Skip to game

How to Play Clock Solitaire

Clock Solitaire (also called Clock Patience, Travellers, or Sundial) is one of the simplest and most well-known patience card games. With no decisions to make, the game plays itself — you just flip cards and watch the clock come alive. Despite the low ~1% win rate, it remains beloved for its elegant simplicity and the thrill of watching cards fall into place.

Setup

  1. Use a standard 52-card deck.
  2. Deal all 52 cards face-down into 13 piles of 4 cards each.
  3. Arrange 12 piles in a circle like a clock face — Ace at the 1 o'clock position, 2 at 2 o'clock, 3 at 3 o'clock, and so on up to Queen at 12 o'clock.
  4. Place the 13th pile (Kings) in the center of the clock.
  5. All cards start face-down — no information is visible at the start.

Objective

Turn all 52 cards face-up by placing each card under the pile that matches its rank. You win when every card on the clock is face-up. You lose when the 4th King is flipped before all other cards have been revealed.

Step-by-Step Gameplay

  1. Start: Flip the top card from the center (Kings) pile.
  2. Place: Take that card and place it face-up under the pile matching its rank. Aces go to the 1 o'clock pile, 2s to 2 o'clock, and so on. Kings return to the center.
  3. Flip: Now flip the top face-down card from the pile you just placed a card under.
  4. Repeat: Place the newly flipped card under its matching pile, then flip the next face-down card from that pile.
  5. Continue until either all cards are face-up (you win!) or you flip the 4th King and the center pile has no more face-down cards (you lose).

Win & Lose Conditions

Winning

You win when all 52 cards are turned face-up. This means every pile around the clock has its 4 matching cards face-up, and the center has all 4 Kings face-up. The 4th King must be the very last card flipped.

Losing

You lose when the 4th King is flipped and there are still face-down cards elsewhere on the clock. Since the 4th King goes to the center and there are no more face-down cards there to flip, the game ends immediately.

The ~1% Win Rate

Clock Solitaire has one of the lowest win rates of any solitaire game — roughly 1 in 100 deals are winnable. The reason is simple: you can only win if the 4th King is the very last face-down card dealt to the center pile (more precisely, if it's positioned so it's the last card to be flipped in the entire game). Since there are no decisions, skill cannot change the outcome.

This is what makes Clock Patience special — each win feels like a genuine lucky event, making the game exciting despite (or because of) its simplicity.

History

Clock Patience dates back to at least the 19th century and appears in numerous Victorian-era card game collections. It is one of the oldest patience games still commonly played today. The game goes by many names around the world — Clock, Travellers, Sundial, Hidden Cards, and Four of a Kind.

Its enduring popularity comes from its simplicity. Unlike strategic solitaire games that require careful planning, Clock Patience can be played by anyone who can match card ranks to positions. This has made it a popular introductory card game for children and a relaxing pastime for adults.

Comparison: Clock vs Other Solitaire Games

FeatureClockFreeCellKlondikeCruel
Player decisionsNoneManyManySome
Win rate~1%~82%~62-82%~25-30%
Cards visible at start0 (all hidden)52 (all visible)7 (top cards)48 (all visible)
LayoutClock face (13 piles)8 cascades7 cascades + stock12 piles
Skill vs Luck100% luck~95% skill~60% skill~70% skill
Game speedVery fast5-15 min5-20 min5-15 min

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Clock Solitaire?

Clock Solitaire (Clock Patience) is a classic patience card game where 52 cards are dealt face-down into 13 piles of 4 arranged in a clock face. You flip cards and place them under the pile matching their rank. The game involves no decisions — the outcome is determined entirely by the deal.

What is the win rate for Clock Solitaire?

Clock Solitaire has a win rate of approximately 1 in 100 games (about 1%). The exact probability can be calculated mathematically: you win only when the last card you flip is the 4th King. Since there are no decisions to make, skill has no impact on the outcome.

Why is it called Clock Patience?

The game is called Clock Patience because the 12 outer piles are arranged in a circle like the numbers on a clock face. Aces go at the 1 o'clock position, 2s at 2 o'clock, and so on up to Queens at 12 o'clock. Kings are placed in the center of the clock.

Can you improve your chances of winning Clock Solitaire?

No. Clock Solitaire is entirely determined by the initial deal — there are no choices or strategies that affect the outcome. Every deal has a predetermined result. This is what makes it a pure patience game rather than a strategy game.

What happens when you flip the 4th King?

When the 4th King is flipped and placed in the center pile, there are no more face-down cards in the center to flip. If not all other cards have been turned face-up, the game is over and you lose. The 4th King is always the last card played — if it comes before all other piles are complete, you lose.

How old is Clock Solitaire?

Clock Solitaire dates back to at least the 19th century and is one of the oldest known patience card games. It appears in many Victorian-era card game compendiums. The simplicity of its rules has made it popular across generations, especially as a children's card game.

Is Clock Solitaire the same as Travellers?

Clock Solitaire goes by many names including Clock Patience, Travellers, Sundial, and Hidden Cards. The core rules are the same across all variants, though some versions may have minor differences in how cards are placed (on top vs. underneath the pile).

Related Games & Guides