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Klondike Strategy Key : Playing Smooth and The 5-6-7-8 Block

      Playing "smooth" means that in the example above you would only want to play (or transfer) the Seven of Hearts onto the Eight of Clubs when the Eight was resting on the Nine of Hearts. In this case the Seven would be smooth (same-suited) with it's next highest same-color partner in the column, the Nine of Hearts. If instead the Eight was resting on the Nine of Diamonds, the Seven of Hearts would not be the ideal play there (except under the other listed situations). This is because the Seven of Hearts is not smooth with the Diamond Nine (they're different suits). Accordingly, a Six of Spades could be played onto either red Seven resting on the Eight of Spades. The Six would be smooth with it's next highest same-color partner the Eight of Spades. You're keeping the "Reds" same-suited with the other Reds above them in the column and the "Blacks" same-suited with all the other Blacks.


Following the chart should keep you out of trouble concerning buried (out of play) downcards, particularly strategy line number eight. When strictly followed, it somewhat limits the play of any 5, 6, 7 or 8 spot cards. In fact this is the most crucial Solitaire Strategy line on the chart. In some cases you might be scratching your head wondering to yourself, "Why can't I play my Seven of Hearts onto that Eight of Clubs?" One of the primary reasons is that a 5, 6, 7 or 8 may have to be smooth with it's next highest same-color partner in the column before it can be played (the smooth concept is also utilized in strategy line number four as well).

      However, don't forget to take into account the other considerations listed in strategy line eight! For example, you would go ahead and play a 5, 6, 7 or 8 onto a column where it was not smooth with it's next highest same-color partner if the play would allow another play or transfer that would IMMEDIATELY free a downcard. This is because (as also stated in Line two) the freeing of downcards is of the utmost importance. Remember that!



     The reasons the line eight restrictions begin with 5's and end with 8's turn out to be fairly logical also. A four is allowed to be played anywhere at any time because it will hopefully catch a three, keeping the important Deuce Protection available. The reason it ends with 8's is that by the time you've reached the nines in the column, you will have more than likely already have uncovered most if not all of the downcards on the board and at that point you will not have to worry about the remainder of the column being smooth. You'll just be clicking towards the card waterfall! Just keep the other cards smooth when you can and you'll be fine.

As mentioned, you should also rearrange your columns to make them smoother whenever possible, regardless of denomination. However, the reasons I have focused this strategy line specifically on the cards 5, 6, 7 and 8 are the result of much study. We discovered that when you start to play your cards from the board to their Ace stacks (particularly late in the game) it is this stretch of cards in the column that you will find the most difficulty moving cards up from if they are not smooth with one another. The 5-6-7-8 block is the "meat" of the column and if handled improperly it may cause the board to become locked (you won't be able to make a play to an Ace stack or transfer to free a card). That's why line eight is so important to this strategy guide.