Most of us think that solitaire is just one specific game. But this is not true. Solitaire is a group of various card games. Solitaire is a single player game that you can play at anywhere, anytime. The version that comes with Microsoft windows is a variant of solitaire called Klondike.
There are hundreds of solitaire versions and one of the popular ones is called Freecell which comes along with Microsoft. Other popular solitaire games are Spider, Pyramid and Tri Peaks.
The rules, ways to win and styles vary with each solitaire variety. The strategy in a particular solitaire game can make you win in that specific game but the same strategy will be useless in another solitaire game. Flexibility of rules, strategy and scoring is needed to this unique game.
Solitaire games like Klondike don't exhibit the whole group of cards at the start of the game. Right skills and a bit of luck are needed to win solitaire.
Other games like Freecell, displays all the cards at the beginning of the game. This gives the total control of the game to the players. There is no luck involved in this game and if the player is smart enough to think deeply, he or she is more likely to win the game.
Some solitaire games are hard to win and require a lot of thinking on the part of the player. ‘4 Suit Spiders' is such a game which requires half an hour to complete as well as demands hard thinking. Games like Freecell and Clock are easy and require only common sense to win.
Numerous variants of this game come with innovative and unique card layouts. Games such as ‘Pyramid' has cards shaped like big Pyramids. The player is required to remove the card from bottom to reach the top. ‘La Belle Lucie' is another solitaire game with rotating cards. The game starts with 18 fans which expand and shrink as the game moves on.
Solitaire has major historical importance since this game is a favorite among historical figures like Napoleon Bonaparte and George Washington. It is recorded in history that Napoleon used to play solitaire during the time of stress. He claimed that it helped him to think better.
Solitaire games are highly popular as they are good for improving one's memory and concentration. They are relaxing and fun too. It is rather a better way to relax than gluing oneself to the box.
