Solitaire Glossary: Essential Terms and Definitions

New to the world of solo card games? Whether you are playing Klondike, Spider, or FreeCell, you will encounter specific terms like "The Foundation" or "The Tableau." Understanding these definitions is the first step to mastering strategy and winning more games.

This guide breaks down the most common solitaire terms so you can follow rules and tutorials with ease.

Key Areas of the Board

1. The Foundation – This is the most important part of the game. The foundation consists of four piles (one for each suit) where you build sequences starting from the Ace and ending with the King. Winning a game of solitaire usually means moving all cards to the foundations.
2. The Tableau – The main "work area" of the game. In classic Klondike, this consists of seven columns of cards. Here, you move cards around to uncover hidden cards and build sequences in descending order and alternating colors.
3. The Stock (or Talon) – When you run out of moves in the tableau, you draw from the Stock pile. These are the cards left over after the initial deal.
4. The Waste Pile – Cards drawn from the Stock that cannot be played immediately into the tableau or foundation go into the Waste pile. In most versions, only the top card of the waste pile is playable.
5. Free Cells – Specific to FreeCell Solitaire. These are four "maneuvering" spots at the top of the board used to temporarily hold cards while you rearrange the tableau.

Advanced Solitaire Terminology

Once you understand the board, these terms will help you understand the flow of the game:

Sequence: A group of cards in a specific numerical order (e.g., 7, 6, 5, 4).
Build: The act of placing a card on top of another card in the tableau according to the rules (usually alternating color and descending rank).
Fanned: When cards are overlapped but their values are still visible, common in the tableau columns.
Blocked: A situation where no moves are possible, and no more cards can be drawn from the stock.

Putting the Terms Into Practice

Now that you know what the Foundation and Tableau are, why not try a round? Each variation uses these areas slightly differently. For example, in Spider Solitaire, you build sequences directly in the tableau before they move to the foundation!

If you're still confused about how to lay the cards out, check out our guide on How to Set Up Solitaire.

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