How Vegas solitaire works
Vegas is ordinary Klondike with two changes: a limit on how often you can go through the stock, and a cash score instead of points.
- The table. Seven columns of 1 to 7 cards, with the last card of each face up. The other 24 cards are the stock.
- Building. Build down in alternating colours. Only a King, or a run that starts with a King, can go into an empty column.
- Foundations. Build each suit up from Ace to King at the top right.
- The stock. Choose draw 1 with one pass, or draw 3 with three passes. When your passes are used up, the stock stays empty.
- The money. You start at -$52. Each card sent to a foundation is +$5. A card taken back off a foundation is -$5.
Vegas scoring at a glance
| Cards on the foundations | Your balance |
|---|---|
| 0 | -$52 |
| 5 | -$27 |
| 10 | -$2 |
| 11 | +$3 (you have broken even) |
| 26 | +$78 |
| 52 (a win) | +$208 |
Draw 1 or draw 3?
This site lets you choose with the switch above the table. Both are common ways to play Vegas.
- Draw 1, one pass. You see every card in the stock, but only once. If a card you need is under one you cannot use yet, you may never get it. This is the stricter version.
- Draw 3, three passes. Each click turns three cards and only the top one is playable, but you get three trips through the stock. It takes more planning and gives you more chances.
Tips for Vegas solitaire
- Turn the hidden cards first. Face-down cards are the ones you cannot plan with. Empty a column and you can use a King.
- Think before you draw. With few passes, every card you pass over matters. Make sure you have used the card on the waste before you take the next.
- Do not send cards home too soon. A 5 you need as a place for a 4 of the right colour is more useful in the column than on the foundation.
- Aim for eleven. Break even first. Anything after that is profit.
- Use Undo. It is unlimited. In a game with very few passes, it is the best tool you have.
Other games
Frequently asked questions
How does Vegas solitaire scoring work?
You pay $52 for the deck, which is $1 a card, and you win $5 for every card that reaches a foundation. Your score is your balance, so it starts at -$52. Move all 52 cards home and you finish at +$208.
How many cards do you need to break even?
Eleven. Eleven cards on the foundations pay $55, which covers the $52 and leaves you $3 ahead. Ten cards leave you $2 short.
What are the rules of Vegas solitaire?
The table is the same as Klondike: seven columns, build down in alternating colours, Kings into empty columns, and four foundations built up by suit. The difference is the stock. With draw 1 you go through the stock once. With draw 3 you may go through it three times.
Do you lose money if you move a card off a foundation?
Yes. A card that leaves a foundation takes its $5 with it, so your balance drops by $5 and goes back up when the card returns.
Why can I not turn the waste back into the stock?
Vegas rules limit the passes. Draw 1 allows one pass through the stock, so the waste cannot be turned back over. Draw 3 allows three passes, which means the waste can be turned over twice.
Which is easier, draw 1 or draw 3 in Vegas solitaire?
Neither is easy. Draw 1 shows you every card in the stock, but only once, so there is almost no room for mistakes. Draw 3 gives you three trips through the stock, but you only see the top of each group of three. Many deals cannot be won in either mode, which is why the scoring pays you for every card you get home.
Is Vegas solitaire real gambling?
No. There is no money here. The dollars are just a way to keep score, in the style of the casino game.