FreeCell
A highly strategic solitaire where nearly every deal is solvable.
Setup
Deal all cards face-up into 8 columns. Leave 4 free cells and 4 foundations empty.
How to Play
- Build tableau columns downward alternating colors.
- Move one card to any free cell.
- Build foundations up by suit from ace.
- Use empty columns and free cells to move sequences.
How to Win
Move all cards to foundations.
Keep free cells open; they are your maneuvering room.
Is FreeCell Right for You?
FreeCell deals all 52 cards face-up with four open cells for temporary storage, so almost everything is a solvable puzzle. Reach for it when you want a solitaire that rewards planning and patience rather than luck.
Maybe skip it if: If you want a fast, low-effort game to zone out to, FreeCell demands real thought on every move.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Filling all four free cells early and locking yourself with no room to maneuver.
- Moving cards before you have mapped out a plan to empty a full column.
- Treating the free cells as storage instead of stepping stones back into the tableau.
Strategy Tips
- Work to empty a full column early; an empty column is more flexible than a free cell.
- Keep free cells available as long as you can and avoid clogging them with cards you cannot easily replace.
- Plan long sequences of moves backward from the card you want to free.
Popular Variations
Baker's Game
The ancestor of FreeCell where you build down by suit instead of by alternating color, which is noticeably harder.
Two-Cell / Five-Cell
Reducing the free cells makes deals much tougher; adding one makes nearly everything trivial.
Our Take
FreeCell is our favorite solitaire for genuine skill: with everything visible and almost every deal winnable, a loss usually means you made a mistake, not that the cards betrayed you. We recommend it to anyone who finds Klondike too random.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are all FreeCell games winnable?
Almost. Of the original 32,000 numbered Microsoft deals, only one (game #11982) was proven unsolvable; the vast majority can be won with correct play.
How many cards can you move at once?
Officially one, but with empty cells and columns you can effectively move a sequence whose length grows with each free cell and empty column available.