FreeCell Solitaire: Rules, Tips, and Why Every Game Is Winnable
2026-01-29
FreeCell is different from Klondike and Spider: almost every deal is winnable if you play correctly. There is no hidden stock—all 52 cards start face up in eight tableau columns. Four "free cells" and four foundations give you room to maneuver. Learn the rules and a few tips, and you can win the vast majority of games.
Layout and Rules
Deal 52 cards into eight columns: the first four columns get seven cards each, the last four get six. All cards are face up. You have four free cells (each holds one card) and four foundations (built from Ace to King in suit). On the tableau you build in descending order and alternating colors, as in Klondike. You may move one card at a time to a free cell, to a foundation, or onto another tableau card. You may also move valid sequences if you have enough free cells and empty columns to do it in single-card steps.
Using the Free Cells
The four free cells are your main tool. Use them to temporarily hold a card so you can reach the one below it, or to break up sequences. Do not fill all four with random cards—keep at least one or two free so you can move cards when you need to. Moving an Ace or 2 to the foundation early can free a cell, but sometimes you need those cards on the tableau to build. Think one or two moves ahead before using a free cell.
Empty Columns
An empty column is very powerful. Only a King can start a new column. Use empty columns to rearrange long sequences or to expose cards that were buried. Creating an empty column early often makes the rest of the game easier. Avoid filling an empty column with just any card—prefer moves that keep columns organized and that lead to building on the foundations.
Why (Almost) Every Game Is Winnable
In FreeCell there is no luck of the draw—all cards are visible from the start. That means every game has a solution; the challenge is finding it. A tiny number of deals (in the standard numbering) are unsolvable, but the overwhelming majority are winnable. If you get stuck, try undoing a few moves and using the free cells or empty columns differently. With practice, you will win most of your games and enjoy one of the fairest solitaire variants around.