How to Play Freecell Solitaire: Complete Rules & Strategy Guide

What Is Freecell Solitaire?

Freecell is a patience game played with a single standard 52-card deck. What makes it unique among solitaire variants is that all cards are visible from the start, transforming it from a game of luck into a game of pure strategy and planning.

Popularized by Microsoft Windows starting with Windows 95, Freecell has become one of the most beloved solitaire variants worldwide. Unlike other card games where hidden cards create uncertainty, Freecell presents every card face-up, giving you complete information to solve the puzzle.

The game boasts an exceptional 82% win rate with optimal play, and research shows that 99.999% of all possible deals are theoretically solvable. Only one deal out of Microsoft's original 32,000 numbered games is provably unsolvable.

Freecell Setup

Freecell uses one standard 52-card deck with all cards dealt face-up from the beginning. The layout consists of:

• 8 tableau columns: The first four columns contain 7 cards each, and the last four columns contain 6 cards each
• 4 free cells (top-left): Empty spaces that serve as temporary single-card storage
• 4 foundation piles (top-right): Empty at the start, these are where you'll build your winning sequences
• No stock pile: Unlike Klondike Solitaire, there are no hidden cards or draw pile

Every card in the deck is visible from the moment the game begins, which is what makes Freecell a game of perfect information.

Game Objective

The goal is to move all 52 cards to the four foundation piles, building each foundation from Ace to King in the same suit. One foundation pile per suit: hearts, diamonds, clubs, and spades.

You'll use the free cells and empty tableau columns as temporary storage to manipulate card positions. Victory is achieved when all four foundations are complete, each displaying a King on top with the complete sequence Ace through King beneath it.

How to Play Freecell

Freecell follows specific movement rules that govern how cards can be stacked and transferred. Understanding these rules is essential for developing winning strategies.

Tableau movement: Cards in the tableau columns are built in descending order with alternating colors. A red 7 can go on a black 8, and a black 6 can go on the red 7.

Free cells: The four free cells at the top-left can each hold one card temporarily. Think of them as parking spots—useful for temporarily moving cards out of the way, but they limit your mobility when full.

Foundation building: Foundations start with Aces and build upward to Kings in the same suit. Once a card is moved to a foundation, it typically stays there.

Empty columns: Any single card or valid sequence can occupy an empty tableau column. Empty columns are extremely valuable for maneuvering cards.

Supermove: You can move a sequence of cards as a single unit if you have enough free cells and empty columns available. This is explained in detail in the next section.

Understanding the Supermove

The supermove is Freecell's most distinctive mechanic and separates beginners from experienced players. It allows you to move a sequence of cards as a single unit, provided you have enough free resources.

The formula for calculating how many cards you can move at once is:

(1 + empty free cells) × 2^(empty tableau columns)

Here's how it works in practice:

• 4 free cells + 0 empty columns = (1 + 4) × 2^0 = 5 cards
• 4 free cells + 1 empty column = (1 + 4) × 2^1 = 10 cards
• 2 free cells + 1 empty column = (1 + 2) × 2^1 = 6 cards
• 3 free cells + 2 empty columns = (1 + 3) × 2^2 = 16 cards

The game engine automatically calculates this for you—if you click a valid sequence, it will move all possible cards. Behind the scenes, it's using the free cells and empty columns to temporarily relocate cards, then reassembling the sequence in the new location.

Why this matters: Strategic Freecell play revolves around keeping free cells and columns available. Filling all your free cells early severely limits your ability to move card sequences, often leading to unwinnable positions.

How Freecell Differs from Klondike

While both games share some similarities, Freecell and Klondike Solitaire offer distinctly different experiences:

Visibility: Freecell shows all 52 cards face-up from the start. Klondike has hidden cards that reveal only when the cards above them are removed.

Deck count: Both use a single standard 52-card deck.

Tableau structure: Freecell uses 8 columns, Klondike uses 7.

Card manipulation: Freecell offers four free cells for temporary storage. Klondike has a stock pile and waste pile for drawing new cards.

Win rate: Freecell has an 82% win rate with optimal play. Klondike's win rate is approximately 8-12%, making it significantly more luck-dependent.

Strategic depth: Freecell is pure strategy—every move can be planned in advance. Klondike combines strategy with luck, as hidden cards and stock pile draws introduce uncertainty.

For a different kind of challenge with even more cards to manage, try Spider Solitaire, which uses two complete decks and focuses on building sequences within the tableau.

Winning Strategies

Mastering Freecell requires disciplined planning and resource management. Apply these strategies to dramatically improve your win rate:

Keep free cells empty as long as possible. Each occupied free cell reduces your ability to move card sequences. Think of free cells as emergency reserves, not permanent storage.

