Solitaire Etiquette and House Rules

Solitaire is usually played alone, so there are no opponents to consider. "Etiquette" here means how you choose to play: undo, hints, unlimited deals, and house rules. There is no single right way—only what you find fair and fun.

Undo and Take-Backs

Many online games allow undo: you take back one or more moves. Some players never undo and treat each move as final; others use undo to learn or to fix misclicks. Both are fine. Solitaire is not a competitive sport—if undo makes the game more enjoyable or helps you see why a move was wrong, use it. If you prefer a stricter challenge, turn it off or ignore it. There is no etiquette breach in either choice.

Hints

Hint features suggest a legal move (or a "good" one). Some players avoid hints to keep the puzzle pure; others use them when stuck or to learn strategy. Using hints does not "cheat" anyone—you are the only player. If you want to improve, occasional hints can show you moves you missed. If you prefer to solve the game yourself, skip hints. It is entirely up to you.

Unlimited Deals and Restarts

In Klondike, some versions let you go through the stock infinitely; others limit passes. In Spider, you typically have a limited number of deals. Stricter rules make the game harder. Looser rules (e.g., unlimited stock passes) make more deals winnable. Choose the variant that matches your goal: strict for challenge, loose for relaxation. When playing with a physical deck, you can adopt your own house rule (e.g., "one pass through the stock") and stick to it.

House Rules

House rules are optional rules you choose (e.g., "no moving cards back from the foundation" in Klondike, or "only one deal through the stock" in Spider). They are not official—they are for your own challenge or preference. When playing online, the game enforces its own rules; when playing with cards, you decide. As long as you are consistent within a game, there is no wrong way. Solitaire etiquette is simply: play in a way that you find fair and enjoyable.