How to Play FreeCell
Objective
Move all 52 cards to the four foundation piles, building each one up by suit from Ace to King.
Rules
Follow these FreeCell rules to understand how to sequence cards and use free cells.
- Move cards to the foundation piles in ascending order by suit. For example, the A♠ should be followed by the 2♠, 3♠, 4♠, and so on.
- Arrange cards in descending order, alternating color. For example, a 9♠ can be placed on a 10♥.
- Use free cells as temporary storage. They can help you free up cards to move to the foundation piles or sequence in the tableau.
- Move a sequence equal to the number of free cells plus one. So if two free cells are open, you can move a sequence three cards long or fewer.
- An empty column doubles the amount of cards you can move, as long as you aren’t moving cards into that column. So if you have four free cells and an empty column, you can move a sequence of up to 10.
- Fill empty tableau columns with any single card or valid descending sequence. Unlike Klondike Solitaire, empty columns don’t need to be filled with a King.
When all the cards are moved to the foundations, you win. If you get stuck and run out of moves, the game is over.
Tips and Strategies
Using these FreeCell strategies will help you manage your free cells effectively and uncover cards in the tableau more efficiently
- Clear Aces early. Prioritize uncovering and moving Aces to the foundation as soon as possible since they allow you to build the foundation piles.
- Use free cells wisely. Free cells are powerful, but limited. The more free cells you have open, the more cards you can move in sequence. Don’t fill them up too early.
- Clear tableau columns when possible. Clearing a tableau column gives you a huge advantage. An empty column acts like an extra free cell, but better, since it can hold entire sequences.
- Limit long sequences. Since the number of cards you can move depends on how many free cells and empty columns are available, long sequences can be hard to reposition and may block access to important cards underneath.
With every card visible from the start, FreeCell is a relatively easy Solitaire variation. Play FreeCell online to sharpen your skills and top the leaderboard.
