Freecell Solitaire Rules & Strategy
Objective
The goal of Freecell Solitaire is to move all cards to the four foundation piles, building each suit from Ace to King.
Setup
Freecell uses a standard 52-card deck. All cards are dealt face-up into 8 tableau columns at the beginning of the game. You also have 4 free cells (empty spaces) and 4 foundation piles.
How to Play
- Tableau: Build down in alternating colors (red on black, black on red)
- Foundations: Build up by suit from Ace to King
- Free Cells: Can hold one card each as temporary storage
- Empty Columns: Can hold any card or sequence of cards
Movement Rules
- Only one card at a time can be moved (unless you have enough free cells and empty columns)
- You can move sequences of cards if you have enough free spaces
- Cards in free cells can be moved to tableau or foundations
- Empty tableau columns can hold any card
Winning Strategy
- Plan Ahead: Look at all cards before making moves
- Use Free Cells Wisely: Don't fill them up too quickly
- Create Empty Columns: These give you more flexibility
- Build Foundations Early: Move Aces and low cards up when possible
- Uncover Hidden Cards: Prioritize moves that reveal face-down cards
History
Freecell Solitaire became famous when it was included with Microsoft Windows. Unlike many solitaire games, almost all Freecell deals are winnable with perfect play, making it a game of skill rather than luck.