How to play FreeCell
FreeCell is the thinking player's solitaire: every card is dealt face up from the start, so there is no luck to blame and almost no deal you can't win. The goal is to move all 52 cards onto the four foundation piles, building each suit up in order from Ace to King.
The deck is dealt into eight cascades — the first four hold seven cards, the rest six. Above them sit four free cells, each able to hold a single card.
- In the cascades, stack cards in descending order with alternating colors — a red 9 on a black 10, a black 8 on a red 9, and so on.
- Free cells hold one card each. Use them to dig out buried cards, but remember that a full cell limits how many cards you can move at once.
- Empty cascades can be filled with any card or run — not just Kings, unlike Klondike.
- Moving runs: you can move (free cells + 1) cards as a unit, doubled for each empty cascade. With 2 free cells and 1 empty column, that's a run of 6.
- Foundations — each suit has its own marked slot (♠ ♥ ♦ ♣) and builds up from the Ace. Tap any playable card to send it there automatically.
Strategy tips that actually win games
- Plan before you move. Everything is visible, so trace where the Aces and low cards are buried and work out how to reach them before touching a card.
- Keep the free cells free. Cells are your move capacity — with all four full you can only move single cards, and games die of gridlock. Park cards briefly, not permanently.
- Empty a column early. An empty cascade is more flexible than a free cell: it takes any card and doubles the size of runs you can move.
- Dig for Aces and Deuces first. A buried Ace blocks its whole suit. Getting the low cards out early keeps the foundations flowing.
- Don't rush cards to the foundations. You may still need a low card in the cascades to park other cards on. Keep the foundations roughly level across suits.
- Use undo liberally. FreeCell rewards exploring a line, backing out and trying another — that's how nearly-always-winnable becomes nearly-always-won.
Frequently asked questions
How do I win FreeCell?
You win by moving all 52 cards to the four foundation piles, building each suit up from Ace to King. All cards are dealt face up, so with careful planning you can almost always find a winning line.
Are all FreeCell games winnable?
Nearly all. Of the classic Microsoft deals, all but one (the famous game #11982) are solvable, and random deals are winnable more than 99% of the time. Losing usually means a planning mistake, not bad luck.
How many cards can I move at once in FreeCell?
Officially you move one card at a time, but empty free cells and empty columns let you move runs: (free cells + 1) cards, doubled for each empty column. With all 4 cells free you can move a run of 5 — the game calculates this for you.
What are the free cells for?
The four free cells in the top-left corner are temporary parking spots that hold one card each. They are your working space — but every filled cell shrinks the runs you can move, so empty them as quickly as you can.
Can I play FreeCell offline or on my phone?
The game runs entirely in your browser and works on phones, tablets and desktops. Your game in progress is saved automatically, so you can close the tab and pick up where you left off.
More free card games
Want something different? Try classic Klondike Solitaire, the trick-taking classic Hearts, or roll the dice in Yahtzee.