FreeCell
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How FreeCell works here
All 52 cards in view from the first move, four free cells to work with. Every deal here has been solved and replayed under the same rules.
FreeCell, Classic
- All 52 cards are dealt face up into eight columns. There are four free cells and four foundations.
- Build the foundations up by suit, from ace to king. Cards never come back from a foundation.
- Build the columns down in alternating colours.
- A free cell holds any one card. Any card or ordered run can go into an empty column.
- You can move (free cells + 1) × 2 to the power of empty columns cards at once; into an empty column, count one fewer empty column.
- Cards that nothing still in play could need go to the foundations by themselves.
Table notes
- Free cells are short-term parkingEach card in a free cell lowers how many cards you can move together. Park a card when you already know how it will come back out.
- Know how many cards can moveYou can move (free cells + 1) × 2 to the power of empty columns cards at once. When the destination is itself an empty column, count one fewer empty column.
- Find the aces and twos firstBefore your first move, find where the aces and twos sit. The cards lying on top of them are the first problem the deal has set you.
- An empty column beats a free cellA free cell holds one card. An empty column holds a whole ordered run and doubles how many cards you can move at once.
- Safe cards go home by themselvesA card moves to its foundation automatically when nothing still in play could need it: aces and twos always, higher cards once both cards of the other colour one rank lower are home.
- Build ordered runs earlyRuns that go down in rank and alternate in colour can later move as one unit. Building them early keeps the table flexible.
- Keep the last cell openFilling the final free cell leaves no room to manoeuvre. Do it when the move wins something concrete, such as freeing an ace.
- Plan to empty one short columnThe column with the fewest cards is the quickest route to an empty column. Decide early which one you are clearing.
- Kings belong at the head of a columnA king can't be placed on another card. Moving one into an empty column to build beneath it is a plan, not a waste of the space.
- Every card is in viewAll 52 cards are face up from the start, so FreeCell is pure planning. You can trace a line through several moves before you touch a card.