How to play FreeCell
FreeCell is the solitaire game where you can see every card. All 52 cards are dealt face up into eight columns: four of 7 cards and four of 6. Above them are four free cells on the left and four foundations on the right.
The goal is to move every card to the foundations, one per suit, from Ace up to King.
- Move one card at a time: the top card of a column, or a card from a free cell.
- In the columns, build down in alternating colors: a red 9 on a black 10.
- Each free cell holds one card. Any card can go into an empty free cell or an empty column.
- To make play quicker, a whole run moves at once when there is room to move it card by card. The limit is (free cells + 1) x 2 for every empty column: with 4 free cells that is 5 cards, with 4 free cells and one empty column 10.
- Cards that no other card can need any more go to the foundations by themselves.
Every deal has a number from 1 to 32000, the same numbered deals as the classic Windows game. Pick a number in New game to play a specific one.
FreeCell strategy tips
- Look before you move. With every card visible, find where the Aces and twos are buried and plan how to dig them out.
- Keep free cells empty. Each card you park in a cell lowers how many cards you can move at once. Fill a cell only when it gains you something concrete.
- An empty column is worth more than a free cell. It doubles the size of runs you can move. Try to clear a short column early.
- Build long runs in alternating colors. They are easy to move later and keep columns tidy.
- Use undo freely. Almost every deal can be won, so when you are stuck, step back to the last good choice and try another line.
Frequently asked questions
Is every FreeCell game winnable?
Almost. Of the original 32,000 numbered Microsoft deals, only game #11982 is known to be impossible. Every other deal can be won, though some take careful planning.
What are game numbers?
Each number from 1 to 32000 stands for one fixed deal, the same one Windows FreeCell dealt for that number. Type a number in the New game box to replay a deal you know or to compare a game with friends.
How many cards can I move at once?
You move one card at a time, but the game moves a whole run for you when you have room for the single steps: (free cells + 1) times 2 for every empty column. With 4 free cells and no empty column that is 5 cards; one empty column doubles it to 10. When you move a run into an empty column, that column does not count.
Why do cards jump to the foundations on their own?
When no card left on the table could ever need a card as a place to land, it goes to its foundation automatically. Aces and twos always go; a red 5 goes once both black 4s are home, and so on. You can still move any card there yourself.
How is FreeCell different from Klondike Solitaire?
In FreeCell every card is face up from the start and there is no stock, so luck plays almost no part. If you lose, a better plan existed. In Klondike many cards are hidden, so some deals are lost before the first move.
Is this FreeCell free?
Yes. It is free, runs in your browser on phones, tablets and computers, and needs no download or account. Your game and your stats are saved in your own browser.