How to Play FreeCell Solitaire
FreeCell Solitaire is a perfect-information card game — all 52 cards are dealt face-up, so there is no hidden information. With skillful play, nearly every deal (99.999%) is winnable, making it one of the most strategic solitaire variants. Unlike Klondike where luck plays a role, FreeCell rewards careful planning and foresight above all else.
About FreeCell Solitaire
FreeCell Solitaire is the thinking player's card game — a rare solitaire variant where nearly every deal is winnable if you play correctly. Unlike most solitaire games where luck plays a major role, FreeCell deals all 52 cards face-up from the start, making it a pure game of strategy and planning. There is no hidden information, no random draws — just your skill against the cards.
The game features eight tableau columns and four free cells that act as temporary storage. The key mechanic is the Supermove rule: the number of cards you can move at once depends on how many free cells and empty columns are available. This creates a fascinating puzzle where managing your free cells is just as important as building your foundation piles. Master players think several moves ahead, always keeping at least one free cell open as insurance.
With approximately 99.999% of deals being solvable, FreeCell is proof that solitaire does not have to be about luck. Of the original 32,000 numbered Microsoft FreeCell deals, only one (deal #11982) was proven unsolvable — making it perhaps the most skill-based card game ever designed.
Objective
Your goal is to move all 52 cards to four foundation piles, each built up by suit from Ace to King. Because every card is face-up from the start, every win is the result of planning rather than luck — making FreeCell the ultimate test of pure card-game strategy.
Video Tutorial
How to Play FreeCell Solitaire (wikiHow)
Game Setup
- The tableau: Eight columns of fully face-up cards — the first four columns hold 7 cards each, the last four hold 6 each. Every card is visible from the start.
- The free cells: Four empty slots above the tableau, each holding exactly one card. Use them as temporary storage to free up cards trapped in the tableau.
- The foundations: Four empty piles in the upper-right where you build each suit from Ace to King. Filling all four wins the game.
Rules
- Build tableau columns in descending order with alternating colors (same as Klondike).
- Only one card at a time can be moved — but the Supermove shortcut lets you move sequences (see below).
- Move any single card to an empty free cell. Each free cell holds exactly one card.
- Any card can be placed on an empty tableau column.
- Build foundations by suit in ascending order: Ace, 2, 3, ... King.
- Supermove: you can move a valid sequence as a group. The max cards you can move = (empty free cells + 1) x 2^(empty columns). For example, with 2 empty free cells and 1 empty column, you can move (2+1) x 2^1 = 6 cards.
- Safe auto-play: cards are automatically moved to foundations when they cannot be useful in the tableau (e.g., Aces and Twos are always safe).
- Win by moving all 52 cards to the four foundation piles.
- There is no stock pile or waste pile — all cards are available from the beginning.
- You cannot place a card on top of a lower-ranked card of the same color in the tableau.
- Free cells can hold any card regardless of rank or suit.
- The game is lost when no valid moves remain and you cannot create space.
Strategy Tips
- Plan ahead. Since all cards are visible, think several moves ahead before acting.
- Keep free cells empty as much as possible. Your ability to move sequences depends on free cells.
- Empty columns are even more powerful than free cells — protect them.
- Look for deeply buried Aces and plan how to uncover them early.
- Build foundations evenly. Having one foundation far ahead of others can create problems.
- Do not automatically play every card to the foundation. Sometimes keeping a card in play is strategically valuable.
- Work backwards from your goal. Identify what needs to happen and plan the move sequence to get there.
- If you need to move a long sequence, count your available "Supermove capacity" first to see if it is possible.
- Focus on freeing columns rather than free cells. One empty column doubles your Supermove capacity.
- Early in the game, focus on organizing cards by suit whenever possible — it pays dividends later.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is every FreeCell game winnable?
Nearly all — 99.999% of the standard 32,000 FreeCell deals are solvable. Only a handful (like deal #11982) have been proven unsolvable.
What is a Supermove in FreeCell?
A Supermove is a shortcut that lets you move a valid sequence of cards at once. The maximum cards you can move equals (empty free cells + 1) multiplied by 2 to the power of empty tableau columns.
What makes FreeCell different from Klondike?
In FreeCell, all cards are face-up (perfect information), there is no stock pile, and you have four free cells for temporary storage. These differences make FreeCell almost entirely skill-based.
What are free cells?
Free cells are four temporary storage spaces. You can move any single card to a free cell, and move it back when needed. They give you flexibility to rearrange the tableau.
How do I win FreeCell more consistently?
Plan ahead, keep free cells empty, protect empty columns, and build foundations evenly. Since all cards are visible, take your time to think through sequences before making moves.
Can I move cards back from the foundation?
In most digital versions including ours, yes — you can move a card from the foundation back to the tableau if it helps your strategy.
Why is FreeCell considered a skill game?
Because all cards are visible from the start (perfect information), the outcome depends almost entirely on your decisions, not luck. This is why nearly every deal is winnable with perfect play.
How long does a FreeCell game take?
Most games take 5-10 minutes. Difficult deals requiring extensive planning can take 15-20 minutes. Speed players can finish in under 2 minutes.