Rules for Russian Solitaire

Family: Yukon
Categories: Popular
Variants: Yukon, Scorpion, Wasp, Double Scorpion, Grandma Sawyer's Game
Also Known As: Yukon (Strict)

Russian Solitaire is a tougher variant of Yukon. Wins can be hard to come by, but many people are addicted to this popular game. This game was known as “Yukon (Strict)” in earlier versions of Solitaire Till Dawn. For fun, Solitaire Till Dawn uses Klondike’s casino-style scoring. (No, we don’t pay off on your winnings; the money scores are just for fun!)

Layout

There are four foundations, which are initially empty. There are seven tableau piles, fanned down. The first tableau starts with no cards face-down, the second with one face-down, and so on to the seventh, which starts with six cards face-down. The remaining cards are laid out face-up, one on the first tableau and five each on the remaining tableaus. (This layout resembles Klondike, except that the “extra” cards are laid out face-up on six of the seven tableaus.)

Play

Top cards of tableaus are available for building onto the foundations, which build up following suit. Only an Ace may be played to an empty foundation.

All face-up cards in the tableaus are available for moving among the tableaus, which build down following suit. The moved card and the rest of its fan all move together, even if they are not all in sequence. Only Kings or fans whose bottom card is a King may be played to an empty tableau pile.

Goal

The goal is to move all the cards onto the foundations. Solitaire Till Dawn uses casino scoring by charging $52 a game, and paying back $5 for every card played to the foundations. (It’s not real money, so don’t worry!)

Tips

Play cards to the foundations as soon as possible; there is never any reason to delay.

Look for ways to reveal the face-down cards.