What Is FreeCell? A Complete Guide

FreeCell is the thinking person's solitaire game. With all 52 cards dealt face up from the very start, there are no surprises and no hidden information. Every game is a pure test of strategy and planning, and nearly every deal can be solved if you play your cards right.

What Is FreeCell?

FreeCell is a solitaire card game played with a single standard 52-card deck. What makes it unique among solitaire games is that every card is visible from the very beginning. There are no face-down cards, no stock pile to draw from, and no element of hidden luck. You can see the entire layout and plan your moves accordingly.

The game was first described by Paul Alfille in 1978, who created a computerized version for the PLATO educational computer system. But FreeCell truly became a household name when Microsoft included it in Windows 95. Millions of people discovered this elegant game and fell in love with its fair, strategic nature.

The defining feature of FreeCell is the four "free cells" in the upper-left corner of the playing field. These cells each hold one card temporarily, giving you breathing room to rearrange the tableau. Managing these precious storage spaces is the heart of FreeCell strategy.

Complete Rules

The Setup

All 52 cards are dealt face up into eight tableau columns. The first four columns receive seven cards each, and the last four columns receive six cards each. Above the tableau are four empty free cells (on the left) and four empty foundation piles (on the right).

The Goal

Move all 52 cards to the four foundation piles, building each pile from Ace to King in a single suit. Diamonds go together, clubs go together, hearts go together, and spades go together.

Moving Cards on the Tableau

On the tableau, you build columns in descending order with alternating colors, just like in Klondike Solitaire. A black 8 can go on a red 9, a red Queen can go on a black King, and so on. Only the bottom card (the exposed card) of each column can be moved.

Technically, FreeCell only allows you to move one card at a time. However, most computer versions allow you to move a sequence of properly ordered cards as a single move, provided you have enough empty free cells and empty columns to make the move possible through individual card movements. The number of cards you can move at once equals one plus the number of empty free cells, doubled for each empty tableau column.

Using the Free Cells

You may place any single card into an empty free cell at any time. A card in a free cell can be moved back to the tableau or directly to a foundation pile. The four free cells are your most important resource in the game.

Building Foundations

Place Aces on the foundation piles, then build upward in suit order: Ace, 2, 3, 4, and so on up to King. Cards played to foundations are usually permanent, though some versions allow you to move them back if needed.

Understanding the Free Cells

The four free cells are what give this game its name and its special character. Think of each free cell as a small shelf where you can temporarily set aside a card that is in your way. Here is why they matter so much:

• They create flexibility. When a card is blocking the one you need, you can move the blocking card to a free cell and access the card beneath it.
• They determine how many cards you can move at once. With all four free cells empty, you can move sequences of up to five cards (or more, with empty columns). With all four occupied, you can only move one card at a time.
• They should be kept open whenever possible. Filling all four free cells is like painting yourself into a corner. Always try to keep at least one or two free cells available.

A good rule of thumb: only use a free cell when you have a clear plan for getting that card back out. Parking a card in a free cell "just because" often leads to gridlock.

Winning Strategies

1. Plan several moves ahead. Since all cards are visible, take time to study the layout before making your first move. Look for Aces and low cards that need to be freed, and trace the path you will need to take.
2. Free the Aces and Deuces early. Getting Aces and 2s to the foundations quickly opens up space and starts your foundation building. Look for these cards and work toward uncovering them.
3. Keep free cells open. Resist the temptation to use free cells casually. Each occupied free cell reduces your ability to move cards around. Use them deliberately and try to empty them again as soon as possible.
4. Empty columns are incredibly valuable. An empty tableau column is even more powerful than a free cell because you can place any card there (not just single cards). Try to create and maintain at least one empty column when possible.
5. Build on higher cards first. When you have a choice, build sequences starting from Kings or other high cards. This creates long, useful runs that eventually flow smoothly to the foundations.
6. Do not build foundations unevenly. If one foundation is at 8 and another is at 2, you may find yourself stuck because the cards you need are buried. Try to keep foundations relatively balanced.

Win Rates and Solvability

FreeCell is famous for being one of the most solvable solitaire games. Research has shown that 99.999% of all possible FreeCell deals are winnable. Out of the original 32,000 numbered deals in Microsoft FreeCell, only deal number 11982 was proven to be truly unsolvable.

This means that when you lose a FreeCell game, it is almost always because of the choices you made, not because you were dealt an impossible hand. For many players, this fairness is what makes FreeCell so satisfying. You know that with better play, you could have won, which keeps you coming back to try again.

Experienced FreeCell players typically win 75-90% of their games. Beginners might win around 40-50%, but improvement comes quickly with practice because the game teaches you to think ahead and plan strategically.

Frequently Asked Questions

What percentage of FreeCell games are winnable?

An astonishing 99.999% of FreeCell deals are winnable. Out of the original 32,000 numbered deals in Microsoft FreeCell, only one deal (#11982) was proven to be unsolvable. This makes FreeCell one of the fairest solitaire games, because almost every loss comes down to player decisions rather than bad luck.

What makes FreeCell different from Klondike Solitaire?

The biggest difference is that in FreeCell, all 52 cards are dealt face up at the start. There are no hidden cards. This means FreeCell is a game of pure strategy rather than a mix of luck and skill like Klondike. FreeCell also provides four special free cells that act as temporary storage for individual cards, giving you more flexibility in moving cards around.

How do free cells work in FreeCell?

The four free cells in the upper-left corner each hold one card at a time. You can temporarily place any card into an empty free cell to get it out of the way. Think of them as little shelves where you can set a card aside while you rearrange the tableau. The key is to use them wisely and try to keep them open, because the more free cells you have available, the longer sequences of cards you can move.