Solitaire: From Royal Courts to Digital Screens

When Microsoft included Solitaire with Windows 3.0 in 1990, they transformed a centuries-old card game into possibly the most-played computer game of all time. What began as a teaching tool for mouse usage became a worldwide phenomenon that continues to captivate players decades later.

Royal Beginnings

The exact origins of Solitaire (or “Patience” as it’s known in Europe) are somewhat mysterious, but most historians trace it back to the Baltic region in the late 1700s. The game gained popularity in French royal courts during the era of Napoleon, who reportedly played Solitaire during his exile on St. Helena.

By the mid-19th century, Solitaire had spread throughout Europe and North America, spawning hundreds of variations with different rules and layouts.

Digital Revolution

When Microsoft needed a simple application to help users become comfortable with using a mouse, they brilliantly chose Solitaire. The drag-and-drop mechanics of moving cards provided the perfect training ground for mouse skills:

• Clicking
• Dragging
• Double-clicking
• Precision placement