Play Haystack Solitaire Online for Free (No Signup Required)

Haystack trims Needle's reserve down to just 8 cards and skips the stock entirely, dealing everything upfront for an easygoing 80% win rate.

Haystack Solitaire is a harder take on Needle, with the reserve trimmed down to just 8 cards instead of a full spread. There's no stock at all here, everything is dealt out at the start, across a 9-pile fan and that 8-card reserve. The game is simple, with an 80% chance of winning, and skill matters more than luck once the cards are down.

Since the reserve-and-fan setup here builds toward the same suit sequences, Spider Solitaire is the classic to reach for next. For a gentler version, try Needle Solitaire, the game Haystack is based on.

If you run into anything odd or have an idea that would make the game better, please contact me.

Have fun playing!

How to play Haystack Solitaire

Layout:

4 foundation piles: Build up from Ace to King in the same suit.

Reserve: A holding pile for cards. Only the top card may be played from it. There is an 8-card limit. Any card in the deck can be moved to the reserve. At the start of the game, you are dealt 8 cards here.

9 tableau piles: Build down in alternating colors. Only one card can be moved at a time. Any card can fill an empty space. At the start of the game, 8 cards are dealt face-up to the first, second, eighth, and ninth piles, 4 cards to the third and seventh piles, and 2 cards to the fourth and sixth piles. The fifth pile is empty.

Foundation:

There are four foundation piles.

A card can be added to a foundation pile only if it's one rank higher and the same suit as the pile's current top card, so the only card that fits on a 7 of diamonds is an 8 of diamonds.

The top card of each foundation can be moved back into play if another pile will accept it.

Reserve:

A reserve pile of eight cards, all dealt face-up.

Cards of any suit or rank can be added to the reserve. In other words, any card fits on any other card.

Cards in the reserve that are not covered by another card can be played onto the foundation or any tableau pile.

Any card can fill an empty slot in the reserve.

Only one card may be moved at a time; sequences are not permitted.

Tableau:

Nine tableau piles are dealt, all face-up: 8 cards each to the first, second, eighth, and ninth piles, 4 cards each to the third and seventh piles, and 2 cards each to the fourth and sixth piles, while the fifth pile starts empty.

A card can be added to a tableau pile only if it's one rank lower and the opposite color of the pile's current top card, so the only cards that fit on a 9 of diamonds are the 8 of spades and 8 of clubs.

Cards not covered by another card on the tableau are eligible for play to the foundation, the reserve pile, or any other tableau pile.

Any card can fill an empty slot in the tableau.