardless of what's on top — is both its greatest freedom and its biggest trap. Used wisely, you can reshape the board in powerful ways. Used carelessly, you create chaotic piles that are impossible to sort.
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Play Free Yukon →Understand Group Moves
When you move a card in Yukon, all face-up cards on top of it come along. This is often more cards than you expect. Before every move, mentally trace which cards will travel with your target card and where they will all land.
A move that places your target card correctly but dumps 5 other cards somewhere unhelpful is often not worth making. Think about the whole group, not just the lead card.
Prioritize Hidden Card Exposure
The most important strategic principle in Yukon is the same as Klondike: flip hidden cards as a top priority. Each hidden card is a potential Ace, 2, or other key card. Until it is revealed, you cannot plan around it.
Count the hidden cards in each column. Columns with fewer hidden cards should generally be cleared first — they cost less effort and yield information sooner.
Using the Move Flexibility Wisely
Yukon's "any face-up card" rule gives you options Klondike does not. Use this power specifically for:
Accessing Buried Cards
If a key card (an Ace, a 2, a card that completes a long sequence) is buried under a mix of cards, Yukon lets you extract it. Move the cards above it to valid spots and then move the target card.
Rearranging Sequences
Use the flexibility to sort your columns into clean alternating-color sequences. A well-organized tableau is much easier to work with than a scrambled one.
Creating Empty Columns
Empty columns are your most powerful tool. The ability to move any face-up card makes it easier to clear a column entirely — use this aggressively to create empty spaces.
King Placement Strategy
Empty columns in Yukon can only be filled with Kings. Choose which King fills each empty column carefully. A King that has its Queen already available and in the right suit/color is far more valuable than an isolated King with no sequence below it.
When Yukon Goes Wrong
Common Yukon pitfalls: moving a group onto a valid card but stranding the group in an awkward position, filling all empty columns with Kings that have no useful sequences below them, and creating too many small disconnected stacks. If you find yourself stuck, use undo to backtrack and try a different sequence of group moves.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best opening move in Yukon Solitaire?
Look for moves that expose face-down cards in the shortest columns first. A move that reveals a hidden card while building a useful tableau sequence is ideal.
How do you win Yukon Solitaire?
Uncover all face-down cards by moving groups strategically. Build foundation piles from Ace to King by suit. Use empty columns to reorganize and sort cards into clean sequences.
Can you move face-down cards in Yukon?
No — only face-up cards can be moved. But you can move any face-up card (and everything above it) regardless of sequence order.
What is the win rate for Yukon Solitaire?
Approximately 70-80% for experienced players. It is harder than Klondike (theoretical 100% for a perfect player) but more achievable than most same-suit variants.
Is Yukon Solitaire harder than Klondike?
Yukon is generally considered harder than Draw 1 Klondike but has some advantages: all cards are dealt at the start (no randomness from the stock) and any face-up card can move. The lack of a stock means you have to work with what you have from the beginning.