How to Play FreeCell
FreeCell is the solitaire of pure skill: every card is dealt face up, so you can plan every move. Use the four free cells to park cards while you build down in alternating colors, and bring all four suits home from Ace to King.
- Players
- Just you
- Cards
- Standard 52 cards
- Game length
- 5–15 min
- Difficulty
- Medium
The goal
Move all 52 cards to the four foundations, building each suit up from Ace to King.
The layout
- Tableau: all cards are dealt face up into eight columns, four of seven cards and four of six.
- Free cells: four spaces at the top left. Each holds one card.
- Foundations: four spaces at the top right.
Moving cards
- In the tableau, place a card on a card one rank higher of the opposite color.
- Any card can be moved into an empty free cell, and back out again.
- Any card, or built stack, can go into an empty column.
- Officially you move one card at a time, but you may move a built stack in one go when there is room to do it card by card: with c empty free cells and e empty columns you can move (c + 1) × 2e cards.
Playing on this site
- Tap a card to send it to the best place automatically, or drag it (with any cards on top of it) onto a highlighted pile.
- Aces and other cards that are safe to play go up to the foundations by themselves.
- Use Undo as often as you like, and Hint when you are stuck.
Strategy tips
- Free cells fill up fast. Keep at least one empty whenever you can.
- Free the Aces and Twos early, especially those buried deep in a column.
- An empty column is worth more than a free cell: it doubles the number of cards you can move.
Frequently asked questions
Can every FreeCell game be won?
Almost. Nearly every deal can be solved with careful play; only a tiny number of deals are impossible.
How many cards can I move at once?
One card for each free cell plus one, doubled for every empty column. With two free cells and one empty column you can move six cards.
Card games have many house rules. This page describes the most common way FreeCell is played, and the version you play on Card Sunday. Does your family play differently, or have you spotted a mistake? Tell us and we will check it.
