How to Play FreeCell Solitaire

1. Setup & Layout

A standard game of FreeCell Solitaire uses a single 52-card deck. All cards are dealt face-up into eight columns called cascades. The first four cascades receive 7 cards each, and the remaining four cascades receive 6 cards each, for a total of 28 + 24 = 52 cards. Every card is visible from the moment the deal is complete.

Above the cascades sit two groups of four empty spaces:

• 4 Free Cells (top-left): Temporary storage spaces. Each free cell can hold exactly one card at a time. These are your most important tactical resource.
• 4 Foundations (top-right): Where you build completed suits from Ace through King. One foundation per suit (hearts, diamonds, clubs, spades).
• 8 Cascades (the tableau): The main playing area where cards are arranged in overlapping columns. You can only move the bottommost (fully exposed) card of each cascade, unless you perform a supermove.

2. Objective

The goal of FreeCell is straightforward: move all 52 cards to the four foundation piles. Each foundation builds up from Ace to King within a single suit. The game is won when all four foundations are complete — Ace through King of hearts, diamonds, clubs, and spades.

Cards must be placed on foundations in strict ascending order within their suit. You cannot skip ranks or place a card of the wrong suit. For example, the 5 of hearts can only be placed on the 4 of hearts in the hearts foundation. Once a card is on a foundation, it is typically auto-played and does not need to return to the tableau (though some implementations allow it for strategic reasons).

The game is lost when no legal moves remain and not all cards have been moved to the foundations. However, because FreeCell is a perfect-information game, a loss almost always means the player missed a better sequence of moves rather than being dealt an impossible hand.

3. Core Rules

FreeCell has three sets of rules governing how cards can be moved between the cascades, free cells, and foundations.

Tableau Building Rules

Within the cascades, cards are built in descending rank with alternating colors. A black 6 can be placed on a red 7, a red Queen on a black King, and so on. Only the bottommost (fully exposed) card of each cascade can be moved. An empty cascade can receive any single card — this is an extremely valuable resource.

Free Cell Rules

Any exposed card from a cascade can be moved to an empty free cell. Each free cell holds exactly one card. A card in a free cell can be moved to a cascade (following the building rules), to a foundation (if it is the next card in sequence), or swapped with another move. There is no restriction on which cards can occupy free cells — any card of any rank or suit is permitted.

Foundation Rules

Foundations build up by suit from Ace to King. The Ace of each suit must be placed first, followed by the 2, then 3, and so on through the King. Cards are typically auto-moved to foundations when both cards of the opposite color at the next lower rank are already on their foundations — this is safe because no tableau building would ever need that card again.

4. The Supermove

Technically, FreeCell only allows moving one card at a time. However, if you have a properly ordered sequence of cards (descending rank, alternating color), you can move them as a group because the game automatically handles the intermediate steps of temporarily storing cards in free cells and empty cascades. This group move is called a supermove.

The number of cards you can supermove at once is determined by a precise formula:

Here are practical examples of what this formula means:

5. Step-by-Step First Moves

When you first look at a new FreeCell deal, the board can feel overwhelming. Here is a systematic approach to reading and starting any deal:

1. Find the Aces. Locate all four Aces. If any Ace is at the bottom of a cascade, move it to the foundation immediately. If an Ace is buried, note which cards are blocking it and plan to uncover it early.
2. Identify low cards that are buried. After the Aces, look for 2s and 3s. If a 2 is trapped beneath several cards, you will need to clear a path to it before that suit's foundation can progress. This is often the key constraint in a FreeCell game.
3. Look for easy sequences. Scan for cards that are already in descending, alternating-color order. These natural sequences are free supermoves waiting to happen and can be relocated as a group.
4. Identify problem columns. Some cascades will have high cards buried under low cards, or cards of one suit scattered inconveniently. These columns will need the most work to untangle.
5. Plan your first 3-5 moves. Before touching a card, mentally sequence your first few moves. Try to uncover Aces or low cards, create at least one empty cascade if possible, and avoid using free cells unless necessary.
6. Execute and reassess. Make your planned moves, then pause to reassess the board. The landscape changes with every move, so continuous re-evaluation is essential.

6. Essential Strategy Overview

While our in-depth strategy guide covers advanced techniques, here are the foundational principles every FreeCell player should internalize:

Empty Cascades Are Gold

An empty cascade is the single most powerful asset on the FreeCell board. It functions as a super-sized free cell that can hold a card of any rank, and it exponentially increases your supermove capacity. Prioritize creating and preserving empty cascades above almost everything else. A common strategic mantra: “Never fill an empty column without a very good reason.”

Conserve Your Free Cells

It is tempting to use free cells as a dumping ground for inconvenient cards, but every occupied free cell reduces your supermove capacity by one. Try to keep at least two free cells open whenever possible. If you must use a free cell, have a plan for emptying it within the next few moves. Players who fill all four free cells early almost always paint themselves into a corner.

Build in Suit When Possible

The tableau building rule requires alternating colors but does not require alternating suits. A sequence of black 8, red 7, black 6 is valid whether the black cards are clubs or spades. However, building in suit (keeping hearts with hearts, clubs with clubs) wherever practical makes it much easier to move completed sequences to the foundations later. When you have a choice between two equally valid moves, prefer the one that keeps suits together.

Unbury Aces and Low Cards First

Foundation progress depends on having Aces and low cards accessible. A deeply buried Ace of spades means the entire spades foundation is blocked until you excavate it. Identify which low cards are most deeply buried and prioritize uncovering them, even if it means using a free cell or two temporarily.

Think Several Moves Ahead

FreeCell rewards lookahead more than any other solitaire game. Because all information is visible, you can theoretically plan the entire game from the opening position. In practice, try to think at least 5-8 moves ahead. Ask yourself: “If I make this move, what does it enable? What does it block?” The best FreeCell players approach each deal like a chess puzzle, exploring multiple lines of play before committing.

7. FreeCell vs Other Solitaire Games

How does FreeCell compare to other popular solitaire variants? This table highlights the key differences:

Baker's Game is FreeCell's closest relative — it uses the same layout and free cells but requires building by suit instead of alternating color. This single rule change makes Baker's Game significantly harder, with a lower win rate despite the identical structure. If you master FreeCell and want a tougher challenge, Baker's Game is the natural next step.

Frequently Asked Questions