FreeCell Solitaire
FreeCell is Solitaire with the luck stripped out: all 52 cards are dealt face up into eight columns, so the entire game is visible from the first move. Four free cells in the top corner each hold a single card — your only storage, and the key to everything. Nearly every deal is winnable, which makes every loss a puzzle you could have solved.
FreeCell Rules
- Tableau columns are built downward in alternating colors, like Klondike.
- Any single card may be placed in an empty free cell; it may return to the tableau or a foundation later.
- Foundations are built upward by suit from Ace to King.
- Empty columns may hold any card or sequence.
- The number of cards you can move at once equals (empty free cells + 1) × 2^(empty columns).
FreeCell Strategy
Free cells are power, not storage: every occupied cell shrinks the sequences you can move. Fill them briefly to dig out a key card, then empty them again as fast as you can.
Find the Aces and Twos before your first move and plan the excavation. Empty columns are even more valuable than free cells — each one doubles your movable-stack size. Compared with Klondike, FreeCell rewards deep, deliberate reading of the whole board.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is every FreeCell deal solvable?
Almost. Of the classic numbered deals, all but a tiny handful are solvable — the win is nearly always available if you can find the line.
Why can I only move a few cards at once?
Multi-card moves are shorthand for shuttling cards one at a time through free cells and empty columns. The limit — (free cells + 1) × 2^(empty columns) — is exactly how many single-card moves the board can support.
Is FreeCell harder than Klondike?
It is more demanding mentally but far more winnable. Klondike hides information and can be unwinnable; FreeCell shows you everything and lets skill decide.