Penguin Solitaire 🐧 – Play Online for Free

Penguin Solitaire is a fun FreeCell-style card game you can win almost every time if you plan your moves well and have a bit of patience. This single-deck solitaire variant was invented by British game designer David Parlett in the late 1970s, and it gets its name from the Penguin Book of Patience he was working on when he created it. The game’s “penguin” theme even shows up in its terminology – the first card dealt is called the “beak”, and the seven reserve slots are called the “flipper” (like a penguin’s beak and flippers). If you’re looking for a casual yet strategic card game, Penguin Solitaire is a great choice – and you can play Penguin Solitaire online for free right now on SolitaireX.io (no download needed)! 🎉

How to Play Penguin Solitaire 🃏

Playing Penguin Solitaire is straightforward and enjoyable. Here’s a quick guide on how to play:

Setup the Deal: The game uses a standard 52-card deck. All cards are dealt face-up into 7 columns (tableau piles) of 7 cards each, creating a 7x7 grid layout. The very first card dealt (the top card of the first column) is special – this card is the beak. As you deal, whenever the other three cards of that same rank appear, move them immediately to the foundation piles. By the end of the deal, you’ll have four foundation bases set with the beak’s rank. (For example, if the first card – the beak – is a 5, all four 5’s will be placed as the start of the foundations.) The remaining cards stay in the tableau columns. You also have 7 reserve cells above the tableau (the flipper), which start empty. All cards are visible from the start, so take a moment to scan the layout for possible moves.
Objective: Like most solitaire games, your goal is to move all 52 cards to the foundations. Each foundation pile will be built up by suit in ascending order. However, unlike Klondike or standard FreeCell where foundations start at Ace, here the foundations start at the beak’s rank. You’ll build up each foundation from that rank, wrapping around from King to Ace if needed until every card is placed. Ultimately, each foundation will contain 13 cards in sequence. You win when all cards are moved to the foundations! 🏆
Making Moves: Only the bottom card of each tableau column is free to move at any time. You can move a bottom card onto another tableau pile if it creates a descending sequence in the same suit. For example, if one column ends in an 8♣, you can move a 7♣ onto it to continue the sequence. If a column has a ready-made descending suit sequence (e.g. 10-9-8 of hearts), you can move the whole sequence together onto another column, which saves time and helps reveal cards faster.
Using the “Flipper” Reserves: If you get stuck, remember the seven reserve cells (the flipper) above the tableau. You can move any single available card into an empty flipper cell to get it out of the way. This is similar to FreeCell’s free cells. Later you can play that card back to the tableau or onto a foundation when it fits. Use these cells wisely to access buried cards and keep your game moving.
Filling Empty Columns: When you clear all cards from a tableau column, you create an empty column space. In Penguin Solitaire, empty columns can only be filled with a card (or a sequence) that starts with a rank one lower than the beak. For example, if your beak is an Ace, only a King (one rank below Ace in cyclical order) can be placed in an empty pile. If the beak is a 6, only a 5 (or a descending sequence starting with 5) can be moved into that empty column. This rule is a unique twist (unlike standard FreeCell where any card can fill a space) and adds an extra puzzle element to the game.
Building the Foundations: As you free up cards, move cards to the foundation piles whenever possible. Foundations are built up by suit, starting from the beak’s rank and going up in order (wrapping from King to Ace when needed). For instance, if the beak is 5, you would build each foundation 5→6→7...→King→Ace→2→3→4. Always play cards to the foundation at the earliest opportunity – it gets them out of your way and progresses you toward victory.

Keep moving cards around – transferring suit sequences on the tableau, using the flipper cells, and building up foundations. With patience and clever planning, you will eventually free all cards and move them to the foundations. Since Penguin Solitaire deals are open information (all cards visible) and nearly every deal is solvable with skill, don’t give up easily. 🔄 Use undo or rethink your strategy if you get stuck, and you’ll find the path to victory!

