The layout
The game uses one standard 52-card deck. Seven columns, called the tableau, are dealt from left to right: the first column has one card, the second has two, and so on up to seven. Only the top card of each column is face up. The 24 cards left over form the stock, face down at the top left.
Next to the stock is the waste pile, where cards you turn over land. At the top right are the four foundations, which start empty.
Moving cards
- On the tableau, build down in alternating colours: a red 6 goes on a black 7, and a black 5 goes on that red 6.
- You can move a whole run of face-up cards together, as long as it is in order and alternating in colour.
- When you move the last face-up card from a column, the face-down card beneath it is turned over.
- Only a King, or a run that starts with a King, can be moved into an empty column.
- On a foundation, build up in a single suit: Ace, then 2, then 3, all the way to King. Cards can go to a foundation one at a time.
The stock and the waste
When you have no moves on the table, turn cards over from the stock. In the one-card version you turn over a single card each time. In the three-card version you turn over three cards, but only the top one can be played, which makes the game harder.
The top card of the waste can be played to a foundation or onto a tableau column. When the stock is empty, the waste pile is turned back over to make a new stock, and you can go through it again.
Scoring
Boardflix uses the classic Standard scoring.
- Waste to a column: 5 points.
- Waste or column to a foundation: 10 points.
- Turning over a face-down card in the tableau: 5 points.
- Moving a card back from a foundation to a column: minus 15 points.
- Turning the waste back over: minus 100 points in the one-card game, minus 20 in the three-card game.
- Finishing quickly adds a time bonus: 700,000 divided by the number of seconds, for games that take longer than 30 seconds.
Winning the game
You win when all 52 cards are on the foundations, thirteen in each suit. Not every deal can be won, even with perfect play, and that is part of the game. Once every card in the tableau is face up, the rest of the game is mechanical, and boardflix offers to finish it for you.
Tips for winning more deals
- Turn over face-down cards first. Every hidden card is a card you cannot use, so prefer moves that reveal one, especially in the tallest columns.
- Be patient with the foundations. Moving a card up too early can leave you without a place for a black or red card of the next rank.
- Keep your Aces and 2s moving up, but hold back middle cards if you may need them as a place to put something else.
- Empty a column when you can, but only if you have a King ready to move into it.
- Before you turn over the stock, check that you have made every move on the table. Cards in the stock are only useful if there is somewhere to put them.
- When two moves look equal, pick the one from the column with the most face-down cards.
Playing Solitaire on boardflix
Tap a card to lift it, then tap it again to send it to the best place, or drag it where you want it. If a card cannot go there, it slides back. Use Hint to see a good move, and Undo as often as you like. Choose Draw 1 for a gentler game or Draw 3 for the traditional challenge.
Every deal has a number, so you can restart the same deal or share it. The Daily deal is the same for everyone on a given day, and winning it on consecutive days builds a streak. Your game is saved if you leave, and your best score is stored on your device. The game is for one player, needs no account and has no time limit.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Draw 1 and Draw 3?
In Draw 1 you turn over one card at a time from the stock, which gives you more chances to play. In Draw 3 you turn over three at a time and only the top one can be played, so the game is harder.
Can every game be won?
No. Some deals cannot be won however well you play. Using Undo and trying a different order often finds a way through a deal that looked stuck.
Can I move a card from a foundation back to the tableau?
Yes, by dragging it, but it costs 15 points, so it is best saved for when you are stuck.
What does the Daily deal do?
Everyone who plays it on the same day gets the same cards. Winning it on consecutive days builds a streak.
What does Finish it do?
When every card in the tableau is face up, the rest is mechanical. Finish it plays the remaining moves for you.
Is my game saved?
Yes. If you leave the page, your current game is saved on your device and is there when you return.
