Question 1

Why is Turn 3 Solitaire so much harder than Turn 1?

Accepted Answer

Because only every third card is immediately playable. The other two are buried until the cycle brings them round again, which means a card you need may be unreachable for several passes. Real win rates drop from roughly 33% in Turn 1 to roughly 11% in Turn 3.

Question 2

How many times can I go through the stock in Turn 3?

Accepted Answer

Here, as many times as you like — redeals are unlimited. Some versions limit you to three passes, which makes the game dramatically harder still.

Question 3

Does the order of cards in the stock change when I redeal?

Accepted Answer

No. The stock keeps its order, so the same cards come up in the same groups of three every pass. That is what makes it worth counting: if a card you need is second in its group, you have to change what is on the table before it becomes reachable.

Question 4

Is Turn 3 winnable without luck?

Accepted Answer

Skill matters much more than in Turn 1, but the deal still decides a lot. Many Turn 3 deals cannot be won at all, so a low win rate is expected rather than a sign of poor play.

Question 5

What is the best strategy for Turn 3 Klondike?

Accepted Answer

Play the whole stock cycle once before committing to anything, so you know what is coming. Note which cards sit at the front of each group of three — those are your reachable cards. And prefer tableau moves that turn a card over, since information is worth more here than anywhere else.

Question 6

Should I play Turn 1 or Turn 3?

Accepted Answer

Turn 1 if you want to win regularly and enjoy the flow of the game. Turn 3 if you want the game to be a genuine puzzle where most deals beat you. Both are on this site and you can switch between them with one click.

Question 7

Is Klondike Solitaire Turn 3 free to play?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Klondike Solitaire Turn 3 is completely free here — free to play, nothing to install, and nothing that interrupts a game halfway through.

Question 8

Do I need to download anything to play Turn 3?

Accepted Answer

No. It runs entirely in your browser. There is nothing to install and no app to update.

Question 9

Can I play Turn 3 on a phone or tablet?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The layout adapts to the screen, cards can be dragged or tapped, and the whole game works on touch. It is the same site, not a cut-down version.

Question 10

Do I need an account to play Turn 3?

Accepted Answer

No. Open a game and play — there is nothing to register for. Your settings, statistics and bookmarks are kept in your own browser.

Question 11

Can I undo a move?

Accepted Answer

Yes, as many times as you like, with the Undo button or Ctrl+Z (Cmd+Z on a Mac). There is no penalty and no limit.

Question 12

Can I replay the same deal?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Every game shows a deal number in the bottom-right corner. The same number always deals the same game. You can bookmark it, share it, or send it to us in a bug report.

Question 13

Does Turn 3 work offline?

Accepted Answer

Once the page has loaded, the game itself runs entirely in your browser and does not need the network. Reloading the page does require a connection.

Question 14

Is there a timer, and can I turn it off?

Accepted Answer

There is a timer and a move counter in the bar at the bottom. Both can be hidden from Settings if you would rather play without them.

Question 15

Can I change how the cards look?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Settings offers five table colours, six card backs, and a four-colour deck where each suit gets its own colour — which many colour-blind players find much easier to read.

Question 16

Are there keyboard shortcuts?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The Hotkeys button in the top bar lists them all. Every action has both a keyboard route and a mouse route; the keyboard is never the only way to do something.

Question 17

Is there anything I have to sign up for?

Accepted Answer

No. You can open any game and start playing immediately — there is no sign-up step and no paywall. Settings and statistics are kept in your own browser rather than on a server.

Question 18

What happens if I close the tab mid-game?

Accepted Answer

The game is not saved, so closing the tab ends it. If you want to come back to the same deal, note the deal number first — it will deal exactly the same game.

Question 19

What are the rules of Turn 3 Solitaire?

Accepted Answer

Identical to Klondike in every respect except the stock: cards come off three at a time and only the top one of each group can be played. Foundations build up in suit from the Ace; the tableau builds down in alternating colours.

Question 20

How many cards are dealt in Turn 3 Klondike?

Accepted Answer

The same as Turn 1 — twenty-eight across seven columns, twenty-four in the stock. Only the way the stock is turned differs.

Question 21

What is a good win rate for Turn 3?

Accepted Answer

Around 11% with normal play. That is roughly a third of Turn 1's rate, and it is why many people play Turn 1 by default.

Question 22

Is there any way to reach a buried stock card?

Accepted Answer

Only by changing what is on the table so the group in front of it can be played. The stock keeps its order through every pass, so if a card sits second in its group it stays second until you play the card in front of it.

Question 23

Should I count the stock in Turn 3?

Accepted Answer

Yes — it is the single biggest skill in the game. Playing one full cycle before committing tells you which cards are reachable and which are buried, and that information decides most of your later moves.

Question 24

Why do people say Turn 3 is the 'real' solitaire?

Accepted Answer

Because it is the traditional casino version and the one the original scoring was built around. Turn 1 is the friendlier variant that became the default in software.

Question 25

Does Turn 3 use a different deck?

Accepted Answer

No. Turn 3 Klondike uses one standard 52-card deck, exactly as Turn 1 does. The only difference between the two games is how many cards are turned from the stock at a time.

Question 26

Can I switch to Turn 1 mid-game?

Accepted Answer

Not within a game, but the switcher at the top of the board takes you straight to Turn 1 as a new game. Your statistics are kept separately for each variant.

Question 27

What is the best opening move in Turn 3?

Accepted Answer

Usually to cycle the stock once before touching the tableau, so you know what is coming. The exception is an Ace or a two on the table, which should always go home immediately.

Question 28

Is Turn 3 worth playing if I keep losing?

Accepted Answer

Losing is the normal experience — roughly nine games in ten. If that is frustrating rather than interesting, Turn 1 is the same game with far better odds and is one click away.