FreeCell Guide, Rules, and Tips
FreeCell is a solitaire game in which all 52 cards are dealt face up, so almost every deal can be solved with careful thinking. Four free cells act as temporary parking spaces while you sort the eight tableau columns and build each suit from Ace to King on the foundations.
How to Play
- All 52 cards are dealt face up into eight columns at the start.
- In the tableau, stack cards in descending order with alternating colors, such as a red 6 on a black 7.
- Each of the four free cells holds one card; any top card can be moved there.
- Build the four foundations up by suit from Ace to King. The game is won when all cards reach the foundations.
Strategy and Tips
- Free Aces and Twos early so the foundations can start growing.
- Keep free cells empty for as long as possible; a full set of cells leaves you with no room to maneuver.
- An empty column is worth more than a free cell because it can hold a whole run.
- Before moving a card into a free cell, know how you will get it back out.
Controls
Drag cards with the mouse or your finger, or click a card to move it. Choose Easy, Intermediate, or Hard difficulty before you start, and use undo to back out of mistakes.
Background
FreeCell was popularized by Paul Alfille’s computer version in 1978 and became famous when it shipped with Microsoft Windows. Of the original 32,000 numbered Windows deals, only one (#11982) is known to be unsolvable.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can every FreeCell game be won?
Almost all of them. Nearly every deal is solvable, so a lost game usually means an earlier move closed off the solution.
What do the difficulty levels change?
Easy gives you three reshuffles and makes key cards appear more easily; Intermediate gives one reshuffle; Hard gives none.
How many cards can I move at once?
The number of cards you can move as a group depends on how many free cells and empty columns you have. Our FreeCell strategy guide explains the formula.