Solitaire instructions often use words such as “tableau,” “foundation,” and “stock” before explaining what those areas do. The definitions are not difficult, but their practical meaning changes between Klondike, Spider, and FreeCell. This glossary connects each term to the decisions you make during a deal instead of treating it as vocabulary to memorize.
The six areas to learn first
Tableau
The tableau is the group of columns in the main play area. Most moving and uncovering happens here. Klondike and FreeCell commonly build downward in alternating colors. Spider builds downward by rank, although same-suit order is normally required to move a complete sequence or remove a K-to-A run. A useful tableau move does more than fit the rule: it exposes a face-down card, creates space, or releases a low card needed elsewhere.
Foundation
A foundation is a destination pile, usually built from Ace upward by suit. Klondike and FreeCell normally have four foundations. Sending every available card upward can be a mistake. A low card on a foundation may still be needed in the tableau to hold an alternating-color sequence, so foundation moves should be judged by what they unlock and what they remove from play.
Stock
The stock holds cards that have not entered the active layout. In Klondike, cards are drawn from the stock to a waste pile. In Spider, a stock deal adds one card to each tableau column. The stock is finite, so check the visible tableau before drawing. A move already available on the board may create a better destination for the next stock card.
Waste
The waste pile receives cards drawn from the Klondike stock. Normally only its exposed top card can be played. In a draw-three game, playing the exposed card can reveal one of the two cards below it and can change which cards become available during the next pass.
Empty column
An empty tableau column is a working resource rather than unused screen space. It can temporarily hold a card or sequence and make a longer rearrangement possible. Klondike and many Yukon rules reserve an empty column for a King or a sequence beginning with a King. FreeCell usually accepts any available card. Always check the rule of the current implementation.
Free cell
A free cell is one of the temporary spaces at the top of a FreeCell layout. A cell usually holds one card. Filling all cells may appear productive, but it sharply reduces the length of sequence you can transfer. The number of open cells and empty columns describes how much working room the deal currently has.
Terms that describe card state
Face up and face down
A face-up card shows its rank and suit and may be moved when the rule permits. A face-down card remains unknown until the cards covering it are moved. In Klondike, a move that turns over a face-down card often provides more information and opportunity than a move that merely advances a foundation. FreeCell generally begins with every card visible, so the challenge is planning rather than discovery.
Suit and color
The four suits are spades, hearts, diamonds, and clubs. The two colors are black and red. “Same color” is not the same as “same suit.” Klondike tableau columns commonly alternate color, while foundations require matching suits. In Spider, mixed-suit descending cards may sometimes be placed together, but a movable or complete run often has to use one suit.
Ascending and descending
Ascending order increases in rank, such as Ace–2–3. Descending order decreases, such as King–Queen–Jack. Foundations commonly ascend and tableau sequences commonly descend. Pair-removal games such as Pyramid do not use that structure; they remove available cards whose ranks total 13.
Terms that describe moves and positions
Legal move
A legal move is permitted by the rules. Legal does not mean strategically useful. When several moves are available, compare which one exposes a card, creates an empty column, frees an Ace or low card, or leaves more follow-up choices.
Sequence or run
A sequence is a group of cards connected according to the variant’s building rule. In FreeCell, a correctly ordered sequence may still be too long to move when too few cells and columns are open. In Spider, distinguish a descending mixed-suit stack from a same-suit run that can be moved as a unit and eventually completed.
Deal and redeal
A deal distributes cards. A redeal returns or redistributes stock or waste cards for another pass. Redeal limits vary by implementation. Do not assume that a stock can be recycled forever simply because another Klondike game allowed it.
Blocked or unwinnable position
A position is blocked when no useful legal move remains or essential cards cannot be reached. The cause may be several moves earlier: advancing a low card too soon, filling all temporary spaces, or burying a required color or suit. An unwinnable deal is different from a deal that is merely difficult; without a solver, you often cannot know which one you have until the available branches are exhausted.
Why “complete” means different things
Klondike and FreeCell complete four foundations. Spider usually removes eight same-suit King-to-A runs. Pyramid focuses on removing exposed pairs totaling 13 and clearing the pyramid. Before applying advice from one game to another, check its objective, building rule, sequence rule, empty-column rule, and stock behavior.
A five-question way to read any rule page
- Is the goal to fill foundations or clear cards from the layout?
- Does the tableau build by color, suit, or rank alone?
- When can a group of cards move together?
- Which cards may enter an empty column?
- How does the stock work, and are redeals limited?
Those questions are enough to orient yourself in most common solitaire families. Use the solitaire game directory to compare the rules represented in the current library.