How do you play FreeCell?
Win by moving all 52 cards onto the four foundations at the top right, one suit each, from Ace to King. Unlike Klondike, every card is dealt face up, so planning matters far more than luck.
The deck is dealt into eight columns: seven cards in each of the four on the left and six in each of the four on the right. The four free cells at the top left are spare spots for parking cards.
Where can cards go?
| Spot | What it takes |
|---|---|
| Columns | One rank lower in the other color. A red 7 goes on a black 8 |
| Empty column | Any card, or any ordered run |
| Free cells | Any single card, one per cell |
| Foundations | One suit each, Ace first, then up in order |
Can you move several cards at once?
Yes. An ordered run of up to (free cells + 1) × 2empty columns cards moves in one go. It is a shortcut for shuffling the cards one at a time through the open spaces.
- 2 free cells, no empty columns: up to 3 cards
- 1 free cell, 1 empty column: up to 4 cards
- When the target is an empty column, that column does not count. With 2 free cells and 1 empty column you can move 3 cards into it.
What is a deal number?
A deal number is a number from 1 to 1000000 that fixes how the deck is shuffled. The same number always gives the same layout, so you can race a friend on the same game or come back to one you could not crack. It follows the long established FreeCell numbering, so deal #1 starts with J♦ 2♦ 9♥ J♣ on the first row.
Random deals are checked by a built in solver, so every one you get can be won.
Tips
- Keep free cells open. Every filled cell shrinks the runs you can move.
- Dig out the Aces and twos first. Low cards buried deep are what lock a game.
- An empty column beats a free cell. Each one doubles the size of the run you can move.
- Think a few moves ahead. Nothing is hidden, so you can plan the whole sequence.
- Lean on undo and hints. Undo is unlimited and the hint shows the next move the solver found.
With auto play on, only cards that are no longer needed in the columns fly up to the foundations by themselves. Games won, streaks and your best time are saved in this browser.