Vegas solitaire scoring turns every game into a high-stakes challenge. You start each deal at -$52, the price of the deck. Each card you move to a foundation earns $5. To show a profit, you need at least 11 cards on the foundations, which gives you $55 against the $52 stake. Clearing all 52 cards earns the maximum payout and a healthy profit. The rules, payouts, pass limits, break-even point, and strategy all shift when every card is worth money.
How Vegas Scoring Works
In Vegas scoring, you begin each game with a debt of $52. That is the cost of the deck. Every time you move a card from the tableau or stock to a foundation, you add $5 to your running total. Your score is the net amount after subtracting the starting debt. For example, if you move 10 cards to foundations, you earn $50, but you still owe $52, so your score is -$2. The game ends when you can make no more moves or when you decide to stop. The goal is to end with a positive score.
This scoring method is based on the casino game Canfield. In Canfield, players bought a deck for $50 and received $5 per card. Vegas solitaire adapts that same structure: $52 for the deck and $5 per card placed on a foundation.
Draw Options and Pass Limits
The number of passes through the stock changes how many cards you can reach. Two common draw options exist:
- Draw one Vegas: You are allowed only one pass through the stock. After you turn over the last stock card, the game ends if you cannot make more moves.
- Draw three Vegas: You are allowed three passes through the stock. This gives you more opportunities to find playable cards.
Draw three offers more chances, so it is easier to reach a profit. Draw one is more restrictive and demands sharper decisions.
Break-Even Point and Profit
To break even, you need to place 11 cards on the foundations. Those 11 cards earn $55, which covers the $52 deck cost and leaves $3 profit. Any fewer than 11 cards means you lose money. If you clear all 52 cards, you earn the maximum payout of $260. After subtracting the $52 stake, your net profit is $208.
Key Totals At A Glance
- 11 cards on foundations: $55 earned, $3 profit
- A few more cards on foundations: more earned, more profit
- 52 cards on foundations: $260 earned, $208 profit
Every card above 11 adds $5 to your profit. Every card below 11 adds to your loss.
Cumulative Vegas Scoring
Cumulative Vegas scoring carries your balance over from game to game. Instead of resetting to -$52 each deal, your previous score becomes the starting point for the next game. For example, if you finish one game with a profit of $10, the next game begins at a lower debt ($52 minus $10). If you finish a game with a loss, the next game starts at a higher debt.
This format rewards consistent play. A single bad game does not ruin your session because you can recover over multiple deals. It also means that a streak of good games can build a large positive balance.
Strategy Changes When Every Card is Worth Money
In standard solitaire, you only care about winning the game. In Vegas scoring, every card you place on a foundation is worth $5. That changes your priorities. Maximize the number of cards moved to foundations, even if you cannot finish the game.
Adjust Your Play For Cash
- Empty columns early: Empty tableau columns are valuable because they let you move kings and open up more moves. In Vegas scoring, freeing a column is often worth more than a single foundation move.
- Build foundations evenly: Do not rush to place a card on a foundation if it blocks access to other cards below it. Sometimes it is better to leave a card in the tableau to uncover a sequence.
- Use the stock wisely: In draw three, you can cycle through the stock three times. Use each pass to expose as many cards as possible. In draw one, you have only one pass, so be more selective about which cards you play.
- Consider stopping early: If you have a small profit and few moves left, end the game and keep that profit. Playing on might risk being unable to move any more cards and ending with a loss.
These adjustments make Vegas scoring a different game from standard solitaire. Every move has a direct dollar value.
Vegas Scoring Compared to Standard Scoring
Standard solitaire scoring gives you points for moves and time, but the goal is still to win. In Vegas scoring, the only number that matters is your net cash. You can win the game and still lose money if you did not place enough cards. Conversely, you can lose the game but still show a profit if you placed 11 or more cards before getting stuck.
This difference means that players who focus only on winning may miss opportunities to earn money. For example, in standard solitaire, you might avoid moving a card to a foundation because it would block a sequence. In Vegas scoring, move that card. It is worth $5 now, and you can deal with the blockage later.
Quick Reference Payouts and Limits
Here is a summary of the numbers you need to know:
- Starting debt: $52 per deal
- Payout per card to foundation: $5
- Break-even point: 11 cards ($55 earned)
- Maximum payout: $260 (all 52 cards)
- Maximum profit: $208
- Draw one: 1 pass through stock
- Draw three: 3 passes through stock
- Cumulative scoring: balance carries over
Keep these numbers in mind as you play. They help you decide when to push for more cards and when to take a profit and start a new deal.