Prioritize uncovering and moving Aces and low cards. Get Aces to the foundations immediately. Moving 2s and 3s early creates foundation bases without limiting your tableau options.

Build foundations evenly across all four suits. Don't rush one suit far ahead of the others. Keeping foundations balanced preserves more options for tableau building and prevents card locks.

Plan several moves ahead. Since all cards are visible, scan the entire tableau before making your first move. Identify which cards are blocking others and plan the sequence needed to free them.

Use empty columns wisely. An empty column is more powerful than free cells—it can temporarily hold entire sequences. Reserve empty columns for critical maneuvers rather than filling them immediately.

Don't move cards to foundations too early. A 2 of hearts might be safe to move up, but that 6 of spades might be needed to build a tableau sequence. Only move cards to foundations when you're certain you won't need them for maneuvering.

Look for buried cards that will block progress. If a King is buried under several cards in a column, plan how you'll relocate it. Kings can only go in empty columns, so you need a strategy before you uncover them.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Even experienced players fall into these traps. Recognizing them will save you from unwinnable positions:

Filling all free cells early. This is the number one mistake. Once all four free cells are occupied, you can only move one card at a time, severely limiting your options and often creating deadlock positions.

Moving cards to foundations too aggressively. Just because you can move a card to a foundation doesn't mean you should. Cards in foundations are locked away from tableau building.

Ignoring empty column value. Empty columns are your most powerful tool—treat them as precious resources. Filling an empty column with a random card wastes its potential for complex sequence transfers.

Not planning ahead despite perfect information. Freecell gives you every card face-up from the start. Use this advantage. Random clicking wastes the strategic opportunity that perfect information provides.

Breaking useful sequences unnecessarily. If you have a nicely built descending sequence, think twice before breaking it apart. Rebuilding sequences consumes free cells and moves that could be used elsewhere.

Moving Kings without a plan. Kings can only move to empty columns. If you uncover a King without having an empty column available or a plan to create one, you've likely created a blockage.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is every Freecell game winnable?

Nearly every Freecell game is winnable—research shows 99.999% of deals are theoretically solvable. Only one deal in Microsoft's original 32,000 numbered games (deal #11982) is provably unsolvable. However, practical win rates are around 82% because humans aren't perfect.

What is the win rate for Freecell Solitaire?

Expert players achieve approximately 82% win rates with optimal play. This is dramatically higher than Klondike Solitaire's 8-12% win rate, reflecting Freecell's skill-based nature versus luck-dependent games.

What is a supermove in Freecell?

A supermove allows you to transfer multiple cards as a single sequence if you have enough free cells and empty columns. The number of cards you can move equals (1 + empty free cells) × 2^(empty columns). The game automatically uses temporary storage to execute the transfer.

How is Freecell different from Klondike Solitaire?

Freecell shows all cards face-up from the start, making it a pure strategy game. Klondike has hidden cards and a stock pile, introducing luck. Freecell uses 8 columns and 4 free cells, while Klondike uses 7 columns with stock and waste piles. Freecell has an 82% win rate; Klondike has 8-12%.

How many cards are in Freecell Solitaire?

Freecell uses one standard 52-card deck. All 52 cards are dealt face-up into 8 tableau columns at the start: four columns with 7 cards each and four columns with 6 cards each.

What should I put in empty columns?

Use empty columns strategically for Kings or long sequences you need to relocate. Don't fill empty columns casually—they're your most powerful resource for complex card transfers. An empty column can temporarily hold an entire sequence during supermoves.

How long does a Freecell game take?

A typical Freecell game takes 5-15 minutes depending on your skill level and the deal's complexity. Beginners might take longer as they learn to recognize patterns. Expert players can solve straightforward deals in under 5 minutes.

Why is Freecell considered a strategy game?

Freecell is pure strategy because all 52 cards are visible from the start—there are no hidden cards or random draws. Every move can be planned in advance with complete information. Success depends entirely on your ability to plan sequences and manage resources, not on luck.

Start Playing Freecell

Freecell Solitaire offers a unique challenge in the world of card games. With all cards face-up from the beginning, it removes the element of luck and becomes a pure test of strategic planning and resource management.

The key to mastering Freecell is understanding that those four free cells aren't just storage—they're tools for executing complex card sequences. Keep them empty when possible, plan your moves several steps ahead, and use empty columns strategically.

With 99.999% of deals being solvable and an 82% practical win rate, nearly every Freecell game you start can be won with the right approach. The question isn't whether the deal is winnable, but whether you can find the winning sequence.