Which Queen Can Be Placed on a King in Klondike?

A Queen can be placed on an exposed King only when the colors alternate. Red Queens—Q♥ and Q♦—fit black Kings—K♣ and K♠. Black Queens—Q♣ and Q♠—fit red Kings—K♥ and K♦.

Suit does not have to match. Q♥ on K♣ is legal even though the cards are different suits; Q♠ on K♣ is illegal because both are black.

The complete set of legal pairs

These combinations work:

• Q♥ or Q♦ → K♣ or K♠
• Q♣ or Q♠ → K♥ or K♦

The Queen must also be available: the bottom card of a tableau column, the head of a movable face-up tail, or the top card of the waste.

A sequence can begin with the Queen

Suppose Q♦–J♣–10♥ is face up and correctly ordered. The full group may move onto K♠ because Q♦ is red and K♠ is black. If the group were Q♦–J♥–10♣, it would not move together because Q♦ and J♥ are both red at the first link.

The destination test and the internal-sequence test are separate; both must pass.

Same rank is not enough

A Queen cannot go onto another Queen, and a Jack cannot go directly onto a King. Klondike requires exactly one rank of difference. The King-to-Queen link is simply the highest instance of the ordinary tableau rule.

Choosing between two legal Kings

If Q♥ can go onto both K♣ and K♠, compare the resulting position. Prefer the King whose column exposes a hidden card, frees a useful black Jack destination, or keeps the other King available for a different red Queen. Suit identity alone does not choose the stronger move.

Before placing the Queen

1. Confirm King then Queen in descending order.
2. Require opposite colors.
3. Check every link in any cards moving below the Queen.
4. Compare what each legal King destination opens or blocks.

Try the pairings in Play Klondike Draw 1 or Play Klondike Draw 3.

Sources used

• 1 PlaySoli implementation and editorial specification.
• 2 Current PlaySoli product rules: Solitaire Turn 1.
• 3 Current PlaySoli product rules: Solitaire Turn 3.