Rules of Penguin Solitaire 📜

Let’s break down the key rules of Penguin Solitaire in a simple list:

Deck and Layout: Uses one standard 52-card deck. Deal 49 cards face-up into 7 tableau piles (7 cards each). The first card dealt is the beak, and the other three cards of that rank are immediately moved to start the 4 foundation piles. The remaining cards stay in the tableau so that each pile has 7 cards. There are also 7 reserve cells (the flipper), all empty at the start.
Goal: Move all cards to the foundation piles. Foundations start at the beak’s value and build up in suit sequence, including wrapping around from King to Ace (this is often called "turning the corner"). Each foundation will end up with 13 cards (a complete sequence). You win when all four foundations have 13 cards in order.
Tableau Builds Down by Suit: On the tableau, you can build downward by rank in the same suit. That means you can only place a card onto another card that is exactly one rank higher and of the same suit. (e.g. you can put a 6♥ on a 7♥, but not on a 7♣ or 7♠). You can move single cards or move an entire ordered sequence together if it’s in descending suit order. All tableau cards are face-up, so you always know which moves are available.
Use of Reserves (Flipper): You have seven “free cell” spots known as the flipper. Each flipper cell can hold one card at a time. You can move any available card into an empty flipper slot to temporarily get it out of the way, freeing up deeper cards. Later, you can move that card to a tableau column or to a foundation when appropriate. The flipper acts as storage to help maneuver cards, but remember to leave some cells open for flexibility.
Empty Columns: If you clear a tableau column (no cards left in that pile), the empty space can only be filled by a card or sequence starting with a card whose rank is one lower than the beak. For example, if the beak is a 8, only a 7 (or a descending sequence beginning with 7) can occupy an empty column. This restriction is a unique rule in Penguin Solitaire – it’s more limiting than in FreeCell (where you could place any card in an empty column), adding extra challenge.
Foundation Building: Foundations are built up by suit, starting from the beak’s rank and going in ascending order (Aces may come after Kings if needed to “turn the corner”). For example, if the foundations start with 4’s, the sequence on each foundation will be 4→5→6…→King→Ace→2→3. Only cards that fit the next required rank and suit can be played to a foundation. Anytime a card becomes available that can go to a foundation, you should move it there to advance toward the goal.
Winning the Game: The game is won when all 52 cards are on the foundations in the correct sequences. Thanks to the open layout and ample reserves, Penguin Solitaire has a very high win rate – most deals are solvable with good strategy. In fact, it’s estimated that fewer than 1 in 1500 deals are unwinnable due to luck, so victory is usually just a matter of skillful play!

Keep these rules in mind as you play. Penguin Solitaire’s rules make it a very fair game – with practice, you can win almost every game you start, which is super satisfying 🎉.

A Short History of Penguin Solitaire 🕰

Unlike many classic solitaire games that have mysterious 18th- or 19th-century origins, Penguin Solitaire has a modern origin. It was invented by David Parlett – a well-known British card game designer and author – and first introduced around 1979. Parlett came up with the game while compiling The Penguin Book of Patience, and he whimsically named this new solitaire variant “Penguin” in honor of that project.

Penguin Solitaire was one of Parlett’s original contributions to the solitaire genre, and it quickly gained a following among card game enthusiasts for its clever twists on FreeCell-like gameplay. Because all cards are dealt face-up (making it a game of perfect information) and because the game is highly winnable, players appreciated the balance of strategy and fun it offered. Over the years, Penguin has been included in many computer and online solitaire collections, becoming a beloved variant for those looking for a fresh challenge beyond the usual Klondike or Spider.

Today, Penguin Solitaire might not be as famous as Klondike, but it has a devoted fan base. In some solitaire software, Penguin even ranks among the top 15 most-played games – a testament to its enduring appeal. So, when you play Penguin Solitaire, you’re enjoying a modern classic created by an expert who literally wrote the book on solitaire!

Tips and Tricks for Winning 🏆

Even though most Penguin Solitaire deals are winnable, you’ll still need a good strategy to actually win. Here are some friendly tips and tricks to boost your success rate:

