(Alaska)

History & origin of Alaska

Yukon is a variant of Klondike and shares its naming inspiration: the Yukon river and territory in Canada, scene of the 1896–1899 gold rush. It carries the same aura of adventure in the frozen north that named the world's most famous solitaire.

One rule change makes it quite a different game: there is no stock to draw from — all 52 cards start in the tableau — and you can move any face-up card, carrying everything on top of it, even if it is not in order. That opens up far more possibilities each move.

Because it doesn't depend on the luck of a draw pile and leaves almost everything in view, Yukon is a favorite of planners — and it inspired even tougher variants, like Russian and Alaska, which build by suit.

Facts about Alaska

• The name comes from the same gold-rush region that named Klondike — the Yukon territory in Canada.
• There is no luck of the draw: all 52 cards are in view (minus the ones dealt face down), so losing is almost always a planning error.
• You move groups of cards even out of order — only the bottom card must land legally; that is what sets Yukon apart from Klondike.
• Russian and Alaska are Yukon's “cousins” that build by suit (not by color), and are much harder.

How to play Alaska step by step

1. Goal: bring all 52 cards to the four foundations by suit, Ace to King — a variant of Yukon (and Russian).
2. In the tableau, build by the same suit — and here is the twist: sequences can go UP or DOWN.
3. That means a card lands on one of the same suit that is one rank above OR below, giving extra routes.
4. As in Yukon, you move a group of cards even out of order, as long as the bottom one lands legally.
5. Empty columns only take Kings. Face-down cards flip up when they reach the top.
6. The freedom to go up or down opens more moves — but demands care not to tangle yourself; plan the path to the foundations.