FreeCell Solitaire: A Beginner's Guide to Free Cells and Empty Columns
Why almost every FreeCell deal can be won, how many cards you can move at once, and the planning habits that make it click.
FreeCell is the solitaire game for people who like to think. Unlike Klondike, every card is dealt face up from the start, so there are no hidden surprises. Almost every deal can be won. Whether you win comes down to planning, and to using a few limited spaces wisely.
How FreeCell is set up
- All 52 cards are dealt face up into eight columns: four columns of seven cards and four columns of six.
- At the top are four free cells, each able to hold one card temporarily.
- Also at the top are four foundations, one per suit, built from Ace up to King.
- In the columns, you build down in alternating colors (a red 9 on a black 10).
- Any card can be placed in an empty column, not just a King.
You win by moving all cards to the foundations.
Almost every deal is winnable
FreeCell became famous through the version included with Microsoft Windows, which offered numbered deals 1 to 32,000. Players later confirmed that every one of those deals can be solved except one: deal #11982. So when you are stuck, it is almost always a planning problem, not a bad deal.
How many cards can you move at once?
Technically you move one card at a time, but most apps let you move a whole ordered sequence in one go, as long as you could have done it one card at a time using your free spaces. The usual formula is:
Cards you can move = (empty free cells + 1) × 2^(empty columns)
Some examples (when moving to a non-empty column):
| Empty free cells | Empty columns | Max cards in one move |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2 | 0 | 3 |
| 4 | 0 | 5 |
| 2 | 1 | 6 |
| 4 | 1 | 10 |
The key lesson: an empty column doubles your moving power, while a free cell only adds one. If you move a sequence into an empty column, that column does not count toward the doubling for that move.
Strategy tips
1. Plan for the Aces and 2s
Before you make any move, find the four Aces. Note which ones are buried deep. Your first goal is usually to free the most accessible Aces and 2s without using up all your free cells.
2. Treat free cells as expensive
It is tempting to drop cards into free cells whenever you are unsure. Every filled cell reduces how many cards you can move later. Try to keep at least one or two free cells empty for as long as possible, and empty them again as soon as you can.
3. Aim for an empty column
An empty column is the most powerful resource in the game. Look for short columns you could clear in a few moves. Clearing one early often makes the rest of the game straightforward.
4. Don't fill an empty column carelessly
Once you have an empty column, avoid dropping a single random card into it. Use it to move a long sequence, or to hold a high card (like a King or Queen) that can start a useful new sequence.
5. Look several moves ahead
Since all cards are visible, you can plan a full sequence of moves before touching anything. Ask: "To free this 3 of Hearts, what has to move, and where will each card go?" If the answer needs more free cells than you have, look for another route.
6. Do not rush to the foundations
As in Klondike, moving a card up too early can remove a spot you need for building. Low cards are usually safe to move; be more careful with middle cards whose same-rank, opposite-color partners are still in play.
A step-by-step opening routine
- Find all four Aces and count how many cards cover each.
- Pick the easiest Ace to free and plan the moves to reach it.
- Prefer moves that build sequences in the columns over moves into free cells.
- Look for a column you can empty within the first ten or so moves.
- Keep at least one free cell empty whenever possible.
FreeCell rewards slow, careful play. Take your time on the first few moves of each deal, and you will find that most games open up surprisingly well.