The History of Solitaire

Where Did Solitaire Come From?

Solitaire is one of the most widely played card games in history, yet its exact origins remain surprisingly murky. What we do know is that patience games (as Solitaire is called in Europe) have been entertaining solitary card players for at least 250 years, evolving from an obscure aristocratic pastime into a digital phenomenon played by hundreds of millions.

Early Origins: 18th-Century Europe

The earliest written references to Solitaire-style card games appear in Northern European literature from the late 1700s. A German book from 1783 describes a patience game, and Scandinavian sources from the same era reference similar games.

The word "patience" — still used in Britain, France, and much of Europe — reflects the game's character: a calm, methodical activity requiring careful thought and, well, patience.

Was It Really Fortune Telling?

Some historians believe patience games evolved from cartomancy (fortune telling with cards). The theory suggests that laying out cards in patterns for divination gradually became a game in its own right. While intriguing, hard evidence for this connection is scarce.

19th Century: Napoleon and the Rise of Popularity

Solitaire's association with Napoleon Bonaparte is one of its most enduring legends. During his exile on St. Helena (1815-1821), Napoleon reportedly spent hours playing patience games. Several Solitaire variants are even named after him, though historians debate whether these games were truly his favorites or were named in his honor after the fact.

What is certain is that by the mid-1800s, patience games had become enormously popular across Europe:

• 1860: Lady Adelaide Cadogan published one of the first books of patience games in English, *Illustrated Games of Patience*
• 1870s-1890s: Dozens of patience books were published, cataloguing hundreds of variants
• 1890: The term "Klondike" first appeared, named after the Canadian gold rush region, though the exact connection remains unclear

The Victorian Card Game Boom

Patience games were particularly popular in Victorian England, where they were considered a respectable pastime for women. The games offered intellectual stimulation without the gambling associations of multi-player card games. Queen Victoria herself was reportedly a fan.

The American Name: "Solitaire"

In North America, patience games became known as "Solitaire" — from the French word *solitaire*, meaning "alone" or "solitary." The name stuck, and today Americans and Canadians almost exclusively use "Solitaire" while Europeans tend to use "Patience."

The term originally referred to a broader category of solo activities (including a peg board game), but by the early 1900s it had become synonymous with solo card games in American English.

Klondike Becomes King

While hundreds of Solitaire variants exist, Klondike emerged as the dominant version in the 20th century. Its rules struck the perfect balance:

• Simple enough to learn quickly
• Complex enough to remain interesting
• Moderate win rate that kept players coming back
• Compact layout that fit on a small table or desk

By the mid-20th century, when someone said "Solitaire" in America, they almost always meant Klondike.

The Digital Revolution: Windows Solitaire

The single most important event in Solitaire's history happened on May 22, 1990, when Microsoft released Windows 3.0 with a built-in Solitaire game. Created by intern Wes Cherry, the game was originally designed to teach users how to drag and drop with a mouse — a novel interaction at the time.

The impact was enormous:

• Solitaire became the most-used Windows application for years
• It introduced millions of non-gamers to computer games
• Office workers around the world became secretly addicted
• The green felt background became one of computing's most iconic images

By the Numbers

• By 2012, Microsoft estimated that over 500 million people had played Windows Solitaire
• In 2019, Solitaire was inducted into the World Video Game Hall of Fame
• It remains one of the most-played computer games of all time

FreeCell and Spider Join the Party

Microsoft added FreeCell to Windows in 1995 and Spider Solitaire in 1998. Both became hugely popular:

• FreeCell appealed to strategy purists because nearly every deal is winnable — play FreeCell here
• Spider Solitaire offered variable difficulty with one-suit, two-suit, and four-suit modes — play Spider here

Together with Klondike, these three games formed the "big three" of digital Solitaire.

The Mobile Era

When smartphones arrived, Solitaire made a seamless transition. The game's tap-to-play interface was perfectly suited to touchscreens, and Solitaire apps consistently rank among the most downloaded games in app stores.

Today, Solitaire is played on:

• Desktop computers and laptops
• Smartphones and tablets
• Web browsers
• Dedicated gaming devices

The game has come full circle — from physical cards on a table to digital cards on a screen, and sometimes back to physical cards again.

Solitaire Today

Solitaire continues to evolve. Modern online versions like the one here at GameDeckHub offer features that would have amazed Victorian patience players:

• Unlimited undo for learning and experimentation
• Seeded deals for daily challenges and competitions
• Statistics tracking to measure improvement over time
• Beautiful designs that pay homage to classic card aesthetics

What has not changed is the core appeal: a quiet, engaging puzzle that you can pick up anytime, anywhere, with nothing more than a deck of cards — or a web browser.

Further Reading

• Solitaire Rules: Complete Guide — learn the rules of the game that shaped card game history
• How to Play Solitaire — a beginner-friendly walkthrough to get started

Play the Classic

Experience the game that has captivated players for over two centuries. Play Solitaire online for free — no download, no account, just the timeless game you know and love.