How to Play Calculation Solitaire
Calculation is a math-based patience game where suit doesn't matter — only rank. Four foundations build up at different intervals, and your strategic use of four waste piles determines whether you win. With a ~30-40% win rate for skilled players, it's one of the most rewarding solitaire games to master.
Setup
- Use a standard 52-card deck.
- Remove one Ace, one 2, one 3, and one 4 (any suits) and place them face-up as foundation bases.
- The remaining 48 cards form the stock (draw pile).
- Create 4 empty waste piles below the foundations.
- Suit is irrelevant for the entire game — only rank matters.
Objective
Build all four foundations up to King, each following its own counting interval. Every foundation must end with King — all 52 cards placed on the foundations means you win.
Foundation Sequences
Each foundation counts up by its base card's rank value, wrapping around after King (13) back to Ace (1):
Foundation 1 — Count by 1s
A, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, J, Q, K
Foundation 2 — Count by 2s
2, 4, 6, 8, 10, Q, A, 3, 5, 7, 9, J, K
Foundation 3 — Count by 3s
3, 6, 9, Q, 2, 5, 8, J, A, 4, 7, 10, K
Foundation 4 — Count by 4s
4, 8, Q, 3, 7, J, 2, 6, 10, A, 5, 9, K
Rules
Drawing Cards
Draw one card at a time from the stock. You must play the drawn card somewhere before drawing again — either to a foundation or to a waste pile.
Playing to Foundations
A card can be placed on a foundation if it matches that foundation's next expected rank. Suit doesn't matter. For example, if Foundation 2 currently shows a 6, the next expected card is 8 (counting by 2s), so any 8 can be placed there.
Playing to Waste Piles
If a drawn card cannot (or shouldn't) go to a foundation, place it on any of the four waste piles. Any card can go on any waste pile — there are no restrictions. Only the top card of each waste pile is available.
Moving from Waste to Foundation
At any time, if the top card of a waste pile matches a foundation's next expected rank, you can move it there. Check all four foundations — a card might fit one you didn't expect.
No Redeal
Once the stock is empty, there is no redeal. You can only play from the tops of waste piles. If no moves remain and foundations aren't complete, the game is lost.
Strategy Tips
1. Organize Waste Piles by Rank
Dedicate each waste pile to a range of ranks. For example: pile 1 for A-3, pile 2 for 4-7, pile 3 for 8-J, pile 4 as a buffer. This ensures you can access cards in roughly the right order later.
2. Keep a Buffer Pile
Reserve one waste pile as a “buffer” — keep it empty or nearly empty so you always have a safe place for unexpected cards. Running out of good waste pile options is the #1 cause of lost games.
3. Memorize the Sequences
Knowing what each foundation needs next is essential. The +1 foundation is straightforward, but the +2, +3, and +4 sequences require memorization. Hover over foundations in our game to see the full sequence at any time.
4. Think in Reverse
Before placing a card on a waste pile, think: “What card will I need to uncover this later?” If the card below it in the waste pile is needed before this one, you're creating a deadlock.
5. Kings Go Deep
Kings are always the last card on every foundation. When you draw a King early, bury it at the bottom of a waste pile — you won't need it until the very end. Don't waste a good waste pile position on early Kings.
6. Play Foundation Cards Immediately
If a card can go on a foundation, almost always play it there. Foundation progress is permanent and opens up future plays. The only exception: if playing it creates a chain from waste piles, play those first to avoid losing the chain.
Comparison: Calculation vs Related Games
| Feature | Calculation | Clock | FreeCell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suit matters? | No | No | Yes |
| Foundations | 4 (different intervals) | 13 (clock positions) | 4 (A to K by suit) |
| Skill factor | Very high | None (pure luck) | Very high |
| Waste/storage | 4 waste piles | None | 4 free cells |
| Win rate | ~30-40% | ~1% | ~82% |
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes Calculation Solitaire different from other solitaire games?
Calculation is unique because suit is completely irrelevant — only rank matters. The four foundations each build using a different counting interval (by 1s, 2s, 3s, and 4s), wrapping around from King back to Ace. This mathematical structure makes it more of a number puzzle than a traditional card game. With skilled play, it has one of the higher win rates among patience games.
How do the foundation sequences work?
Each foundation starts with a specific base card and counts up by its interval, wrapping at 13 (King). Foundation 1 starts with Ace and counts by 1: A,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,J,Q,K. Foundation 2 starts with 2 and counts by 2: 2,4,6,8,10,Q,A,3,5,7,9,J,K. Foundation 3 counts by 3: 3,6,9,Q,2,5,8,J,A,4,7,10,K. Foundation 4 counts by 4: 4,8,Q,3,7,J,2,6,10,A,5,9,K.
Can I move cards between waste piles?
No. In Calculation Solitaire, you cannot move cards between waste piles. Only the top card of each waste pile is available, and it can only be moved to a foundation — never to another waste pile. This is why waste pile management is so critical.
Is there a redeal in Calculation Solitaire?
No. Once you've gone through the entire stock, there is no redeal. Any cards still on waste piles can only be played to foundations from the top. If no waste pile tops match any foundation's next expected card, the game is over.
What is a good strategy for the waste piles?
The best strategy is to organize waste piles by rank ranges. For example, dedicate one pile to low cards (A-4), one to mid-low (5-8), one to mid-high (9-Q), and keep one as a buffer. Always try to keep at least one pile empty or nearly empty. Avoid burying cards you'll need soon — check all four foundation sequences before placing a card on waste.
What is the win rate for Calculation Solitaire?
With expert play, Calculation Solitaire can be won approximately 30-40% of the time. The game is highly skill-dependent — random play results in very low win rates, but careful waste pile management dramatically improves your odds. It's considered one of the most skill-rewarding patience games.
Related Games & Guides
- Play Calculation Solitaire — Start a game now
- Clock Solitaire — Another rank-based game (pure luck)
- Baker's Dozen — 13 columns with Kings buried to the bottom
- Gaps (Montana) — Grid-based card arrangement puzzle
- Play FreeCell — The classic with 4 free cells
- Types of Solitaire — Explore 20+ solitaire variants