Is It Possible to Win Every Solitaire Game?

You have probably noticed that some games of Solitaire seem easy to win, while others present a difficult challenge. In this article, we'll explore whether all Solitaire games can be won. We'll look at different types of Solitaire and figure out why some are easier to win than others.

Can Every Solitaire Game Be Won?

The simple answer is no. Every type of Solitaire has its own rules and winning probabilities, some games are easier to win than others. On average, around 80 out of 100 Solitaire games can actually be won. For example, the game called FreeCell has one of the highest rates, with about 99 out of 100 games winnable. Pyramid, which seems simple and straightforward, is one of the hardest to win, with only 1 to 5 games out of 100 being winnable.

What Makes Solitaire Winnable?

Basically, a game is winnable if there's at least one way to win. If there are many ways, players are more likely to find one. Sadly, even if 80% of games can be won, players don't win them all. If there's only one way, it's easy to make mistakes and get stuck. Sometimes even very simple games can lack any solution at all and can't be won. What makes Solitaire games interesting is how these two things — the chance of finding a way to win and the actual chances of winning — come together. When a game has a high chance of being won but low chances of winning, it's because of players' skills. They need to find the best strategy to succeed.

Chances of Winning in Different Solitaire Games

The most popular and, therefore, most studied Solitaire game is Klondike Solitaire, also known as Classic Solitaire. Many people often just say Solitaire to mean Klondike.

Klondike is tricky to figure out because there are a lot of unknowns. We have to think about where each card could go and how to win. The biggest problem is that players don't know where the cards are, so luck plays a big part.

To understand the odds of winning Klondike, mathematicians look at a version where players do know the cards' positions, called Thoughtful Klondike. This helps figure out the chances better by removing the factor of luck.

In this version, around 82 out of 100 games are solvable, assuming players can limitlessly use the Stock pile and undo their moves. But we're not sure how often people actually win. Some studies suggest that only about 43 out of 100 games are actually won, but there's still a lot of debate on this topic.

And what about Spider Solitaire? It's also a quite a challenge because a lot of cards are face-down. To calculate the odds, Thoughtful Spider is used, in which players can see all the cards.

Most studies say Spider Solitaire has a high chance of winning, between 98.8% and 99.9%. This sounds great, but not all games are easy. Some have only one way to win and can become impossible if you make a mistake somewhere along the way.

Usually, you'll win about 1 out of 3 Spider Solitaire games. But this depends on how many suits you play with and whether you can undo moves.

Conclusion

Playing Solitaire is really fun and exciting. But remember it can be tough too. Most Solitaire games are winnable, but sometimes, even if you have good skills and strategy, you might not win. Don't just focus on winning — improve your skills, learn new strategies, enjoy the game, and have fun. After all, games are about taking a break, having fun, and exercising your mind.