# The Solitaire Journal | Small Break > From your first red seven to the history of patience. Ten practical guides, a companion by your side, and a little more confidence for the next deal. Canonical: https://solitaire.muscleindustry.work/en/journal Language: en SMALL BREAK / JOURNAL # The Solitaire Journal From your first red seven to the history of patience. Ten practical guides, a companion by your side, and a little more confidence for the next deal. ## Start here [ ![AI-created character illustration · not a gameplay screenshot: How to play Klondike solitaire: a clear first game](https://solitaire.muscleindustry.work/assets/apps/solitaire/journal/klondike-rules-1200.webp)SMALL BREAK**LET’S PLAY** Start here ### How to play Klondike solitaire: a clear first game Learn the tableau, foundations and stock with a small card example, then practise the three decisions that make your first Klondike game easier. Read the guide ](https://solitaire.muscleindustry.work/en/journal/klondike-rules) [ ![AI-created character illustration · not a gameplay screenshot: Draw one or draw three? Why the stock changes your plan](https://solitaire.muscleindustry.work/assets/apps/solitaire/journal/draw-one-three-1200.webp)SMALL BREAK**1 OR 3?** Start here ### Draw one or draw three? Why the stock changes your plan Understand draw-one and draw-three Klondike, waste access and redeal limits. Match rules before comparing difficulty or personal scores. Read the guide ](https://solitaire.muscleindustry.work/en/journal/draw-one-three) [ ![AI-created character illustration · not a gameplay screenshot: Klondike, Spider and FreeCell: which solitaire do you mean?](https://solitaire.muscleindustry.work/assets/apps/solitaire/journal/variants-1200.webp)SMALL BREAK**NOT THE SAME GAME** Start here ### Klondike, Spider and FreeCell: which solitaire do you mean? Compare three familiar solitaire families by their central puzzle, then identify the rules before applying a strategy or comparing a score. Read the guide ](https://solitaire.muscleindustry.work/en/journal/variants) ## Think one move ahead [ ![AI-created character illustration · not a gameplay screenshot: Your first moves in solitaire: look for a consequence](https://solitaire.muscleindustry.work/assets/apps/solitaire/journal/first-moves-1200.webp)SMALL BREAK**WHICH MOVE?** Think one move ahead ### Your first moves in solitaire: look for a consequence A practical opening routine for Klondike: inspect the exposed cards, compare two moves and use the stock with a purpose. Read the guide ](https://solitaire.muscleindustry.work/en/journal/first-moves) [ ![AI-created character illustration · not a gameplay screenshot: Reveal more hidden cards without following a blind rule](https://solitaire.muscleindustry.work/assets/apps/solitaire/journal/hidden-cards-1200.webp)SMALL BREAK**WHAT’S UNDER?** Think one move ahead ### Reveal more hidden cards without following a blind rule Learn why revealing face-down cards helps in Klondike, when a shorter column deserves attention and how to plan a two-step reveal. Read the guide ](https://solitaire.muscleindustry.work/en/journal/hidden-cards) [ ![AI-created character illustration · not a gameplay screenshot: Should that card go to a foundation yet?](https://solitaire.muscleindustry.work/assets/apps/solitaire/journal/foundations-1200.webp)SMALL BREAK**WAIT—DON’T SEND IT** Think one move ahead ### Should that card go to a foundation yet? Learn why building foundations too early can remove useful landing places, with a concrete red-five example and a practical safety check. Read the guide ](https://solitaire.muscleindustry.work/en/journal/foundations) [ ![AI-created character illustration · not a gameplay screenshot: An empty column is a plan: choosing the right King](https://solitaire.muscleindustry.work/assets/apps/solitaire/journal/empty-columns-1200.webp)SMALL BREAK**SAVE THIS SPACE** Think one move ahead ### An empty column is a plan: choosing the right King Use empty tableau columns deliberately. Compare red and black Kings, prepare a Queen and avoid freeing a column that cannot yet help. Read the guide ](https://solitaire.muscleindustry.work/en/journal/empty-columns) [ ![AI-created character illustration · not a gameplay screenshot: Stuck in solitaire? A calm checklist before restarting](https://solitaire.muscleindustry.work/assets/apps/solitaire/journal/stuck-1200.webp)SMALL BREAK**STUCK? LOOK AGAIN** Think one move ahead ### Stuck in solitaire? A calm checklist before restarting Distinguish a hidden move from a blocked deal. Check receiving cards, empty columns and the stock, then use undo without confusing it with a proof. Read the guide ](https://solitaire.muscleindustry.work/en/journal/stuck) ## Stories & records [ ![AI-created character illustration · not a gameplay screenshot: Solitaire history: from patience at a table to a digital companion](https://solitaire.muscleindustry.work/assets/apps/solitaire/journal/history-1200.webp)SMALL BREAK**BEFORE THE SCREEN** Stories & records ### Solitaire history: from patience at a table to a digital companion Explore solitaire as a family of games, its documented digital milestone in 1990, and why precise names matter when reading its history. Read the guide ](https://solitaire.muscleindustry.work/en/journal/history) [ ![AI-created character illustration · not a gameplay screenshot: Solitaire records and win rates: compare the same game](https://solitaire.muscleindustry.work/assets/apps/solitaire/journal/records-1200.webp)SMALL BREAK**IS THAT A RECORD?** Stories & records ### Solitaire records and win rates: compare the same game Build a useful personal score log, distinguish solvability from win rate and avoid confusing card solitaire with peg-solitaire speed records. Read the guide ](https://solitaire.muscleindustry.work/en/journal/records)