How to Play Easthaven Solitaire

Easthaven Solitaire is a hybrid variation that combines elements of Klondike and Spider. The goal is to move all cards to the four foundation piles by suit in ascending order from ace to king.

Easthaven Solitaire Setup

Easthaven Solitaire uses a standard 52-card deck and is set up as follows:

• Tableau: The game uses seven tableau columns. Each column is dealt three cards, with two facedown and the last one face up.
• Stockpile: The remaining cards are placed in a stockpile. You can use the stockpile to access more cards during gameplay, but using it places one card face up at the bottom of each tableau column, similar to Spider Solitaire. There is no discard pile.
• Foundation piles: There are placeholders for the four foundation piles above the tableau. These foundation piles are where you build each suit in ascending order from ace to king.

Easthaven Solitaire Rules

• Sequence tableau cards in descending order and alternating colors. Place a lower-ranked card of the opposite color on a higher-ranked card. For example, you can place a red eight on a black nine or a black seven on a red eight.
• Move valid sequences of face-up cards together. If a group of cards is already arranged in descending order with alternating colors, you can move the entire sequence to another tableau column as long as the top card follows the descending order and alternating color rule.
• Turn over facedown cards when they’re uncovered. If moving a card or sequence reveals a facedown card beneath it, flip it over to make it playable.
• Fill empty tableau columns with any single card or properly sequenced group. Empty columns create valuable space for reorganizing cards, and any card or properly sequenced group can be moved into them.
• Build the foundation piles in ascending order by suit from ace to king. Start each foundation with an ace, then continue placing cards of the same suit in ascending order, until you complete it with a king.
• Deal one card to the bottom of each tableau column from the stockpile when no moves remain. In Easthaven, all seven columns receive a card at the same time, similar to Spider Solitaire.
• All columns must be filled with a card to use the stockpile. If a column is empty, you must fill it before dealing again.
• Complete only one pass through the stockpile. Once it’s empty, you must finish the game using only the cards already in play.
• Complete all foundation piles to win. If all foundation piles are completed by suit from ace to king, you win the game.

Easthaven Solitaire Strategies

• Try to uncover facedown cards as early as possible. Hidden cards limit your options, so revealing them quickly gives you more chances to build sequences and make foundation moves.
• Avoid moving cards to the foundations too soon. Even though foundation progress feels productive, some cards are more useful in the tableau for building and freeing hidden cards.
• Create empty columns whenever you can. An open column is one of the most useful tools in Easthaven because it gives you space to move kings and long sequences.
• Use the stockpile as a last resort. Because new cards are added to every column when you use the stockpile, you risk blocking sequences that you want or need to move. So use as many tableau cards as possible before using the stockpile.
• Use the undo button. Sometimes you make mistakes or get stuck, but the undo button can take you back to a more flexible position. For example, if you fill an empty space with a card only to discover that moving it reveals another red four in your tableau, use the undo button and move it back so you can move a different card and possibly create more subsequent moves.

Because this Solitaire variation mixes elements from two very different games, if you enjoy Easthaven, you might like Spider Solitaire and Klondike Solitaire, which you can play for free on Solitaired!