What is Nine Across?
Nine Across Solitaire is a Klondike-family game with nine columns and a seven-card draw-one stock. The first card sent to a foundation sets its base rank for all four suits. Foundations then build upward in suit, wrapping from King to Ace. Tableau cards build down in alternating colors.
Choose the foundation base
Any available rank can start the first foundation. That move fixes the rank required to start the other three foundations. It also changes which cards can fill an empty tableau column: only cards one rank below the base, wrapping King below Ace. Nine Across has no reserve pile.
Before the first foundation move, an empty column accepts any card. Compare that temporary flexibility with the foundation progress a base card offers.
Read the Nine Across strategy guide →
Nine columns vs. seven
Two extra columns mean more hidden cards at the start and more potential empty columns. Those columns do not become general King destinations; the base rank controls their permitted fill card after it is chosen.
Compare reveals in the deep columns with moves that provide the next foundation rank or free a permitted empty-column fill card.
Nine Across is part of Downtown · Klondike family and is a variant of Klondike.
More Klondike family games
- Klondike — The patience everyone knows. Draw 1 or 3.
- Agnes — Klondike-family with reserve deals and a variable base.
- Easthaven — Klondike that deals rows from the stock.
- Gargantua — Two-deck Klondike: 9 columns, 8 foundations.
- Kuiper — Triangular eight-column Klondike variant.
- Las Vegas Solitaire — Draw-one Klondike with a single pass through the stock.
Also try
- Gaps (Grid & sequence puzzles) — Fill four rows of gaps to build 2–K suit runs. No aces, three passes.
- Seahaven Towers (FreeCell & open packers) — FreeCell cousin: ten columns, same-suit builds, two cells.
- Beleaguered Castle (Castle games) — Eight columns flanking four aces.
Learn