Chinese Patience is an elegant and challenging solitaire variant that combines strict suit-based building with the flexibility of bidirectional sequences. Build sequences up or down by suit in the tableau while working toward the classic foundation goal. This game rewards patience, planning, and precise execution!
Objective: Move all 52 cards to four foundation piles, building them up by suit from Ace to King.
The game's name reflects its character: it requires patience and careful thought, with an emphasis on harmonious suit sequences rather than the color-based chaos of Western solitaire variants. Every card must find its perfect place within its suit family.
Expert players mentally "choreograph" each suit's journey from tableau to foundation. With all cards visible, you can plan the exact sequence of moves needed to consolidate each suit. This requires visualizing multiple steps ahead.
Sometimes you need to build "backwards" first. Say an 8 sits on one pile, with a loose 6 and 7 elsewhere. Place the 6 onto the 7 first (building down). Then move the 7-6 run as a group onto the 8. The leading card of a run must always connect with its target.
Dedicate specific columns to specific suits when possible. This creates cleaner pathways and reduces the confusion of mixed suits. A column that's primarily Spades is easier to manage than one mixing all four suits.
Unlike Klondike where you rush cards to foundations, Chinese Patience rewards keeping mid-rank cards (5-9) in the tableau for maximum bidirectional building flexibility. Only send cards to foundations when they're no longer useful for tableau building.
vs. Klondike: Chinese Patience has all cards face-up, builds by suit instead of alternating colors, and allows bidirectional building.
vs. Castles in Spain: Both deal every card face up, but Castles in Spain builds down in alternating colors with no stock; Chinese Patience is stricter about suits yet freer about direction.
vs. Carlton: Both build by suit, but Chinese Patience allows both up and down while Carlton only allows down.
vs. Baker's Dozen: Both show all cards, but Chinese Patience allows bidirectional building and has a stock.
Before making any moves, scan all seven columns and identify where each suit's cards are located. Note which Aces are accessible, which Kings are buried, and which suits have good sequential runs.
Begin building same-suit sequences, using bidirectional building to consolidate multiple piles. Create empty columns by moving Kings and their sequences. Focus on exposing all four Aces.
Refine your suit columns, building longer sequences and preparing to send cards to foundations. Use the stock pile strategically to fill gaps in your suit sequences.
Once suits are well-organized, systematically build foundations. This phase should flow smoothly if earlier phases were executed well.
Despite its name, Chinese Patience doesn't have direct origins in China - it's a Western solitaire variant that gained the "Chinese" moniker possibly due to its emphasis on patience and harmony (stereotypically associated with Eastern philosophy). The name has been attached to more than one ruleset over the years; the rules described on this page are the ones this version follows.
The game represents a marriage of different solitaire innovations: Klondike's basic structure, strict suit-based building, and the bidirectional flexibility found in a handful of "up-or-down" patience games. This combination creates a unique and satisfying experience.
Chinese Patience has a moderate to challenging difficulty. All cards are visible, and you can build in both directions. That gives a skilled player far more control than standard Klondike. But the strict suit rule and the single stock pass mean some deals still can't be beaten.
Plan your suit consolidation with care and use both directions. Do that, and you will win most of the deals that can be won. This is a game where skill genuinely shows.
Yes! As long as you stay within the same suit, you can build in either direction. A sequence like 5-6-7-6-5-6-7-8 is perfectly legal. This flexibility is what makes Chinese Patience unique!
Yes! Unlike Klondike where most cards start face-down, Chinese Patience deals all tableau cards face-up. This gives you perfect information to plan your strategy from the beginning.
The name likely refers to the patience and careful planning required to succeed. The emphasis on suit harmony (each suit finding its proper path) may have evoked associations with Eastern philosophy for the game's European creators.
No! Each sequence must be entirely one suit. Unlike Klondike where you alternate red and black, Chinese Patience requires same-suit building. This is stricter in one way but more flexible in allowing bidirectional building.
Not always! Mid-rank cards (especially 5-9) are often more useful in the tableau for building sequences. Move Aces and 2s to foundations early, but consider keeping higher cards in play for flexibility.
Empty columns can only hold Kings, so use them strategically to store King sequences while you rearrange other columns. Creating and maintaining at least one empty column gives you crucial maneuvering space.
No — the 24 stock cards turn over one at a time onto the waste, and there is no redeal. Squeeze every tableau move out of the position before you draw.
Chinese Patience games typically take 8-15 minutes to complete, making them perfect for a focused mental break. The perfect information and bidirectional building make each game feel like solving an elegant puzzle.
Experience Eastern elegance - play Chinese Patience Solitaire now!