Objective
Move all 52 cards to the four foundation piles, building each foundation up by suit from Ace to King.
Setup
- 8 tableau columns are dealt face-up with all 52 cards (columns 1–4 get 7 cards, columns 5–8 get 6 cards).
- 4 free cells start empty. 4 foundation piles start empty.
Piles (what each area is)
- Free cells: 4 temporary holding spots — any single card can be placed here.
- Foundations: four suit piles (Spades, Hearts, Diamonds, Clubs) built up from Ace → King.
- Tableau: 8 columns where most play happens; cards build down in alternating colors.
Allowed moves
- Tableau builds: place a card onto a column if it is one rank lower and the opposite color (example: 8♥ on 9♣). Empty columns accept any card.
- Free cells: move any single card to an empty free cell at any time.
- Foundations: place a card if it is the same suit and one rank higher (Ace starts an empty foundation).
- From foundations: you can move the top card of a foundation back to the tableau if legal.
- Moving stacks: you can move a face-up sequence as a group if enough free cells and empty columns are available (supermove rule).
What is the supermove rule in FreeCell?
- The maximum number of cards you can move at once is: (empty free cells + 1) × 2^(empty columns).
- If the destination column is empty, subtract one from the empty column count.
- Example: with 2 free cells and 1 empty column, you can move up to (2+1)×2 = 6 cards at once.
Controls and helpers
- Drag and drop: drag a card or valid stack to a tableau column, free cell, or foundation.
- Double-click / double-tap: attempts an automatic move for the top card (to a foundation if possible).
- Undo / redo: Undo is available in the HUD and via Cmd/Ctrl+Z; Redo via Cmd/Ctrl+Shift+Z (or Ctrl+Y on Windows).
- Hint: suggests a legal move when one exists.
Auto-finish
Auto-finish activates when the remaining moves to send all cards to foundations are straightforward. At that point the outcome is certain — click auto-finish to watch the remaining cards move automatically.
Saving and sharing
- Your progress auto-saves locally in the browser and restores if you refresh or reopen the tab.
- Use Share to copy a short link that recreates the same starting deal (seed-based).
Why is it called FreeCell?
The name comes directly from the four free cells — the temporary holding spots that are the game's defining feature. A free cell can hold any single card, giving you a buffer to maneuver cards that would otherwise be stuck.
FreeCell was implemented by Paul Alfille in 1978 on the PLATO educational computer system. Jim Horne later wrote a DOS version and brought the game into the Microsoft ecosystem. Windows-era releases made FreeCell familiar to millions of players during the 1990s.
Strategy tips
- Plan several moves ahead. All 52 cards are face-up from the start, so FreeCell rewards thinking 5–10 moves ahead before committing. A move that looks useful now may block a critical card two moves later.
- Keep free cells as empty as possible. Each occupied free cell reduces the size of stacks you can supermove. Treat free cells as a last resort, not a first move.
- Create empty columns carefully. An empty tableau column is worth more than a free cell — it doubles your supermove capacity and can hold an entire stack temporarily.
- Build foundations evenly. Keep all four suits within one or two ranks of each other. Racing one suit ahead can block moves between tableau columns.
- Uncover Aces and low cards early. If an Ace, 2, or 3 is buried deep in a column, prioritize clearing the cards above it — you cannot build a foundation without them.
How is FreeCell different from Klondike?
All 52 cards are dealt face-up at the start — nothing is hidden. FreeCell uses 8 tableau columns instead of 7, has no stock or waste pile, and empty columns accept any card (not only Kings). The four free cells have no equivalent in Klondike.
The biggest difference is in winnability. In Klondike many deals cannot be solved even with good play because hidden cards create unavoidable blocks. In FreeCell nearly every deal is winnable — most losses come from strategy errors rather than an unwinnable shuffle.
Is every FreeCell deal winnable?
Almost. FreeCell is one of the rare solitaire variants where the vast majority of deals are solvable with correct play. In the original Microsoft set of 32,000 numbered deals, #11982 became famous as the unwinnable deal.
According to the Solitaire Laboratory FreeCell FAQ, the commonly cited list of eight unwinnable deals belongs to the first million Microsoft-style deals: #11982, #146692, #186216, #455889, #495505, #512118, #517776, and #781948. This near-perfect winnability is what makes FreeCell skill-focused, but not literally every shuffle is solvable.
Can I undo in FreeCell?
Yes. Unlimited undo is available via the Undo button or Cmd/Ctrl+Z. FreeCell rewards careful planning, so backtracking to explore a different line of play is a normal and important part of the game.
Sources and further reading
These references informed the rules, history, and winnability notes on this page.