How to Play FreeCell Solitaire

FreeCell Solitaire is one of the most strategic solitaire card games. Unlike other solitaire variants, all 52 cards are dealt face-up, making it a game of pure skill where nearly every deal is winnable. This guide explains how to play FreeCell Solitaire step by step.

Objective of FreeCell Solitaire

The goal of FreeCell Solitaire is to move all 52 cards to the four foundation piles. Each foundation pile must be built by suit, starting with an Ace and ending with a King. With perfect play, 99.999% of FreeCell games are solvable.

FreeCell Solitaire Layout

The game uses a standard 52-card deck and features four distinct areas:

• Tableau: Eight columns where all 52 cards are dealt face-up (four columns of 7 cards, four columns of 6 cards)
• Free Cells: Four empty cells in the top-left for temporary card storage
• Foundation Piles: Four empty piles in the top-right where you build each suit from Ace to King

Basic Moves in FreeCell Solitaire

• Move cards between tableau columns in descending order with alternating colors
• Move any single card to an empty free cell
• Move Aces to the foundation piles, then build up by suit to King
• Any card can be placed in an empty tableau column (not just Kings)
• Move multiple cards at once based on available free cells and empty columns

The Supermove Rule

In FreeCell, you can move multiple cards at once if you have enough free cells and empty columns. The formula is: (1 + number of empty free cells) × 2^(number of empty columns). For example, with 2 empty free cells and 1 empty column, you can move up to 6 cards at once.

Winning FreeCell Solitaire

You win FreeCell Solitaire when all 52 cards are moved to the foundation piles, each built from Ace to King by suit. Unlike other solitaire games, success depends entirely on your strategic decisions.