Somerset Solitaire is an intriguing variation of Klondike with a unique twist - the tableau building rules are different, creating new strategic challenges. If you enjoy Klondike but want something fresh, Somerset offers familiar mechanics with exciting new decisions!
เป้าหมาย: Move all 52 cards to the four foundation piles, building them up by suit from Ace to King.
The major distinction that makes Somerset unique:
This single change dramatically affects strategy, making Somerset significantly more challenging than standard Klondike!
Because you can only build by suit, you have fewer placement options for each card. This makes every decision more critical and increases the importance of planning ahead.
The positive side is that sequences are always movable as a unit since they're already in suit. This gives you more flexibility when rearranging cards compared to Klondike.
With stricter building rules, empty columns become even more valuable in Somerset than in Klondike. They provide crucial maneuvering space.
Keep mental track of where cards of each suit are located. Since you can only build by suit, knowing that you have several spades in one column helps you plan to bring them together.
Be even more conservative about moving cards to foundations in Somerset. Because tableau building is so restricted, you may need those cards for building sequences.
Understand your stock pile cycling rules (varies by Somerset variant). Some versions allow unlimited passes through the stock, others are more restrictive.
Since only Kings can fill empty spaces, and building is by suit, King placement is crucial. Consider which suit Kings you have available when creating empty columns.
Somerset is considered moderately difficult to hard. The by-suit building requirement makes it significantly harder than standard Klondike. While Klondike has roughly a 79% theoretical win rate, Somerset's win rate is estimated around 40-50% with optimal play, with practical win rates often lower.
If you're coming from Klondike, here's what to adjust:
Somerset has several variants that change gameplay:
No! This is the key difference. In Somerset, you can only build by suit - hearts on hearts, diamonds on diamonds, etc. This makes the game significantly more challenging.
Yes! If you have a sequence of cards in the same suit (which they will be, since that's how you build), you can move the entire sequence together to another pile.
Yes, considerably! The by-suit building requirement reduces your options significantly, making Somerset a challenging variant that rewards careful planning and strategy.
Start with draw-1 to learn Somerset's mechanics. Once comfortable, draw-3 adds additional challenge for experienced players.
Because Somerset requires same-suit building, many moves that work in Klondike (like placing a red 7 on a black 8) don't work here. You need the 7 and 8 to be the same suit.
Challenge yourself with Somerset Solitaire - Klondike with a strategic twist!