Klondike Solitaire Turn 3 (Draw 3)

How to Play Turn 3

The layout and goals are classic Klondike: seven tableau columns built downward in alternating colors, four foundations built upward by suit from Ace to King, empty columns fillable only by Kings. The difference is the stock. Each click deals a fan of three cards, and only the top card of the fan can be played. Taking that card exposes the one beneath it — but skipping it keeps the fan intact for the next cycle. Because the stock order never reshuffles, every card you play (or refuse) shifts which cards surface on later passes. You win when all 52 cards reach the foundations; deals marked ✓ are solver-verified winnable.

Why Turn 3 Is Harder

Because cards come off the stock in fixed groups of three, the order of the stock never changes — playing (or skipping) a card shifts which cards land on top in the next cycle. A card buried in the middle of a fan can stay out of reach for the whole game unless you deliberately change the rhythm by playing cards before it. That's the puzzle within the puzzle, and it's why serious Solitaire players consider Turn Three the real test.

• Only the top card of each three-card fan is playable.
• The stock order is fixed — plan which cards to take to shift the fans in your favor.
• Lower win rate: typically 10–25%, versus 30–45% for Turn One.

Turn 3, Draw 3, 3 Card Solitaire — One Game, Three Names

Different sites and apps name this rule differently. Turn 3 and Turn Three describe how many cards turn over from the stock; Draw 3 and Draw Three mean the same thing; 3 card Solitaire or three-card Klondike refer to the size of the fan. Classic Windows Solitaire shipped with Draw Three as its default, which is why many players think of this as "normal" Solitaire and of Turn 1 as the easy setting. Whatever you call it, the game above is that rule — free, online, no download.

Turn Three Strategy Tips

• Count in threes. Before playing a waste card, think about how it shifts the next fans — sometimes skipping a playable card unlocks two better ones next cycle.
• Memorize the stock on your first pass. Knowing what's buried tells you which tableau moves are worth making.
• Don't recycle mindlessly. If a full pass yields no plays, you need to change something on the tableau first — another identical pass won't help.

Turn 3 FAQ

Is Turn 3 the same as Draw 3 or 3 card Solitaire?

Yes. Turn 3, Turn Three, Draw 3, Draw Three and 3 card Solitaire are all names for the same Klondike rule: the stock deals three cards at a time and only the top card of the fan is playable. This page plays that rule, free online with no download.

What does Turn 3 mean in Solitaire?

Clicking the stock deals three cards at once and only the top card of the fan is playable. To reach the cards underneath you must play or move the ones above them — which is why planning across stock cycles matters so much here.

Is Turn 3 harder than Turn 1?

Yes, considerably. Skilled players win roughly 10–25% of Turn 3 deals versus 30–45% in Turn 1. A card buried in the middle of a fan can stay out of reach the whole game unless you deliberately change the rhythm of your draws.

Are all Turn 3 deals winnable?

No — a meaningful share of random Turn 3 deals cannot be won no matter how well you play. Deals marked with the ✓ winnable sign above the board have been verified by a built-in solver to have at least one winning line.

Can I switch to the easier Turn 1 mode?

Yes. The rules are identical apart from the draw, so you can move to Klondike Solitaire Turn 1 for a more forgiving game anytime — free, in the browser, no download.

Other Ways to Play

• Classic Klondike Solitaire — the standard game on our homepage.
• Klondike Solitaire Turn 1 — one-card draw, the relaxed version.
• How to Play Klondike Solitaire — full rules, scoring, and odds.