(Westcliff)

History & origin of Westcliff

Patience games (called “solitaire” in the United States and “patience” in Europe) appeared in northern Europe in the late 18th century — likely somewhere between Scandinavia, Germany and France. The first rule collections were printed in the 1780s, and the pastime spread among the aristocracy; Napoleon, in exile, is often named as a devotee.

Klondike takes its name from the Klondike region of the Yukon (Canada), scene of the 1896–1899 gold rush. Prospectors are said to have passed the long, frozen nights dealing the game in their camps — and the name stuck precisely because it evokes that lonely gamble for fortune.

What turned Klondike into the world’s most-played solitaire, though, was the computer: in 1990 Microsoft bundled “Solitaire” with Windows 3.0. Written by intern Wes Cherry, it was really there to teach people to use the mouse and drag-and-drop — and became one of the most-played games in history.

Facts about Westcliff

• The bouncing cascade of cards on a win became the signature of Windows Solitaire — and a small end-of-workday addiction in offices around the world.
• Wes Cherry, who coded the game as an intern, never received royalties. He also hid a “boss key” that swapped the screen for a fake spreadsheet — cut from the final release.
• In 2019 Windows Solitaire was inducted into the World Video Game Hall of Fame, alongside classics like Tetris and Super Mario Bros.
• Not every Klondike deal is solvable — unlike FreeCell, the luck of the draw matters here, and some deals simply cannot be won.

How to play Westcliff step by step

1. Goal: bring all 52 cards to the four foundations by suit, Ace to King.
2. The game starts with ten columns of three cards. In the tableau, build descending sequences in alternating colors.
3. Empty columns accept any card or group — use them to reorganize.
4. Watch out: there is a single pass through the stock, with no recycling. Every card you draw counts.
5. So think before you draw: make the most of the tableau and foundations before turning new cards.
6. Free the face-down cards early and prioritize releasing Aces and 2s to the foundations.