Wondering how the scoring in Solitaire works? Want to understand exactly how points are earned—and lost—so you can improve your chances on the global leaderboard? This guide breaks down exactly what affects your points and how our leaderboards are determined.
1. Core Scoring Mechanics
Solitaire is scored based on the specific actions you perform during the game. While the point values may slightly differ across variations, the classic Klondike Solitaire (Draw 1 and Draw 3) rules are simple and generous:
- Turning over a face-down card: Earn +5 points every time you flip a hidden card on the tableau face-up.
- Moving a card to a foundation: Earn +10 points each time a card successfully reaches one of the four foundation piles (e.g., placing an Ace, a Two, etc.).
- No Negative Scores: In our system, your score can never fall below zero. It will remain at 0 if penalties exceed your total score.
2. The True Cost of Undoing
We all make mistakes, and the "Undo" button is a powerful tool to correct them! However, in competitive Solitaire, undoing moves has a strict penalty. Every time you undo a move, you will be penalized -15 points. This penalty discourages spamming the undo feature and rewards players who think ahead carefully.
In other game modes, penalties might look a bit different. For example, in Pyramid Solitaire, the undo penalty is only -5 points, but the fundamental principle remains: think before you move!
3. What About Time?
Many players ask if their elapsed time directly factors into the numerical score they receive. The answer is: No, time does not increase or decrease your final score value.
The time you spend playing is tracked and displayed alongside your score on the final victory screen, but it does not multiply your points. Instead, you are judged entirely on how few "Undo" penalties you took to complete the game. This means that if two players complete the game without using undo, they will achieve the exact same maximum score, regardless of how fast they were.
4. Climbing the Leaderboards
Our online leaderboards rank the top 100 players globally. So how do you get on there?
- Beat the Game: First and foremost, you must successfully win the game to submit your initials and score.
- Highest Score Wins: The leaderboard strictly sorts entries by the final Score from highest to lowest.
- Minimize Mistakes: The only way to get a maximum score is to complete the entire game without ever pressing "Undo". A perfect Klondike game usually sits at around several hundred points. Any -15 point penalty can knock you down multiple spots on the ranking.
- Tie-Breaking: Since time is not a factor in your point total, multiple players can achieve the exact same maximum score. While time is displayed alongside your score, the leaderboard primarily focuses on the points you earned.
5. Other Games
Different Solitaire modes have different mechanics. In Spider Solitaire, completing a full King-to-Ace sequence rewards a massive +100 points bonus. Meanwhile, Minesweeper ignores points entirely, ranking players purely based on their best completion time.
With this knowledge, you are ready to climb the ranks. Avoid the Undo button, plan your layout, and we will see your name on the leaderboard soon!