FreeCell Tutorial
From first deal to first win
The recording slot is ready for the final hosted video. Until then, the full chapter plan and transcript below give players the same beginner path in text form.
01Tutorial Chapters
Board tour
Identify the four free cells, four foundations, and eight cascades before making the first move.
Legal moves
Build down by alternating color in the cascades and build foundations upward by suit from Ace to King.
Free cells
Use free cells as temporary parking, not long-term storage. Every filled cell reduces what you can move.
Empty columns
Clear columns early when possible. Empty columns multiply your sequence-moving power and unlock buried cards.
First win plan
Find low cards, protect mobility, move safe foundation cards, and avoid filling all free cells at once.
02Tutorial Transcript
FreeCell starts with every card face-up. Your goal is to move all cards to the four foundation piles, one suit at a time, from Ace through King. The challenge is not finding hidden cards; it is keeping enough room to rearrange the cards you can already see.
First, look for Aces and low cards. Moving an Ace to the foundation is always safe, and 2s are usually safe once their Aces are home. Then scan for columns that can be cleared quickly. An empty column is stronger than a free cell because it can hold a whole descending sequence, not just one card.
Build cascades in descending order with alternating colors: a red 6 goes on a black 7, a black Queen goes on a red King. Avoid filling all four free cells unless the move immediately opens a column or releases an important low card. Full free cells make the board stiff.
When you are unsure, compare two candidate moves by asking which one creates more mobility. The best beginner move is often the one that opens a column, frees an Ace, or keeps at least one free cell empty for the next turn.
03Try It on a Real Deal
Play a fresh deal and apply the chapter plan: low cards, empty columns, then foundations.
Slow down with a full written guide to board reading, safe moves, and early mistakes.
Keep the core rules and supermove formula nearby while practicing.
Practice the same logic on a friendlier setup with early foundation cards already started.
Ready for the First Deal?
Start with one goal: keep space open. That habit wins more FreeCell games than any trick.