What changes in draw three
Everything works as in normal Klondike except for one rule: each time you click the stock, three cards are turned over onto the waste, and only the top one can be played.
The other two cards sit fanned out underneath. You cannot touch them until the top card has been played elsewhere. That single change turns a mostly forgiving game into one where the order you do things in really matters.
Why the waste is the whole game
In draw 1 every card in the stock passes through your hands on every pass. In draw 3 you only ever reach a card if it happens to land on top of a group of three, or if you play the cards above it first. Which cards you reach changes from pass to pass depending on how many you played.
The three-card rhythm. If you play one card from the waste, the groups of three on the next pass shift by one, so cards that were buried before can now land on top. Playing nothing keeps the same cards buried every time. When you are stuck, changing the rhythm is often the way out.
Tips for turn 3
- Make every tableau move before you draw. Drawing changes what is on top of the waste, so finish what the board already allows first.
- Notice what you have seen. By the second pass you know which cards are in the stock. If you need a black 6 and have not seen one, it is still ahead of you.
- Prefer moves that change the rhythm. Playing a single card from the waste can bring a buried card into reach on the next pass.
- Do not rush the foundations. Cards in the tableau can hold sequences together. Send a card up only when it does not leave a gap you will need.
- Use Undo to learn. Try a line, see what the next pass brings, and step back if it does not work.
Scoring in draw 3
Draw 3 uses the same standard scoring as draw 1 for moves. The difference is the stock: you can pass through it three times for free, and every further pass costs 20 points. In draw 1 every pass through the stock costs 100 points. See the full scoring table.
More solitaire help
Frequently asked questions
Why is solitaire turn 3 harder than turn 1?
You turn over three cards at once but can only play the top one, so the two beneath it stay out of reach until it moves. In turn 1 you see and can reach every card in the stock on each pass.
Do I get unlimited passes through the stock?
Yes. You can turn the waste back into the stock as often as you like. The scoring does add a penalty for each pass after the third.
How do I switch to draw 1?
Use the Draw 1 / Draw 3 switch above the table and choose Draw 1. This starts a new deal.
Is turn 3 always winnable?
No. Some random deals cannot be won in draw 3, and more of them fall into that group than in draw 1. Hint and Undo are there when you want to explore.