♠FreeCell Statistics at a Glance
These statistics come from decades of research by both human players and computer solvers. The Internet FreeCell Project (1994–2000) coordinated thousands of volunteers to solve all 32,000 original Microsoft deals, and subsequent computer analysis has expanded our understanding to millions of randomly generated deals. For more on this history, see our FreeCell History page.
♥Easiest FreeCell Deals
These deals are excellent starting points for new players or for warming up before tackling harder games. They feature accessible Aces, natural card sequences, and forgiving layouts that allow for some suboptimal play.
One of the easiest deals in the set
Low cards are well-positioned and multiple Aces are near the surface. Most players solve this in under 3 minutes with minimal backtracking.
Beginner-friendly layout
Natural sequences form quickly, and few cards block the foundations. A great confidence-builder for new players learning the basics.
Clean opening with accessible Aces
Two Aces start near the top of their columns. The layout practically solves itself once you clear the first few cards.
The classic first game
Game #1 is the deal most players try first. It's solvable and moderately straightforward — Microsoft likely tested this one more than any other.
Quick win for practice
Favorable card distribution with natural alternating-color sequences already present. Solvable in around 60 moves with a direct approach.
Smooth foundation building
Aces and 2s are accessible early, allowing you to start building foundations within the first few moves. The midgame flows naturally from there.
Forgiving column arrangement
Multiple viable opening strategies all lead to a win. Even suboptimal play has a good chance of succeeding on this deal.
Satisfying solve with clear paths
Each suit has a relatively clear path to the foundation. Low cards are spread across columns rather than stacked in one, making extraction easy.
New to FreeCell? Learn the rules first, then come back and try deal #164 for a satisfying first win.
♦Hardest FreeCell Deals
These deals will test even experienced players. Several were thought to be impossible for years before advanced solvers cracked them. Deal #11982 remains the only proven unsolvable game in the original Microsoft set.
Notoriously difficult
One of the hardest solvable deals in the original 32,000. Requires precise free cell management and long-range planning. Many experienced players need multiple attempts.
Expert-level challenge
Deeply buried low cards and poor initial column structure. Solving this deal requires using every free cell and empty column at exactly the right moment.
Once thought impossible
This deal was believed to be unsolvable for years until an advanced computer solver found a solution. The solution requires over 100 moves with razor-thin margins.
Former 'impossible' deal
Another deal that was long considered unsolvable before computers cracked it. Extremely constrained opening with virtually no room for error.
Near-impossible solvable deal
Requires an extraordinarily precise sequence of moves. Even knowing it's solvable, most human players cannot find the solution without computer assistance.
Brutal card positioning
Aces buried under Kings with no natural sequences. The solution exists but requires creative use of all available space and many intermediate moves.
Maximum difficulty solvable deal
Approaches the theoretical limit of FreeCell difficulty while remaining solvable. Only the most advanced solvers can crack this one.
The only impossible deal
Mathematically proven to have no solution. Every possible sequence of legal moves leads to a dead end. The most famous unsolvable deal in all of solitaire.
Struggling with hard deals? Our Strategy Guide covers the advanced techniques you'll need, and the Tips & Tricks page offers quick advice for common sticking points.
♣Practice Deals for Specific Skills
These medium-difficulty deals are chosen because each one emphasizes a specific skill. Use them as training exercises to improve targeted aspects of your game.
Good for practicing free cell management
Requires careful use of free cells in the midgame. A great training exercise for learning when to use cells and when to hold back.
Column strategy practice
Creating and maintaining empty columns is key to solving this deal. Use it to practice the column management techniques from our tips page.
Planning ahead challenge
This deal punishes impulsive play but rewards those who plan 5-10 moves ahead. A good test of intermediate strategic thinking.
Sequence building exercise
Several partial sequences need to be merged into longer runs. Practice building and consolidating alternating-color descending sequences.
Supermove practice
Winning requires several multi-card supermoves. Good for learning the supermove formula and planning large card transfers.
Buried Ace extraction
Multiple Aces are buried deep. Practice the technique of systematically uncovering buried low cards without filling all your free cells.
For more on the skills these deals practice, see our 25 FreeCell Tips page.
♠FreeCell Solvability Explained
One of FreeCell's most remarkable properties is its extraordinarily high solvability rate. Unlike Klondike solitaire, where roughly 80% of deals are winnable with perfect play (and most players win far fewer), FreeCell deals are almost universally solvable.
Why Is FreeCell So Solvable?
- ♠Complete information — all cards are visible, so you can always make fully informed decisions
- ♥Flexible storage — four free cells provide enough temporary space to untangle most configurations
- ♦Alternating-color building — the lenient building rule (any alternating color, not specific suits) maximizes the number of valid moves
- ♣Eight columns — the wide tableau spreads cards across many columns, reducing the depth of burial for any single card
The high solvability rate is what makes FreeCell a game of skill rather than luck. When 99.999% of deals are winnable, your win rate becomes a direct measure of your strategic ability. A player winning 50% of games isn't unlucky — they need better strategy.
What Makes a Deal Hard?
Even among solvable deals, difficulty varies enormously. The factors that make a deal hard include:
- •Deeply buried Aces — when Aces are at the bottom of long columns, extracting them requires moving many other cards first
- •Kings blocking low cards — Kings can only go in empty columns, so a King sitting on top of an Ace creates a particularly nasty blockage
- •No natural sequences — some deals have no cards in useful order, requiring extensive rearrangement before any progress is possible
- •Concentrated suits — when cards of the same suit are clustered in one or two columns, building alternating-color sequences becomes much harder
Understanding these difficulty factors helps you assess a deal before you start playing. If you spot deeply buried Aces and Kings blocking low cards, you know to plan carefully from the first move. For more on how to approach different deal types, visit our Tips & Tricks page.
♥Winning Deals FAQ
What percentage of FreeCell games are winnable?
Approximately 99.999% of all randomly dealt FreeCell games are winnable. Of the original 32,000 Microsoft FreeCell deals, only one (#11982) is proven impossible. When you lose a FreeCell game, it is almost certainly due to strategy, not an unwinnable deal.
What are the easiest FreeCell game numbers?
Some of the easiest deals in the original Microsoft set include games #164, #256, #617, #1, #3, #12, #25, and #100. These deals feature accessible Aces, natural card sequences, and forgiving column arrangements that make them good starting points for new players.
What is the hardest FreeCell game that is still solvable?
Games #169, #178, #1941, #146, #455, #495, and #512 are among the hardest solvable deals. Several of these (#146, #455, #495, #512, #1941) were thought to be impossible for years until advanced computer solvers found solutions. They require over 100 moves and extremely precise play.
How do FreeCell game numbers work?
Each FreeCell game number is a seed for a random number generator that determines how the 52 cards are dealt. The same number always produces the same deal, allowing players worldwide to attempt identical games and compare results. The original Microsoft FreeCell used numbers 1 through 32,000.
Can I improve by playing specific game numbers?
Yes. Playing easy deals (#164, #256, #1) builds confidence and reinforces good habits. Medium-difficulty deals (#7, #15, #42, #50) are excellent for practicing specific skills like free cell management or sequence building. Hard deals (#169, #178) test your limits and expose weaknesses in your strategy.
Try a Deal Right Now
Start with an easy deal to warm up, or jump straight to a hard one and test your skills. Every game is a new puzzle.