FreeCell Solitaire - Play Online Free
How to Play FreeCell Solitaire
FreeCell is a strategic solitaire card game where all 52 cards are dealt face-up from the start. With full information and 4 free cells for temporary storage, nearly every deal is solvable — making it a game of pure skill.
Setup
All 52 cards are dealt face-up into 8 tableau columns. The first 4 columns receive 7 cards each, and the remaining 4 columns receive 6 cards each. Four empty free cells sit at the top-left, and four foundation piles sit at the top-right.
Free Cells
The 4 free cells are temporary storage slots. Each can hold exactly one card at a time. Use them strategically to move cards around the tableau — but keep them empty whenever possible, as occupied free cells limit how many cards you can move at once.
Rules
- Build tableau columns in descending order with alternating colors (e.g., place a black 6 on a red 7).
- Only one card can be moved at a time, but the game will auto-move valid sequences if enough free cells and empty columns are available.
- The number of cards you can move at once equals (1 + empty free cells) × 2(empty columns).
- Empty tableau columns can be filled with any card.
- Build foundation piles up from Ace to King, each in a single suit.
FreeCell Strategy Tips
- Keep free cells empty. Every occupied free cell reduces the number of cards you can move as a group. Treat them as a last resort, not a first move.
- Plan ahead. Since all cards are visible from the start, take time to scan the tableau and plan a sequence of moves before acting.
- Free the Aces and Twos early. Getting low cards to the foundations quickly opens up the tableau and simplifies later moves.
- Work on the longest columns first. Longer columns hide more cards that need to be accessed. Prioritize uncovering and freeing cards buried deep.
- Create empty columns. Empty columns are even more valuable than free cells because they double the number of cards you can move at once.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is every FreeCell game winnable?
- Nearly — only about 1 in 80,000 deals is unsolvable. The famous deal #11982 is the most well-known unsolvable game.
- How many cards can I move at once in FreeCell?
- The formula is (1 + empty free cells) × 2(empty columns). With 4 empty free cells and 0 empty columns, you can move up to 5 cards at once.
- What is the best FreeCell strategy?
- Keep free cells empty as long as possible, plan ahead since all cards are visible from the start, and work on freeing the longest columns first.