How to Play FreeCell Solitaire: The Complete Strategy Guide
FreeCell Solitaire is widely considered the most skill-based variant of solitaire. Unlike Klondike or Spider, which have significant luck elements, FreeCell rewards strategic planning above all else. With an estimated 99.99% of deals being winnable, losing a FreeCell game usually means you made a strategic error—not that the cards were against you. This guide will teach you everything you need to master FreeCell and dramatically increase your win rate.
What Makes FreeCell Special?
FreeCell's unique feature is the four "free cells"—temporary storage spaces where you can place individual cards. These cells are the key to solving the game, allowing you to reorganize card sequences and create the moves needed to win. All 52 cards are dealt face-up from the start, so you can see the complete layout and plan your strategy accordingly.
Game Setup and Objective
FreeCell uses a standard 52-card deck dealt into eight tableau columns. The first four columns contain seven cards each, and the last four columns contain six cards each. All cards start face-up, giving you complete information from the beginning.
The objective is identical to most solitaire games: build four foundation piles from Ace to King in suit. However, the path to victory requires careful use of the free cells and strategic tableau management.
Rules and Valid Moves
Tableau Rules
- Stacking: Cards in the tableau must be stacked in descending order with alternating colors (red on black, black on red).
- Moving Sequences: You can move a sequence of cards as a unit, but the number of cards you can move depends on how many free cells and empty columns are available.
- Empty Columns: Any card or valid sequence can fill an empty column. Empty columns are extremely valuable.
- Top Card Only: In the tableau, only the bottom card of a sequence can be placed on another card.
Free Cell Rules
- Each of the four free cells can hold exactly one card
- Cards can be moved to and from free cells at any time
- Free cells are temporary storage—use them strategically
- Emptying free cells as soon as possible increases your flexibility
Foundation Rules
- Foundations start with Aces and build up in suit (A-2-3-4...K)
- Only the next card in sequence can be placed on a foundation
- Cards can be moved back from foundations to tableau (though rarely beneficial)
How Many Cards Can You Move?
This is the most important tactical concept in FreeCell. The number of cards you can move as a sequence depends on available free cells and empty columns:
Formula: (Free Cells + 1) × (Empty Columns + 1)
Examples:
- 4 free cells, 0 empty columns: Can move 5 cards
- 2 free cells, 1 empty column: Can move 6 cards (3 × 2)
- 0 free cells, 1 empty column: Can move 2 cards (1 × 2)
- 4 free cells, 1 empty column: Can move 10 cards (5 × 2)
Understanding this formula is crucial for planning multi-move sequences.
Winning Strategies for FreeCell
- Empty Columns Are Gold: Creating and maintaining empty tableau columns is the #1 priority. Empty columns dramatically increase your ability to move card sequences. Protect them and use them strategically.
- Don't Fill Free Cells Unnecessarily: Free cells are powerful but limited. Don't fill them unless you have a specific plan for how you'll empty them. Having all four free cells occupied severely limits your options.
- Expose Buried Cards First: Prioritize moves that uncover cards buried deep in columns, especially Aces and low cards that can start or continue foundation sequences.
- Don't Rush to Foundations: Unlike Klondike, moving cards to foundations too early in FreeCell can block critical moves. Keep cards in the tableau until you're certain you won't need them for building sequences.
- Plan Multiple Moves Ahead: Since all cards are visible, you can—and should—plan 3-5 moves ahead. Visualize the entire sequence before making your first move.
- Build Down Evenly: Try to keep tableau columns at similar heights when possible. This maintains flexibility and prevents situations where you can't access needed cards.
- Identify "Supermoves": Look for opportunities to create long sequences that can be moved in one action. These supermoves can unlock multiple cards at once.
- Know When a Game Is Lost: If you can't free a needed card without breaking required sequences, the game may be impossible. Don't be afraid to restart and try a different approach.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Filling all free cells early: This is the #1 beginner mistake. Always keep at least one free cell open if possible.
- Moving to foundations too aggressively: Cards on foundations are locked away. Keep them in tableau for flexibility.
- Not planning ahead: Making moves without thinking 2-3 steps ahead often leads to dead ends.
- Ignoring empty columns: Failing to create or protect empty columns limits your move options drastically.
- Moving cards without purpose: Every move should have a strategic goal, not just "because you can."
The History of FreeCell
FreeCell was invented in 1968 by Paul Alfille as a modification of an older solitaire game called "Baker's Game." The game remained relatively unknown until 1991, when Jim Horne created a FreeCell version for Windows 3.0. Microsoft included it in Windows 95, alongside Klondike and Minesweeper, which introduced millions of players worldwide to the game.
The Windows version included 32,000 numbered deals, and players quickly discovered that deal #11982 was believed to be impossible to solve. In 1995, this deal was finally solved, leaving only deal #-1 (seed 11982 in some numbering systems) as potentially unsolvable. As of today, only one deal out of the original 1 million Microsoft FreeCell deals has never been solved, giving FreeCell its famous 99.99% solvability rate.
FreeCell vs. Other Solitaire Games
FreeCell vs. Klondike: FreeCell requires more skill, while Klondike has more luck. FreeCell's complete information (all cards visible) makes it a puzzle to solve rather than a game of chance. Win rates for skilled players: FreeCell 80-95%, Klondike draw-three 10-30%.
FreeCell vs. Spider: Both require significant strategy, but FreeCell is more accessible. Spider's suit-matching requirement makes it more complex, while FreeCell's free cells make it more forgiving of mistakes (thanks to undo).
Frequently Asked Questions
Almost—99.99% of FreeCell games are theoretically solvable. Out of the original 32,000 Microsoft deals, only one (#11982) remains unsolved, though it's believed to be solvable with perfect play. In practice, with unlimited undo, skilled players can win 90-98% of games they attempt.
Beginners: 40-60%. Intermediate players: 70-85%. Advanced players: 90-98%. If you're winning 80%+ of your games, you're doing very well. The games you lose are typically due to strategic errors early on that create unsolvable positions later.
A game becomes impossible when cards you need are blocked by cards that need to go underneath them, creating a circular dependency. For example, if the 5♥ you need is under the 6♠, but the 6♠needs to go on the 7♥ which is under the 5♥, you're stuck. This usually results from poor planning, not an impossible deal.
No—this is a common mistake. Only move cards to foundations when you're certain you won't need them for building sequences. A good rule: don't move cards to foundations if they're more than two ranks higher than any card still needed in the tableau.
Start by identifying Aces and moving them to foundations. Then, look for moves that create empty columns or expose buried low cards. Avoid filling free cells in the opening unless absolutely necessary. The first few moves should focus on creating flexibility and options.
For experienced players, 3-7 minutes. Beginners might take 10-15 minutes. Unlike timed games, FreeCell rewards careful thought over speed. Taking an extra minute to plan your moves will improve your win rate significantly.
Yes! Our FreeCell implementation uses localStorage to save your game state, so you can close your browser and resume later. Your statistics are also saved locally on your device.
Because all cards are visible from the start, FreeCell is essentially a puzzle with complete information. Unlike Klondike where hidden cards create randomness, FreeCell outcomes depend almost entirely on your strategic decisions. This is why skilled players can achieve 90%+ win rates.