The Least Moves to Win Solitaire: Stats for Popular Games

The least amount of moves to win Classic Solitaire Turn 1 is 76 and the least amount of moves to win Turn 3 is 60, assuming stockpile flips are counted.

If stockpile flips aren’t counted, the minimum number of moves to win both games is 52. However, players rarely achieve perfect games in reality. According to our data, it takes 133 moves on average to win Klondike Turn 1 and 120 moves to win Klondike Turn 3.

Ultimately, the fewest moves to win a game of Solitaire depends on which version you are playing and how the site counts moves. Solitaire Bliss counts stockpile flips as one move, and moving cards to the foundation piles as a move. In this post, you will learn average Solitaire moves by game and how to increase your chances of winning Solitaire in fewer moves.

What Is the Least Number of Moves to Beat Different Types of Solitaire?

Some of the most common versions of Solitaire on Solitaire Bliss are FreeCell, Turn 3, Turn 1, and Spider Solitaire (1 Suit), and a perfect game for each version looks a bit different. The table below shows the minimum number of moves required in a perfect game.

While the perfect game rarely happens, it’s helpful to consider what a perfect game looks like to map out how to win as efficiently as possible. In the following examples, each of these is counted as one move: moving a card from the tableau to a foundation, flipping from the stockpile to the waste pile, moving a card from the waste pile to a foundation.

Solitaire Type	Tableau Moves	Stockpile Flips	Waste Card Plays	Total Moves
FreeCell	52	0	0	52
Solitaire Turn 3	28	8	24	60
Solitaire Turn 1	28	24	24	76
Spider Solitaire (1 Suit)	104	5	0	109

Here’s how the least amount of moves are calculated for each Solitaire variation:

• FreeCell: FreeCell Solitaire uses a single deck of cards with all 52 cards face up in the tableau. To win in 52 moves, each card must be moved directly to a foundation without using any free cells or sequencing cards in the tableau.
• Solitaire Turn 3: In Turn 3 Solitaire, 28 moves are used to play all tableau cards to the foundation. The stockpile is cycled in sets of three, requiring a minimum of eight stockpile flips and 24 waste pile plays to complete the foundation piles. This equals 60 moves total.
• Solitaire Turn 1: In Turn 1 Solitaire, 28 tableau cards are played to the foundation piles, 24 stockpile cards are flipped to the waste pile, and each waste pile card (24) is played to the foundation piles, totaling 76 moves.
• Spider Solitaire (1 Suit): Spider Solitaire requires 104 moves to complete eight king-to-ace sequences in the tableau and move them to the foundation piles. In addition, there are five stockpile deals that count as separate moves, totaling 109 moves.

Don’t forget that Solitaire Bliss counts stockpile flips. However, some sites don’t. If stockpile flips aren’t counted on the site you’re playing on, you can subtract them from the total moves listed above to get the least amount of moves in a perfect game.

What Is the Average Amount of Moves to Win Solitaire?

According to Solitaire Bliss data from thousands of games, the average number of moves to win a Solitaire card game ranges from 49 for Tri Peaks to 318 for Spider Solitaire (4 Suits). It’s nearly impossible to play a perfect game of Solitaire, so these benchmarks will help you set realistic goals and gauge your performance.

Game	Average Moves Per Win
Tri Peaks	49
Golf	51
Scorpion	58
Pyramid	65
Russian	91
Alaska	95
Eight Off	96
Yukon	100
Easthaven	105
Freecell	112
Klondike Turn 3	120
Spider Solitaire (1 Suit)	132
Klondike Turn 1	133
Spider Solitaire (2 Suits)	168
Canfield	179
Josephine	251
Forty Thieves	268
Spider Solitaire (4 Suits)	318

What Counts As a Move on Solitaire Bliss?

Most sites count moves to the tableau or foundation but may exclude actions like flipping stock cards, revealing hidden cards, or using the undo button. These can significantly affect the total number of possible moves in a winning game. Below are examples of actions that count as one move on Solitaire Bliss:

• Flipping from the stockpile to the waste pile
• Moving a waste pile card to the tableau
• Moving a card or column of cards on the tableau
• Moving any card to the foundation
• Moving a foundation card back to the tableau

How Moves Impact Your Score

While winning in as few moves as possible is great, ultimately you want a high score to top the leaderboard. On Solitaire Bliss, the highest score per game is typically calculated by multiplying the number of cards by 100. That means for Klondike Soliaire, the best possible score is 5,200.

From there, penalties are subtracted for certain moves.

• Using the undo button: -5 points
• Cycling through the stockpile: -20 points per cycle for Klondike-style games and -100 points per cycle for Easy Pyramid and Easy Australian Patience.

So, for example, if you move all the cards to their foundation piles in Klondike Solitaire Turn 1 and only cycle through the stockpile once, you’ll get a score of 5,180 (5,200 - 20).

Which Solitaire Games Are Easiest to Win?

The number of moves doesn’t necessarily correspond to how difficult a Solitaire variation is. What impacts difficulty is how much flexibility you have in the tableau, how accessible the cards are, and how difficult it is to uncover new moves.

For example, Klondike Turn 1 and Spider Solitaire (1 Suit) are relatively easy versions. Turn 1 has a high win rate because you can cycle through the stockpile one card at a time, making it easier to access the card you need and keep the game moving. Spider Solitaire (1 Suit) is easy because the tableau consists of face-up cards, giving you full visibility to plan several moves ahead and avoid getting stuck.

In comparison, Turn 3 is difficult because you can only access one out of every three stockpile cards on each pass, which makes it much harder to access the card you need and increases the chances of running out of moves. Understanding these differences can help you choose the version that best matches your skill level or the type of challenge you’re looking for.

Solitaire Version	Average Win Rate
Classic Solitaire Turn 1	60%
Spider Solitaire (1 Suit)	60%
FreeCell	33%
Tri Peaks	16%
Classic Solitaire Turn 3	10%
Canfield	7%
Scorpion	5%
Forty Thieves	5%

How to Win Solitaire in Fewer Moves

While not every game is winnable, improving your speed, score, and overall Solitaire strategy can increase your odds of winning. These tips may help:

• Avoid unnecessary lateral moves: Don’t move cards between tableau columns unless it helps uncover a face-down card or set up a longer sequence. Whenever possible, move cards directly to the foundation instead of shifting them around the tableau without purpose.
• Prioritize uncovering facedown cards: Each uncovered card gives you more options and brings you closer to freeing up entire columns.
• Use empty columns wisely: Empty spaces can be used to reposition cards. In some games, it’s valuable to leave them open to help reorganize cards, while in others they can house long sequences.
• Use the stockpile cautiously: Each flip of the stockpile counts as a move—and cycling through the stockpile can dock points—so focus on tableau piles first, using the stockpile only when needed.
• Keep your eye on the waste pile: Once you play a card from the waste pile, don’t forget to check if you can use the card beneath it. That saves you having to use an extra move to go through the stockpile again to reach that card.
• Survey your domain: Playing rapidly can cause you to waste moves. At Solitaire Bliss, your time doesn’t count against you, so you can analyze the tableau carefully and make smarter decisions.
• Think several moves ahead: Before making a move, think about the ripple effect. Consider whether the move will open up more future moves or limit other opportunities on the tableau.

Win Solitaire in Fewer Moves with Solitaire Bliss!

Now that you know the least amount of moves to win Solitaire, you can work on leveling up your game. Whether you’re a beginner or advanced Solitaire player, we offer something for everyone. You can play Solitaire and many other single-player games for free on Solitaire Bliss. Since you don’t have to worry about your game time working against you, it’s a great place to hone your skills while having fun.