FreeCell is the thinking person's solitaire. Unlike Klondike, all 52 cards are dealt face-up, meaning every game is a pure puzzle with no hidden information. And with a win rate approaching 99.999%, almost every deal is solvable — if you can find the solution.
What Is FreeCell?
FreeCell is a solitaire card game played with a single standard 52-card deck. It was popularized by Microsoft, which included it in Windows 95 (following Klondike Solitaire in Windows 3.0). What makes FreeCell unique:
- All cards are face-up — no hidden information
- Four free cells provide temporary card storage
- Nearly every deal is solvable (~99.999% win rate with perfect play)
- The game is entirely skill-based — luck plays almost no role
Game Setup
All 52 cards are dealt face-up into 8 tableau columns:
- Columns 1–4 receive 7 cards each (28 cards)
- Columns 5–8 receive 6 cards each (24 cards)
Above the tableau are:
- 4 free cells (top-left) — temporary storage for single cards
- 4 foundation piles (top-right) — build each suit Ace to King
There is no stock pile or waste pile in FreeCell.
Complete Rules
Tableau Rules
- Cards are stacked in descending order with alternating colors (same as Klondike)
- Only one card at a time can be moved (unless you use free cells strategically)
- Any card can fill an empty tableau column (not just Kings, unlike Klondike)
Free Cell Rules
- Each free cell can hold exactly one card
- Any card can be placed in an empty free cell
- Cards in free cells can be moved to the tableau or foundation at any time
- Effective use of free cells is the core strategic skill
Foundation Rules
- Build each suit from Ace to King
- Cards are automatically moved to foundations when safe (in most digital versions)
Moving Multiple Cards (Supermove)
Technically, only one card can be moved at a time. However, digital versions allow “supermoves” — moving a sequence of properly ordered cards as if you had manually moved each one through free cells and empty columns. The maximum number of cards you can move at once is:
(1 + free cells available) × 2empty columns
| Free Cells Available | Empty Columns | Max Cards to Move |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | 0 | 5 |
| 3 | 0 | 4 |
| 2 | 1 | 6 |
| 4 | 1 | 10 |
| 4 | 2 | 20 |
| 0 | 0 | 1 |
Winning Strategy
1. Plan Before You Move
Since all cards are visible, take time to study the layout before making any moves. Look for Aces buried deep in columns — freeing them is your first priority.
2. Keep Free Cells Open
Free cells are your most valuable resource. Each occupied free cell reduces your ability to move cards. Try to keep at least 1–2 free cells empty at all times.
3. Empty Columns Are Powerful
An empty tableau column acts like a super free cell — it can hold any card AND it doubles your supermove capacity. Prioritize creating empty columns when possible.
4. Free Aces and Low Cards First
Work to unbury Aces, then Twos, then Threes. Building foundations early gives you more space and reduces the complexity of the remaining puzzle.
5. Build Long Sequences in the Tableau
A long, properly ordered sequence in the tableau is valuable because it takes up only one column. Try to consolidate scattered cards into ordered sequences before moving to foundations.
6. Don't Fill Free Cells Early
Filling all four free cells in the first few moves is a common beginner mistake. It drastically limits your options. Use free cells only when necessary and plan to empty them quickly.
FreeCell vs Klondike
| Feature | FreeCell | Klondike |
|---|---|---|
| Hidden cards | None (all face-up) | Yes (face-down cards) |
| Stock pile | No | Yes (24 cards) |
| Free cells | 4 temporary storage | None |
| Tableau columns | 8 | 7 |
| Empty column rule | Any card | Kings only |
| Win rate (perfect play) | ~99.999% | ~82% |
| Luck factor | Almost none | Significant |
| Difficulty | Strategic | Mixed luck/strategy |
The Famous Unsolvable Deal
Microsoft FreeCell originally numbered 32,000 deals. Of these, Deal #11982 is the only one proven to be unsolvable. It became famous among players who attempted it before the proof was established. Later analysis of 1 million random deals found that 99.999% were solvable.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is FreeCell Solitaire?
FreeCell is a solitaire card game where all 52 cards are dealt face-up into 8 tableau columns. Four free cells serve as temporary storage. The goal is to move all cards to four foundation piles by suit from Ace to King.
Is every FreeCell game winnable?
Nearly. Of the original 32,000 numbered FreeCell deals in Microsoft FreeCell, only one (#11982) is proven unsolvable. Overall, about 99.999% of FreeCell deals are winnable with perfect play.
What is the difference between FreeCell and Klondike?
In FreeCell, all cards are dealt face-up (no hidden cards) and four free cells provide temporary storage. In Klondike, most cards start face-down and there is a stock pile to draw from. FreeCell is more strategic with a much higher win rate (~99% vs ~30%).