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How to Play Baker's Dozen Solitaire

Baker's Dozen is a classic patience card game famous for its Kings-to-bottom setup rule. All 52 cards are dealt face-up into 13 columns, Kings are buried at the bottom, and you build down regardless of suit. With a win rate of around 65-75%, it's an accessible yet strategic game perfect for all skill levels.

Setup

  1. Use a standard 52-card deck.
  2. Deal all 52 cards face-up into 13 columns of 4 cards each.
  3. Scan each column — move any Kings to the bottom of their column (the Kings-to-bottom rule).
  4. Four empty foundation piles are placed above the tableau.
  5. All cards are visible from the start — no hidden information.

Objective

Move all 52 cards onto the four foundation piles. Each foundation builds up by suit from Ace to King (A→2→3→...→K). Win when all four foundations are complete.

Rules

Kings-to-Bottom Setup Rule

Before play begins, every King in the tableau is moved to the bottom of its column. This is the defining feature of Baker's Dozen. If a column has multiple Kings, they all go to the bottom. This prevents Kings from permanently blocking other cards.

Foundations (Build Up by Suit)

Build foundations up by suit from Ace to King. Place 2♥ on A♥, then 3♥, and so on. Only Aces can start a foundation pile.

Tableau Building (Down, Any Suit)

Stack cards in descending rank regardless of suit. Place a 5♥ on any 6, a 3♣ on any 4, a J♦ on any Q. Suit and color don't matter — only rank. This flexible building rule gives you many options for maneuvering cards.

Single Card Moves

Only the top card of each tableau column can be moved. You cannot move groups of cards or sequences — each move involves exactly one card.

Empty Columns

Empty columns cannot be filled. Once a column is cleared, it remains empty for the rest of the game. There are no free cells, no stock, no waste, and no redeals.

Strategy Tips

1. Prioritize Aces and Low Cards

Your first priority should be uncovering and moving Aces to foundations, followed by 2s and 3s. The sooner you start building foundations, the more space you free up in the tableau. Scan all 13 columns before your first move to identify which Aces are most accessible.

2. Avoid Emptying Columns Carelessly

Empty columns can't be refilled, so avoid clearing columns unless it directly enables foundation plays. Each empty column is permanent lost workspace. With 13 columns and only 4 cards each, columns empty fast — manage this carefully.

3. Build Longer Columns Strategically

Since you can build down regardless of suit, use this flexibility to consolidate cards into longer columns. Moving cards from short columns to longer ones keeps more columns active while organizing your tableau. Aim to keep cards in descending order where possible.

4. Think About Kings Early

Kings are at the bottom of columns, and they're the last cards to reach foundations. Plan your play so that when a King is finally exposed, the rest of that suit is already on the foundation (through Queen). Don't worry about Kings early — focus on the cards above them.

5. Use Undo to Explore Different Paths

Baker's Dozen has no redeals or second chances, so every move matters. Use undo liberally to test different approaches. Sometimes moving a card to a different column opens up a chain of foundation plays you wouldn't have found otherwise.

6. Watch the Foundation Progress

Keep all four foundations advancing roughly evenly. If one suit falls behind, cards from that suit will clog the tableau. Since building is regardless of suit, you can always place a card on another column — but eventually you need those foundation spots to clear the board.

Comparison: Baker's Dozen vs Related Games

FeatureBaker's DozenBaker's GameFreeCell
Tableau layout13 columns of 48 cascades8 cascades
Tableau stackingDown, any suitDown, same suitDown, alternating color
Free cells044
Empty column fillNoKings onlyAny card
Special ruleKings to bottomNoneNone
Move typeSingle cards onlyMulti-card sequencesMulti-card sequences
Win rate~65-75%~75%~82%

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes Baker's Dozen different from other solitaire games?

Baker's Dozen has two signature features. First, before play begins, all Kings are moved to the bottom of their columns — this prevents them from blocking other cards. Second, you build down on the tableau regardless of suit (any suit on any suit), which gives more flexibility than same-suit games. Combined with 13 columns and no free cells, it creates a unique strategic experience.

What is the win rate for Baker's Dozen?

Expert players can win approximately 65-75% of Baker's Dozen games. The any-suit tableau building and Kings-to-bottom rule make it more accessible than many patience games, but the inability to fill empty columns and lack of free cells keep it challenging. It's easier than Cruel (~25-30%) but harder than standard FreeCell (~82%).

Why can't I fill empty columns?

Empty columns cannot be filled in Baker's Dozen. This is a core rule that adds strategic depth — once a column is empty, it stays empty for the rest of the game. Without this restriction, the game would be too easy since you could always find somewhere to place cards. This rule forces you to think carefully about which columns to empty and when.

How is Baker's Dozen different from Baker's Game?

Despite similar names, they're very different. Baker's Game is essentially same-suit FreeCell — 8 columns, 4 free cells, build down by SAME SUIT. Baker's Dozen has 13 columns, NO free cells, builds down REGARDLESS of suit, moves Kings to the bottom at setup, and won't let you fill empty columns. Baker's Game is a FreeCell variant; Baker's Dozen is its own game.

What happens to Kings during setup?

After dealing all 52 cards into 13 columns of 4, the game scans every column and moves any Kings to the bottom of their column. If a column has multiple Kings, they all go to the bottom. Non-King cards maintain their relative order above the Kings. This setup rule ensures Kings don't permanently block other cards.

Is Baker's Dozen a good game for beginners?

Yes! Baker's Dozen is excellent for solitaire beginners. All 52 cards are visible from the start (no hidden information), the any-suit building rule is simple and forgiving, and the Kings-to-bottom rule prevents the most common frustration in patience games. The 65-75% win rate means you'll win more often than not with reasonable play.

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