Comparison
Klondike vs Westcliff
| Klondike | Westcliff | |
|---|---|---|
| Decks | One deck | One deck |
| Suits | 4 | 4 |
| Typical length | 10 min | 9 min |
| Difficulty | Beginner | Intermediate |
| How much skill matters | Medium | Medium |
| How much the shuffle matters | Medium | Medium |
| Family | Klondike family | Klondike family |
| Good for beginners | Yes | No |
We have not written a verdict for this pairing. The comparison above is drawn from each game's own recorded facts — follow either link for its full rules and strategy.
Klondike
The best-known solitaire game: build tableau columns down in alternating colors and move cards up to four suit foundations.
Deal seven columns, the first holding one card and the seventh holding seven, with only the top card of each face up. Build the columns downward in alternating colours — a red six onto a black seven — and move cards up to four foundation piles that each build a suit from Ace to King.
Westcliff
Three rows of seven and one pass through the stock, but any card at all may take an empty column.
Twenty-one cards go down in three overlapping rows of seven, the first two rows face down and the third face up. Columns pack down in alternating colours, and Aces are lifted to the foundations as they become available, building up by suit to King.
Frequently asked questions
- Which is harder, Klondike or Westcliff?
- Klondike is generally rated beginner difficulty, while Westcliff is rated intermediate — so most players find one noticeably harder than the other.