How to Play Double Solitaire: Rules for Two Players
Knowing how to play double solitaire turns a quiet one-player card game into a fast, competitive race. Two players each set up their own Klondike layout, then both build onto a shared set of foundation piles in the middle. Whoever sheds the most cards wins. It needs two standard decks, a flat surface, and a little speed.
Key takeaways
- Double solitaire is two-player Klondike played onto shared foundation piles.
- Each player deals their own seven-column tableau from a separate deck.
- The center foundations are shared — anyone can play onto them by suit, ace to king.
- Classic rules are turn-based, and many tables play it as a real-time race; either way, the player who plays more cards to the center wins.
- Use two decks with different back designs so cards are easy to sort afterward.
What double solitaire is
Double solitaire takes regular Klondike and makes it social. Each player runs their own private game, but the foundation piles in the middle belong to both of you.
That shared center is what creates the competition. You are racing to dump your cards onto common ace-to-king piles before your opponent dumps theirs.
It is a great change of pace from solo play or a quick-reaction game like the Chrome Dino game. If you already know single-player Klondike, you are most of the way there.
What you need
Setup is simple, but a couple of choices make cleanup painless.
- Two standard 52-card decks. One per player.
- Different back designs. Use decks with distinct backs so you can split them apart at the end.
- A clear table. You need room for two tableaus plus shared foundations in the middle.
- Two players. Sitting across from or beside each other both work.
How to set up double solitaire
Each player builds a normal Klondike layout from their own deck. Do this at the same time.
Deal each tableau
Lay out seven columns. The first column gets one card, the second gets two, and so on up to seven cards in the last column.
The top card of each column is face up; the rest are face down. This is the standard Klondike tableau, dealt twice — once per player.
Form each stockpile
After dealing the columns, each player keeps the remaining 24 cards face down as a personal stockpile, exactly as in single-player Klondike.
Leave the center empty
The foundation area between the two players starts empty. Both of you will build those piles together as aces come out.
The core rule: shared foundations
This is the heart of the game. The foundation piles in the center are shared by both players.
When either player turns up an ace, it goes to the center to start a foundation. From then on, both players can build that pile upward by suit — two, three, four, and so on to the king.
So you can play a card from your tableau or stockpile onto a foundation your opponent started. Every card you add to the center is a card you have shed and a point in your favor.
How a turn works
The classic rules are turn-based (see below), but a popular house version is a free-for-all race: both players play at the same time, as fast as they can, with no turns to wait for. That race style is close to games like Nerts and Pounce.
You move cards within your own tableau using normal Klondike rules: build down in alternating colors, and fill empty columns with kings. Your tableau is yours alone.
But the foundations are open to both. The moment an ace or the next card in a suit becomes available, either player can slap it onto the shared pile — first hand there wins that spot.
The classic turn-based option
If a real-time scramble feels too chaotic, play turn-based instead, as traditional rule books describe it. Players alternate, each making as many legal moves as they can; a turn usually ends when you flip a stock card you can’t use and place it on your waste pile. Play continues until both players are stuck.
How to win
The goal is to play more cards to the shared foundations than your opponent does.
A perfect game would see one player clear their entire deck to the center, but that is rare. Usually both players eventually run out of legal moves.
When neither player can make another move, the game ends. Count how many cards each of you sent to the foundations — most cards wins. Because the decks have different backs, sorting them to count is easy.
Scoring across multiple rounds
Many players keep a running score over several deals rather than a single hand.
| Scoring style | How it works |
|---|---|
| Card count | Each foundation card you played is worth one point. |
| Net difference | Subtract the lower count from the higher; winner scores the gap. |
| First to a target | Play rounds until one player reaches an agreed score, like 100. |
Agree on the scoring before you start so there is no debate at the end. Card count is the simplest for new players.
Speed tips for the race version
Once you know the rules, a few habits give you an edge in a real-time game.
- Watch the center constantly. The next card up on a shared pile may be in your hand — grab the spot first.
- Get your aces out fast. Starting a foundation gives you a head start on building it.
- Flip face-down cards early. More visible cards means more chances to feed the center.
- Keep one hand free. You want to play to the foundations the instant an opening appears.
- Stay honest about legal moves. Build foundations up by suit and tableau down in alternating colors.
Frequently asked questions
How many decks do you need for double solitaire?
Two standard 52-card decks, one per player. Use decks with different back designs so you can easily separate and count the cards when the game ends.
What makes double solitaire different from regular solitaire?
The foundation piles in the center are shared between both players. Each player keeps their own private tableau and stockpile, but anyone can build onto any foundation by suit. That shared center turns solitaire into a race.
How do you win double solitaire?
Play more cards to the shared center foundations than your opponent. When neither player can make another legal move, count each player’s contributions to the foundations. The player with the most cards in the center wins.
Can you play double solitaire turn-based instead of racing?
Yes, and that is the classic way to play. Instead of a real-time scramble, players alternate turns, each making all available legal moves before passing. The game still ends when both players are stuck, and the most foundation cards still wins.
Do you build foundations by suit in double solitaire?
Yes. Just like single-player Klondike, foundations start with an ace and build upward by suit through to the king. The only difference is that both players share and build onto the same foundation piles.
Deal two decks and race
Now that you know how to play double solitaire, all it takes is two decks, two tableaus, and a shared set of foundations in the middle. Race or take turns, count the center cards, and crown a winner. Want to sharpen your Klondike moves first? Run a few solo rounds of Klondike solitaire before you challenge a friend.
