Move all cards to the four foundation piles, each starting with an Ace and building up to King of the same suit.
You can move a sequence of cards if you have enough free cells and empty columns to move each card individually. The maximum number of cards you can move as a sequence is calculated by: (1 + free cells) × 2^(empty columns)
Successfully move all 52 cards to the foundation piles, sorted by suit from Ace to King.
FreeCell is played with a standard 52-card deck dealt face-up into 8 tableau columns. The goal is to move all cards to 4 foundation piles, building each suit from Ace to King. You can move cards between tableau columns in descending order with alternating colors, use 4 free cells for temporary storage, and move cards to foundations in ascending suit order.
FreeCell differs from Klondike Solitaire in several ways: all cards are dealt face-up (no hidden cards), you have 4 free cells for temporary storage, cards are arranged in 8 columns instead of 7, and there's no stock pile to draw from. FreeCell has a much higher win rate (99%+ of games are theoretically winnable) compared to Klondike Solitaire.
Technically, you can only move one card at a time in FreeCell. However, you can move sequences of properly ordered cards (descending rank, alternating colors) if you have enough free cells and empty columns to temporarily store the cards. The formula is: (1 + free cells) × 2^(empty columns). For example, with 2 free cells and 1 empty column, you can move up to 6 cards as a sequence.
Any single card can be placed in a free cell, regardless of rank or suit. Free cells are temporary storage spaces that help you move cards around the tableau and access buried cards. You can move a card from a free cell to a tableau column (following descending alternating color rules) or to a foundation pile (if it's the next card in ascending suit order).
In traditional FreeCell rules, cards cannot be moved back from foundation piles to the tableau or free cells. Once a card is placed on a foundation, it stays there. However, some digital versions allow this move to help with strategy, though it's not part of the classic rules.
FreeCell has one of the highest win rates of any solitaire game - approximately 99% of all FreeCell deals are theoretically solvable. Experienced players typically achieve win rates of 85-95%, while beginners might win 60-75% of games. The high solvability rate makes FreeCell more about skill and planning than luck.
Key FreeCell strategies include: 1) Always move Aces and Twos to foundations immediately, 2) Try to empty a tableau column early for maximum card movement flexibility, 3) Don't fill free cells unnecessarily - keep them available for strategic moves, 4) Build foundations evenly to avoid blocking important cards, 5) Plan several moves ahead, especially when moving sequences, and 6) Prioritize exposing and moving lower-ranked cards first.
FreeCell is considered highly skill-based because all cards are visible from the start, eliminating the luck factor of hidden cards. Success depends entirely on your ability to plan moves, manage the free cells efficiently, and execute complex card sequences. The high percentage of winnable games means that losses are usually due to poor strategy rather than impossible deals.
Empty tableau columns are extremely valuable in FreeCell because any card or valid sequence can be moved there. Empty columns effectively double your sequence-moving capacity - each empty column doubles the length of sequences you can move. This is why creating empty columns early in the game is a key strategy for experienced players.
Yes! Our FreeCell game follows the exact same rules as the classic Windows FreeCell that millions of players know and love. The gameplay, card movement rules, and winning conditions are identical. We've simply optimized it for modern browsers and mobile devices while maintaining the authentic FreeCell experience you expect.