FreeCell Solitaire
FreeCell is a unique solitaire game where all 52 cards are dealt face-up, making it a game of pure strategy. With 4 "free cells" for temporary card storage and nearly 99% of games being winnable, it's perfect for players who want skill to triumph over luck.
How to Play FreeCell
Objective
Move all cards to 4 foundation piles, built by suit from Ace to King.
Setup
- 8 columns: All 52 cards dealt face-up
- 4 free cells: Temporary storage (top left)
- 4 foundations: Build A→K by suit (top right)
Rules
- Tableau: Build down in alternating colors
- Free cells: Hold one card each temporarily
- Moving stacks: Limited by empty cells + empty columns
- Empty columns: Any card can fill them
Stack Moving Formula
Max cards = (empty cells + 1) × 2^(empty columns)
Example: 2 free cells + 1 empty column = (2+1) × 2 = 6 cards
FreeCell Strategy
- Study the layout first — All cards are visible, plan your moves
- Free the Aces early — Build foundations ASAP
- Keep free cells empty — They limit how many cards you can move
- Create empty columns — Each empty column doubles your moving power
- Don't bury low cards — Keep 2s and 3s accessible
- Work on all suits equally — Don't let one suit fall behind
FreeCell FAQ
Can every FreeCell game be won?
Nearly! Of the original 32,000 Microsoft FreeCell games, only game #11982 is unsolvable. About 99.999% of random deals are winnable.
Why is FreeCell easier than Klondike?
All cards are visible from the start, eliminating luck. Every game is a puzzle with a solution—you just need to find it.
What are the free cells used for?
Free cells are temporary storage for single cards. They give you flexibility to rearrange the tableau but should be kept empty when possible.
More Solitaire Games
- Klondike Solitaire — The classic version
- Spider Solitaire — Build 8 King-to-Ace sequences
- Pyramid Solitaire — Match pairs that equal 13