Other solitaire games
FreeCell rules
FreeCell is the solitaire game for people who like to think. Every card is visible from the start, so luck matters little.
In FreeCell all 52 cards are dealt face up into eight columns. You build down in alternating colors, park single cards in four free cells, and build the four foundations up from ace to king. Nearly every deal can be won, so the game is about planning, not luck.
The setup
Deal 52 cards face up into eight columns: the first four columns get 7 cards, the other four get 6. There are four free cells at the top left, each holding one card, and four foundations at the top right.
How to play
- Build down in the columns, alternating colors, as in Klondike.
- Any single card can be placed in an empty free cell and taken out again.
- Any card can go in an empty column.
- Build foundations up by suit from ace to king.
Moving several cards
You move one card at a time, but to move a run you can use free cells and empty columns as helpers. The most cards you can move at once is (free cells + 1) multiplied by 2 for each empty column. With four free cells and no empty column that is 5 cards.
Can every deal be won?
Almost. Among the 32,000 numbered deals in the Windows version, only deal 11982 is known to be unwinnable. That makes FreeCell very different from Klondike.
Tips
- Free the aces and low cards early.
- Do not fill the free cells without a plan: they are your main tool.
- Try to get an empty column.
- Plan several moves ahead, since there are no hidden cards.
See types of solitaire for other games, or play Klondike here.
Frequently asked questions
How many free cells are there in FreeCell?
Four.
Can every FreeCell game be won?
Almost every one. In the 32,000 Windows deals, only number 11982 cannot be won.
Can any card go in an empty column?
Yes, in FreeCell any card can.