Baker's Dozen Solitaire - How to Play Baker's Dozen Solitaire

Baker's Dozen Solitaire

Baker's Dozen is a thoughtful solitaire where all 52 cards are visible from the start. With Kings at column bottoms and no refilling empty columns, every move is a careful decision.

1 players 52 cards Medium Moderate strategy Medium 5.5/10 popularity

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♠ Quick Reference
Goal
Build four foundation piles from Ace to King by suit.
Setup
  1. Deal all 52 cards face-up into 13 columns of 4 cards each.
  2. Move any Kings to the bottom of their columns before play begins.
On Your Turn
  1. Move only the top card of each column.
  2. Build columns in descending rank regardless of suit or color.
  3. Build foundations up by suit from Ace to King.
  4. Empty columns cannot be refilled.
Scoring
  • Win by completing all four foundation piles.
  • Win rate is about 75-80% with careful play.
Tip: Free Aces and Twos as quickly as possible and plan 5-10 moves ahead before acting.
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Rules

Baker's Dozen is a thoughtful solitaire game where all 52 cards are dealt face-up into 13 columns of 4, with Kings moved to the bottom. With complete information from the start, every game is a pure puzzle.

Objective

Build four foundation piles from Ace to King by suit.

Setup
  1. Players: 1 player.
  2. Deck: Standard 52-card deck.
  3. Tableau: Deal all 52 cards face-up into 13 columns of 4 cards each.
  4. Kings Rule: Before play begins, move any Kings to the bottom of their columns.
  5. No Stock: All cards are visible from the start.
Gameplay
  1. Moving Cards: Only the top card of each column can be moved.
  2. Tableau Building: Build columns in descending rank only (suit and color do not matter).
  3. Foundations: Build up by suit from Ace to King.
  4. No Empty Columns: Once a column is empty, it stays empty — no card can fill it.
Tips and Strategies
  • With all information visible, plan extensively before making moves.
  • Freeing Aces should be your first priority.
  • The empty column restriction means every move matters — do not create empty columns carelessly.
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Tips & Strategy

Freeing Aces and Twos quickly is critical. Plan 5-10 moves ahead to avoid blocking essential cards.

Since empty columns cannot be refilled, treat every move that empties a column as permanent. Only empty columns when the remaining cards all have homes.

Trivia & Fun Facts

Baker's Dozen has a remarkably high win rate of about 75-80%, making it one of the most winnable solitaire games with perfect information.

In Baker's Dozen, what happens to Kings during setup?

History & Culture

Baker's Dozen dates back to the 19th century and is named for the 13 columns (a baker's dozen being 13).

Baker's Dozen is favored by solitaire purists who prefer games where skill dominates luck, thanks to its perfect information structure.

Variations & House Rules

Good Measure uses 10 columns of 5 cards. Spanish Patience adds same-suit building requirements.

For an easier game, allow filling empty columns with any card. For harder play, add same-suit building restrictions.

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