Should You Reveal a Card or Advance a Klondike Foundation First?

Prefer the move with the stronger follow-up. Revealing a hidden card usually adds information, but a foundation move can be better when it unlocks the waste or a forced chain. Both choices may be legal, so legality alone cannot decide. Compare what each move exposes, what resource it consumes and what concrete second move becomes possible.

Worked position

• Option A: 7♥–6♣ → 8♠
• Result A: reveal a face-down card
• Option B: 4♠ → foundation
• Result B: 3♥ loses its only black receiver

Moving 7♥–6♣ onto 8♠ immediately turns a face-down card, whereas sending 4♠ to its foundation can remove the only black receiver for 3♥. Turning a face-down card creates information and often a new endpoint. Count the cards still covering it, but also count what must be moved away before that exposure can happen.

In that position the reveal is the stronger concrete gain. A visible receiver can be more valuable in the tableau than on a foundation. Preserve it while a lower opposite-color card depends on that exact rank and no equivalent receiver is available.

A second position

• Move: 4♠ → foundation
• Follow-up: A♦ → foundation
• Card revealed: A♦ (on waste)

The exception is a foundation move that opens a waste chain, such as 4♠ uncovering A♦ and allowing the Ace to move as well. A stock move is strong when it releases more than one card or a critical Ace or King. Judge the whole waste chain, not only the first card that becomes playable.

Judge the complete chain and whether the foundation move is reversible, not the tidy appearance of the bases. The first move should be evaluated by its best concrete continuation. Prefer a line that opens another legal action, rather than one that only makes the board look tidier.

When to change the plan

If a move opens no card, space or waste access and creates no recoverable support, change the line. With 7♥ / 6♣ / 8♠ / 4♠, require one named follow-up before spending another column, receiver or stock pass.

Common mistake

Do not choose only by the immediate visual gain. With 7♥ / 6♣ / 8♠ / 4♠, the stronger move is the one whose next legal action improves access or preserves needed support.

Practical check

1. Is the source card or moving tail available now?
2. What exact card becomes accessible after this move?
3. Which resource—receiver, empty column or waste access—is consumed?
4. Can that resource be restored before the next commitment?

Test the decision in Klondike Draw 1 or Klondike Draw 3; the tableau rule is shared, while stock access differs. Re-evaluate the dependency around 7♥ / 6♣ / 8♠ / 4♠ after every removal, return or newly exposed card.

Sources used

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