Advanced Strategy

Play 1Move sequences to reduce the number of occupied piles

Your chances of winning improve as the number of occupied tableau piles falls. During the opening, move complete same-suit sequences whenever the move can clear a pile. During stock play, use empty piles to organise waste cards and uncover important foundation cards.

Example — Moving a sequence to create an empty pile

Move the 10-9 sequence of diamonds onto the Jack of diamonds. The Ace of clubs becomes available and moves to its foundation, leaving Pile A empty and Pile B holding J♦-10♦-9♦.

You have built a useful sequence and created an empty tableau pile with the same two moves.

Play 2Place a useful waste card in an empty pile

If a waste card cannot be played and you believe its destination can be uncovered within one or two moves, put it in an empty tableau pile. The card stays available, and once its same-suit destination appears you move it out and get the space back.

Example — Temporarily storing the 7 of clubs

Move the 7 of clubs into the empty pile, then the 3 of hearts to its foundation. The 8 of clubs is now available: move it onto the 9, then bring the 7 out of storage onto the 8.

Pile A is empty, Pile B reads 9♣-8♣-7♣ and Pile C is empty again.

Play 3Keep a support card in the tableau

In a tight layout, keeping a playable card in the tableau often lets lower cards of the same suit move. That can leave you with a complete sequence and an empty pile instead of one banked card.

Example — Keeping the 6 of hearts below the 7

The 6 of hearts can move to the foundation, but move it onto the 7 of hearts instead. The 5 of clubs becomes available and goes to its own foundation, and Pile B is empty.

Play 4Use an empty pile with the intention of restoring it

Against a blocked tableau, move a sequence into an empty pile when doing so uncovers an important card. Then move the sequence on to its proper destination and take the space back.

Example — Moving a spade sequence to uncover an Ace

Move the 9-8-7 sequence of spades into the empty pile, send the Ace of diamonds to its foundation, then move the complete spade sequence onto the 10 of spades.

Pile A and Pile C are both empty. You spent one space and finished with two.

Play 5Play a waste card when it can create an empty pile

When a waste card joins a tableau sequence and nothing else blocks the piles involved, playing it is profitable for the spaces it opens, not just for the card itself.

Example — Building a complete heart sequence from the waste

Move the 9 of hearts from the waste onto the 10, the 8 onto the 9 and the 7 onto the 8. Pile A becomes 10♥-9♥-8♥-7♥ and two piles are cleared.

Do not turn another stock card while the 9 of hearts can start a run like this.

Play 6Rearrange the tableau to create a destination

When the stock has already produced an important card, the position may justify several tableau moves purely to keep that card from being covered.

Example — Saving the 6 of diamonds

Move the 3 of clubs to its foundation, which frees the 7 of diamonds. Move the 7 onto the 8, then bring the 6 across from the waste.

Pile A reads 8♦-7♦-6♦, Pile B is empty and the club foundation has advanced.

Play 7Protect a useful waste card before turning the stock

Turning the next stock card is a statement that the current waste card no longer matters. If it can support a sequence or reach a foundation soon, save it first.

Example — Saving the 5 of spades

Move the 4 of hearts to its foundation, freeing the 6 of spades. Move the 6 onto the 7, then the 5 from the waste onto the 6.

Pile A becomes 7♠-6♠-5♠ and Pile B is empty. Simply turning the stock would have covered the 5 instead.

Play 8Respect the reduced number of possible moves

When all ten tableau piles are occupied, every move needs a legal same-suit destination, so you need a stronger reason to move anything at all.

Do not break complete sequences or send useful support cards to the foundations merely because those moves are available. Look for the move that empties a pile, uncovers a low card or saves the current waste card.

Example — Avoiding a weak foundation move

Moving the 6 of hearts to the foundation creates no empty pile and removes the support card for the 7. Move the 6 onto the 7 instead: that exposes the 5 of clubs and may let Pile B be cleared.

Play 9Delay the move when you can create a bigger advantage

A playable foundation card is sometimes worth keeping in the tableau. Leaving it available may produce a longer same-suit sequence, rescue a waste card or help empty another pile.

Example — Delaying the 8 of clubs

The 8 of clubs can go straight to the foundation, but move it onto the 9 of clubs instead. Then move the 7 of clubs from the waste onto the 8.

You have created a sequence, saved the waste card and opened a tableau pile. The 8 and the 7 can still go to the foundation later.

Play 10Think about what each move allows you to do next

Playing like a strong Josephine Solitaire player means making moves that produce more moves. A strong tableau contains empty piles, complete same-suit sequences and available low cards. Before moving, ask:

A move that produces two or three additional plays is almost always stronger than a move that only changes the location of one card.

Example — Choosing the move that creates more options

Move the 8-7 of diamonds onto the 9 of diamonds. That uncovers the Ace of spades, which reaches a foundation and leaves Pile A empty.

Do not play the heart sequence first. It only uncovers the King of clubs, which has no immediate move at all.