Free the “Beak” Early: One key strategy is to work on freeing that beak card as soon as you can. The beak starts off buried under six other cards in the first column. Try to move those cards away (using the flipper or moving sequences) so you can release the beak card to a foundation. Once the beak is on the foundation, all four foundation piles are active, which means you can start building up every suit. Having all foundation piles available is crucial for making progress, so make freeing the beak a priority ✅.
Don’t Clog Your Flipper Cells: The seven reserve cells (flipper) are there to help, but don’t rush to fill them all up. If you dump too many cards into the flipper at once, you lose flexibility in making moves. It’s often tempting to use all free cells to quickly expose cards, but doing so can leave you with no moves. Instead, use a few cells at a time and try to empty them by moving those parked cards onto foundations or back to the tableau when possible. Keep at least one or two flipper cells open as much as you can for emergency use – think of them as your safety net.
Plan Several Moves Ahead: Because all cards are visible from the start, you have perfect information – use it! 🧠 Before making a move, take a second to look at what’s underneath and think about the chain reaction. For example, if you move one card, will it allow a useful move afterward? Try to anticipate the consequences of each move. Planning a few steps ahead (like a chess game) will help you avoid dead-ends. If you get stuck, consider undoing a move and trying a different approach. The more you practice, the better you’ll get at spotting the right sequence of moves.
Use Empty Columns Wisely: An empty tableau column is incredibly powerful in solitaire. In Penguin, remember that you can only fill an empty column with a card one rank below the beak (or a sequence starting with that rank). So, before you clear a column, make sure you have a useful card to put there. Once you do clear one, you can use that space to temporarily park a whole sequence of cards. This can help you rearrange the tableau and reveal face-down (well, face-up in this case!) cards that were buried. Effectively using empty columns to maneuver sequences can be the turning point in solving a tough deal.
Move Sequences in Bulk: Unlike standard FreeCell, in Penguin Solitaire you can move long descending sequences without restriction by free cells. This is a huge advantage – it means if you have a proper suit sequence, you can pick it up and relocate it all at once. Always be on the lookout for such sequences you can move in bulk. It can quickly open up new avenues and save you from doing a bunch of single-card moves. Take advantage of this freedom to reorganize the tableau in big steps.
Always Build to the Foundations When Possible: There’s rarely a reason to hold back on moving a card to the foundation in Penguin Solitaire. Since there’s no hidden stock pile and all cards are in play, moving a card up to the foundation only helps you. It clears space in the tableau and moves you closer to victory. This is especially true for low-ranking cards (Ace, 2, 3, etc.) – get them to the foundation at the first chance you get. Every card on the foundation is one less card cluttering the tableau.
Stay Patient and Persistent: Finally, keep your cool 😌. Penguin Solitaire is designed to be won most of the time, so if you lose a game it might just be due to a missed opportunity. If you find yourself stuck, take a deep breath and scan the tableau for any move you might have overlooked. Maybe there’s a card that can move to a foundation or an empty cell you forgot about. Remember, fewer than 1 in 1500 deals are truly unwinnable – so the odds are in your favor! Use the undo button if available, and don’t be afraid to backtrack and try a different strategy. With a bit of persistence, you can solve almost any Penguin deal. Practice makes perfect!

By keeping these tips in mind, you’ll maximize your chances of winning. Penguin Solitaire is a game of skill and strategy, and these tricks will help you master it. Good luck, and have fun! 🎉

Play Penguin Solitaire Online on SolitaireX.io 🎮

One of the best ways to enjoy Penguin Solitaire today is to play it online. SolitaireX.io offers Penguin Solitaire for free – you can play it directly in your web browser anytime, anywhere. No need to shuffle cards or install anything! Just head over to SolitaireX.io/penguin-solitaire and start playing instantly. Online play also gives you helpful features like undo, hints, and automatic moves to foundations, which can be great when you’re learning the game or stuck on a tricky deal. Whether you’re on a computer, tablet, or phone, SolitaireX.io lets you dive into a Penguin Solitaire game with a single click. Give it a try and see if you can guide your penguins to victory! 🐧🎴

More Solitaire Games on SolitaireX.io 🎲

If you’re a fan of solitaire games, SolitaireX.io has you covered beyond just Penguin Solitaire. Once you’ve had fun helping the penguin (beak and flipper and all), you can explore our site for many other popular solitaire games. From classics like Klondike (Classic Solitaire), Spider, and FreeCell, to other exciting variants like Pyramid, TriPeaks, Golf, and more – there’s plenty to play. All our games are free and browser-based, just like Penguin Solitaire, so you can switch games and keep the card game fun going. 🎮

Ready to play? Don’t wait – shuffle up those cards and start a game of Penguin Solitaire now on SolitaireX.io. Enjoy, and happy card gaming! 😃