Big Card Solitaire — why we built an accessible solitaire site

Big Card Solitaire is a free Klondike solitaire site for people who want larger, easier-to-read cards. We built it because most solitaire sites on the web use cards that are too small to play comfortably, especially for older adults, people with vision difficulties, or anyone tired of squinting at the screen. The cards are about twice the size of those on typical solitaire sites, the colors have high contrast, and the whole site works without a mouse if you would rather use the keyboard.

Why we built it

We are a small team that thought solitaire sites should be easier on the eyes. The idea came from watching older relatives lean closer and closer to the screen during a game that should have been relaxing. It came from our own eyes getting tired after a few hands at a typical site. And it came from noticing that no one seemed to be building a solitaire site that took card visibility seriously.

Most solitaire sites shrink the cards on phones until the ranks and suit symbols become hard to read at arm’s length. That works fine if you are 25 with perfect vision in a dim room. Otherwise it is harder than it needs to be. We thought someone ought to start with the question “how easy is this actually to see?” and work back from there.

What’s different about Big Card Solitaire

The cards are 80 pixels wide on every device. That is about twice the size you will see on typical solitaire sites, especially on phones, where most sites shrink the cards to squeeze all seven tableau columns into a narrow window. We keep the cards big and let you swipe sideways instead to reach the columns farthest to the right.

The colors are chosen to give high contrast. The board is deep navy, the cards are warm cream, and hearts, diamonds, spades, and clubs are either dark navy or dark red. The color choices are made so that red and black stay clearly distinct at any size, and so that every text-on-background pair passes the strictest web accessibility benchmark for readable text contrast (7 to 1). Most solitaire sites do not pass that standard.

Five buttons at the top right adjust the text size: 90 percent, 100 percent, 125 percent, 150 percent, or 200 percent. The setting is saved in the browser, so the site remembers it on your next visit.

The whole game works without a mouse. Tab moves between piles. The arrow keys move between cards within a tableau column. Enter or Space picks up a card or puts it down. H asks for a hint. ESC cancels a selection. Screen readers read out every pile and every move. Most people still play with a mouse on a computer.

Who benefits

Older adults. By age 50, the lens of the eye has stiffened enough that focusing on small or close-up text takes noticeably more effort. By 60, most people need reading glasses for fine text. Larger cards, more spacing, and stronger contrast turn frustrating squinting into a relaxed afternoon.

People with low vision. This includes those living with age-related macular degeneration, cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, or other conditions that affect central vision or contrast sensitivity. We are not a medical device and the site does not treat these conditions, but a larger and sharper playing surface is easier to use than a small one.

People with motor disabilities. Full keyboard support means the game does not depend on precise mouse control. Touch targets are 80 by 112 pixels on phones, large enough that a tap landing a few pixels off still hits the intended card.

Everyone else who wants a calmer interface. You do not need an official disability to prefer cards you can see clearly, a board without pop-ups, and a layout that does not move around while you play.

How to use the accessibility features

The most common change is text size. Look for the row of A buttons at the top right of the Klondike board. A− is smallest, A+++ is largest. Each press resizes everything on the board, including the cards and the controls themselves.

To play with the keyboard, Tab leads you through each pile from left to right: stock, waste, four foundations, and finally seven tableau columns. Within a tableau column the up and down arrows move between cards. Enter or Space selects a card or completes a move. H shows a hint. ESC clears a selection.

The hint button is available at any time and never gives away the whole solution. It just points to one legal move you might have missed.

Try it now

Play Klondike and adjust everything until the cards look right. We will keep adding ways to make Big Card Solitaire easier to use. Suggestions welcome.