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Solitaire vs Patience: What Is the Difference?

There isn't one. "Solitaire" and "patience" are two names for the same family of card games played by one person. Which word you use mostly depends on where you live.

Two names, one kind of game

• Solitaire is the usual word in the United States and Canada.
• Patience is the usual word in the United Kingdom and in many other countries where British English is spoken.

Both words cover many different games, each with its own rules. They all share one idea: one player works alone to put cards in order.

Where does Klondike fit in?

Klondike is one particular solitaire game, and by far the best known. It's the version most people mean when they say "solitaire," including the one that came with Windows computers. Its layout has seven columns and four foundation piles, and the aim is to build each suit from Ace to King. Read how to play Klondike if you'd like the full rules.

Other well-known games in the family include FreeCell, Spider, Pyramid and Canfield. We list more on our types of solitaire page.

A different kind of solitaire

In some places, "solitaire" can also mean a board game, often called peg solitaire, where pegs or marbles jump over each other to clear a board. It has nothing to do with cards. If you're looking for the card game, you want the games on this site.

Quick answers

Is patience harder than solitaire?

No. They're the same thing. The difficulty depends on the specific game and its rules, not the name.

Is Klondike the same as solitaire?

Klondike is one kind of solitaire, and the one most people picture when they hear the word.

Which version is easiest?

For Klondike, draw 1 is easier than draw 3.