How to Play Diamond Solitaire

Diamond Solitaire variation of Tripeaks where you are trying to clear a diamond shaped tableau. Unlike traditional Klondike Solitaire, there are no foundation piles to build. Instead, like TriPeaks, you clear the tableau by pairing cards that are one rank higher or lower than the top card on the waste pile, similar to Golf Solitaire.

Objective

Clear the tableau by matching the top card of the waste pile with a tableau card that is one rank higher or lower. Suit and color don’t matter, so you can pair cards of the same or different colors.

Diamond Solitaire Setup

Diamond Solitaire has three basic piles or that you use to play the game:

  • The tableau: The main area of play looks similar to and uses 23 cards and shaped like a diamond. You must clear the entire tableau, not the stockpile, to win the game.
  • The stockpile: 24 cards are placed facedown in a pile at the bottom of the tableau. You flip cards from the stockpile one at a time to start or continue play. You can only go through the stockpile once during the game.
  • The waste pile: The first card flipped from the stockpile becomes the initial face-up waste pile card. You match a tableau card that is one rank higher or lower than this card. Each matched tableau card becomes the new top card of the waste pile for the next move. If no moves are available, you can flip another card from the stockpile to continue.
Diamond Solitaire setup

Diamond Solitaire Rules

Keep these rules in mind while playing:

  • You can only match the top waste pile card with a card that is one rank higher or lower that is revealed in the tableau. For example, if the top waste card is the 8 of hearts, you can pair it with any 7 or 9 from the tableau, regardless of suit. The selected tableau card then becomes the new top card of the waste pile.
  • Only face-up, uncovered cards can be played. Cards that are still covered by others are not available. Once a card is uncovered, it becomes playable and can be turned face-up if needed.
  • You may go through the stockpile only once. If no moves are available, flip the next stockpile card to the waste pile to continue. However, you cannot recycle the stock—once all cards have been used, the game ends.
  • No sequences are built. Unlike Klondike Solitaire, you don’t build sequences in the tableau or foundation piles. The game is entirely based on pairing tableau cards with the waste pile.
  • Empty spaces cannot be filled. When cards are removed, gaps in the tableau remain empty. You cannot move or save cards to fill these spaces later—you must play the layout as dealt.

Strategies to Win Diamond Solitaire

Diamond Solitaire may look simple at first, but clearing the tableau can be challenging, especially with hidden cards. Use these strategies to improve your chances of winning:

  • Use the stockpile carefully. You only get one pass through the 24-card stockpile, so every draw matters. Since many tableau cards are hidden, avoid flipping a new stock card unless you have no other moves available.
  • Think ahead. Plan your moves based on the cards you can see. Aim to create the longest possible sequences so you can clear multiple cards in a single run.
  • Reevaluate when new cards are revealed. A newly uncovered card can open up better options. Pause and reassess your strategy before continuing your previous sequence.
  • Clear the tableau evenly. Don’t focus on just one section. Work across the entire diamond to reveal more cards and increase your chances of finding playable moves.
  • Move both up and down in rank. Long sequences rely on changing direction. For example, after playing a 9 on a 8, you can go back down to an 8 or continue up to a 10 if available.
  • Prioritize revealing new cards. When given a choice, make the move that uncovers more cards. More visibility means more opportunities to continue your sequence.
  • Use hints and undo strategically. The hint feature can help you spot possible moves, and the undo button lets you test different approaches.

If you enjoy the pace and strategy of Diamond Solitaire, try other pairing games like TriPeaks Solitaire, Hole in One, or Fourpeaks to challenge your matching skills even more. Play them all for free on Solitaired.