About FreeCell
FreeCell is the solitaire of pure skill: all 52 cards are dealt face up into eight columns, so nothing is hidden and almost every deal can be won. Build the four foundations from Ace to King by suit, using the four free cells as temporary parking spaces.
Tap a card to send it to the best spot automatically, or drag it yourself. Safe cards fly home on their own, and unlimited undo and hints help when you get stuck. Try Relaxed to move any valid run at once, or Hard with only three free cells.
How to play
- Tableau columns build down in alternating colours.
- Each free cell holds one card. Empty cells and columns let you move longer runs.
- Move all 52 cards to the foundations. Faster is better.
FreeCell rules
FreeCell is a patience game in which all 52 cards are dealt face up into eight tableau columns. Above them are four free cells, each able to hold one card, and four foundations. Build each foundation by suit from Ace to King. In the tableau, cards are placed in descending order with alternating colours. Any card can go into an empty column.
FreeCell was created by Paul Alfille in 1978 and became famous when it shipped with Windows in the 1990s. Because nothing is hidden, almost every deal can be won: of the first 32,000 numbered Microsoft deals, only one, deal #11982, is known to be impossible.
Strategy tips
- Plan before your first move. Find where the Aces and Twos are buried and work toward them.
- Keep free cells empty. Each empty cell is flexibility; filling all four early is the most common way to get stuck.
- An empty column is worth more than a free cell. The longest run you can move at once is (free cells + 1) × 2 for every empty column, so emptying a column doubles your options.
- Build long ordered runs so whole sequences can move together later.
- Do not rush cards to the foundations if you still need them to hold cards of the other colour.
Three ways to play
Classic uses the standard four free cells. Relaxed lets you move any valid run in one go, without counting cells. Hard gives you only three free cells, which makes planning far more important.
FreeCell FAQ
Is FreeCell easier than Solitaire?
It needs more planning but less luck. Since every card is visible, a careful player can win almost every deal.
Can I undo a move?
Yes. Press U or the Undo button, and H for a hint.
New to patience games? Start with Solitaire and our guide on how to play Solitaire, or see all card games.
