What Is FreeCell Solitaire?
FreeCell is a strategic solitaire game that stands apart from most other variants because nearly every deal (99.99%) is solvable. Unlike Klondike, where luck plays a significant role, FreeCell rewards pure skill and planning. All 52 cards are dealt face-up at the start, giving you complete information to work with.
The game was first popularized by its inclusion in Windows 95 and has been a favorite among strategy-game enthusiasts ever since.
How to Play FreeCell
Setup
- Tableau: 8 columns — the first 4 columns have 7 cards each; the remaining 4 columns have 6 cards each. All cards are face-up.
- Free Cells: 4 empty cells in the upper-left corner, used for temporary card storage.
- Foundation: 4 piles (one per suit) where you build up from Ace to King.
Rules
- Move one card at a time to another tableau column, a free cell, or the foundation.
- Build tableau columns in descending order with alternating colors (e.g., red 6 on black 7).
- Use free cells to temporarily store cards that are blocking moves. Each free cell holds exactly one card.
- Build the foundation from Ace to King, sorted by suit.
- Move sequences — you can move multiple cards in sequence if enough free cells and empty columns exist. The formula is: (1 + free cells) × 2^(empty columns) = maximum cards you can move.
- You win when all cards are moved to the foundation piles.
Supermove
While the rules technically allow only one card to be moved at a time, most FreeCell implementations allow you to move a properly ordered sequence. The number of cards you can move at once depends on how many free cells and empty columns are available.
| Free Cells Available | Empty Columns | Max Cards Movable |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | 0 | 5 |
| 3 | 1 | 8 |
| 2 | 2 | 12 |
| 4 | 2 | 20 |
FreeCell Strategy
Tip 1: Plan Several Moves Ahead
Since all cards are visible from the start, take time to plan your moves before you begin. Look at the full layout and identify potential problems — such as Aces buried deep in columns.
Tip 2: Keep Free Cells Open
Free cells are your most valuable resource. Fill them only when necessary and empty them as soon as possible. Running out of free cells often means running out of moves.
Tip 3: Prioritize Uncovering Aces and Low Cards
Identify where the Aces and Twos are located. Plan your early moves to uncover and move these to the foundation as quickly as possible.
Tip 4: Create Empty Columns
An empty column is worth more than a free cell because entire sequences can be placed there. Prioritize clearing shorter columns.
Tip 5: Build Foundation Piles Evenly
Do not rush one suit to the foundation while ignoring others. Building evenly ensures you do not accidentally remove cards you need for tableau manipulation.
Tip 6: Work from the Bottom Up
Focus on the cards at the bottom of the longest columns first. These are the hardest to access and often hold the key to solving the game.
FreeCell Win Rate
FreeCell has the highest win rate of any popular solitaire variant. Of the original 32,000 deals in the Microsoft FreeCell numbering system, only deal #11982 is known to be unsolvable. This means approximately 99.99% of random deals can be won with perfect play.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is every FreeCell game winnable?
Nearly — about 99.99% of FreeCell deals are solvable. Only an extremely small number of deals have no solution.
How is FreeCell different from Klondike?
In FreeCell, all cards start face-up, giving you complete information. You also have four free cells for temporary storage. Klondike deals most cards face-down and relies more on luck.
What is the best strategy for FreeCell?
Keep free cells empty, plan several moves ahead, prioritize uncovering Aces, and try to create empty tableau columns.