In Classic Klondike you start with a stock of cards and a tableau consisting of seven piles containing 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 cards, respectively. Only the top card in each pile is initially shown. From this setup you should try to build down from kings to aces in alternate colors in order to unlock as many hidden cards as possible. The remaining cards in the stock can be turned to a playing pile from where you may pick cards to use for building straights in alternate colors on the tableau. Finally, you should try to build a foundation of cards in each suit, from aces to kings. To increase your score, you should try to finish the patience in as short time as possible.

The patience has three different settings: turn three, turn one and turn three then one. In the first version you turn three cards at a time from the stock to the playing pile and in the second version you turn one card at a time. In both of these versions you may recycle the playing pile to the stock when there are no more cards left in it. In the third version you start by turning three cards at a time. When the stock is empty you may choose to recycle the playing pile to the stock and then continue turning three cards at a time, or you may choose to recycle and start turning one card at a time. When switching to turning one card you may however not recycle the playing pile the next time around.