Yukon Solitaire
Introduction
Yukon Solitaire is an exciting variation of Klondike Solitaire but with a key difference players can move groups of cards regardless of their order This makes the game more flexible strategic and uniquely challenging compared to other Solitaire variations
Game Objective
The goal of Yukon Solitaire is to move all cards from the tableau to the four foundation piles in ascending order from Ace to King by suit Once all four foundations are completed the game is won
Game Setup
Tableau
The game is played with a standard 52 card deck divided into seven tableau columns
- The first column has 1 face up card
- The second column has 1 face down card and 1 face up card
- The third column has 2 face down cards and 1 face up card continuing this pattern
- The seventh column has 6 face down cards and 1 face up card
- After the initial setup each column except the first receives 4 additional face up cards
Foundation
Four foundation piles start empty The objective is to move Aces to these piles and build them up in ascending order by suit to King
No Stockpile or Waste Pile
Unlike many other Solitaire games there is no stockpile or waste pile in Yukon Solitaire Every card is visible in the tableau from the start making planning crucial
Rules and How to Play
Moving Cards
- Any face up card in the tableau can be moved along with all the cards stacked below it
- The move is valid if the bottom card being moved is one rank lower and of the opposite color than the card it is placed onto
- For example if there is an 8 of Hearts you can move a 7 of Spades along with all cards below it onto the 8 of Hearts
Flipping Cards
- When a card is moved and reveals a face down card it is automatically flipped face up
Building Foundation Piles
- Aces should be moved to the foundation as soon as they become available
- Cards must be stacked in ascending order by suit from Ace to King
Filling Empty Spaces
- Only a King or a sequence starting with a King can be placed into an empty tableau column
Winning and Losing Conditions
- Win: The game is won when all four foundation piles are built from Ace to King by suit
- Lose: The game is lost if no more valid moves are available and the tableau cannot be arranged correctly
Effective Strategies
- Take advantage of the flexibility to move card groups freely
- Prioritize flipping face down cards as soon as possible to expand available moves
- Move Aces to the foundation early to allow for easier sequence building
- Be strategic when creating empty tableau columns and ensure you have a King to fill them
- Carefully analyze all potential moves before making a decision as incorrect moves can lead to deadlocks
Difficulty Level of Yukon Solitaire
Yukon Solitaire is more challenging than Klondike due to the absence of a stockpile and the necessity to make every move count Based on statistical analysis of 626,953 random games played 85,856 were won resulting in a win rate of 13.69 percent This indicates that the game requires strong planning and strategic thinking
Popular Variations of Yukon Solitaire
- Russian Solitaire: Similar to Yukon but requires arranging tableau columns in descending order by suit making it significantly harder
- Alaska Solitaire: Allows card sequences to be built in both ascending and descending order adding a unique twist to the game
- Australian Patience: A hybrid of Yukon and Scorpion Solitaire allowing for greater movement flexibility
- Queenie Solitaire: A special variant of Yukon with additional strategic elements
- Scorpion Solitaire: Allows moving entire groups of cards but requires them to be arranged in descending order by suit
Visit Solitaired to experience all these exciting Yukon Solitaire variations and discover even more challenging card games!
Conclusion
Yukon Solitaire is a fascinating and challenging game requiring careful strategy and planning If you enjoy Klondike Solitaire but are looking for a more flexible and strategic alternative then Yukon Solitaire is the perfect choice for you
