How to Play FreeCell: Beginner's Guide (Plus Free Online FreeCell)

FreeCell is one of the most rewarding solitaire games ever invented. Unlike Klondike — where most cards are hidden and you can get a hand that's mathematically unwinnable — FreeCell deals every card face-up from the start. With patience, almost every game can be won. That's why FreeCell appeals so much to people who want a real puzzle, not just a coin flip.

This guide walks you through the rules, the four "free cells," the supermove rule, and a simple strategy. By the end you'll be ready to play FreeCell free online right here on SeniorBrainGames — large cards, no signup, works offline.

The Layout in 30 Seconds

FreeCell deals all 52 cards into three areas:

• Eight tableau columns — the main play area. Columns 1-4 get 7 cards each; columns 5-8 get 6 cards. Every card is face-up.
• Four free cells (top-left) — temporary parking spots. Each cell holds one card.
• Four foundations (top-right) — one for each suit. You build these up from Ace to King to win.

The Rules in 60 Seconds

1. Move a card from the bottom of any tableau column onto another column, building down by rank in alternating colors. So a red 7 can go on a black 8; a black 5 can go on a red 6.
2. You can move a card to an empty free cell at any time. It just sits there until you want it back.
3. Any card can start an empty tableau column.
4. Move Aces to the foundations as soon as you can. Then 2s on top of Aces, 3s on top of 2s, and so on — same suit only.
5. You win when all four foundations are complete (Ace through King in each suit).

The "Supermove" Rule (Important)

Strictly speaking, you can only move one card at a time. But every modern FreeCell — including ours — lets you move a properly-ordered sequence of cards in one click, as long as you have enough free cells and empty columns to do it card-by-card.

The formula:

Maximum sequence length = (1 + empty free cells) × 2^{(empty tableau columns)}

So with 2 empty free cells and 1 empty column, you can move (1 + 2) × 2 = 6 cards at once. With 4 empty free cells and 0 empty columns, you can move 5. The game enforces this for you — if a move isn't legal, it just won't happen.

A Simple Winning Strategy

FreeCell is winnable in well over 99% of hands — but only if you play carefully. Three principles will dramatically improve your win rate:

1. Get the Aces and 2s out fast

The earlier you free your Aces, the more flexibility you have. Look for them on the bottom of columns or near the bottom. Sometimes it's worth using a free cell to dig for an Ace.

2. Treat the free cells as a last resort

It's tempting to park cards in the free cells, but every cell you fill reduces how many cards you can move at once. Try to find a tableau move first.

3. Empty a column as soon as you can

An empty column is the most powerful resource in FreeCell. It doubles your supermove capacity and gives you a place to build a long sequence. Often the right play is to clear out the smallest column even if it costs you a few moves.

What to Avoid

• Don't bury the Aces. If you can see an Ace deep in a column, every card you stack on top makes it harder to reach.
• Don't fill all four free cells. Once they're all occupied, your supermove capacity drops to 1 — and most positions become unwinnable from there.
• Don't move to the foundation too eagerly. Sometimes a low card on the tableau is more useful keeping a sequence going than sitting on a foundation. (For example, don't send a 3 home if you still need it to land a 2.)

FreeCell vs. Klondike: Which Is Better?

If you've played a lot of Klondike Solitaire, you'll find FreeCell quite different in feel:

• Klondike is partly luck. Many deals are unwinnable no matter what you do, because key cards stay hidden under the stock pile.
• FreeCell is almost pure skill. Every card is visible. If you lose, you can usually look back and find the move you should have made differently.

That makes FreeCell more satisfying for thinkers. It's a real puzzle every time.

Try FreeCell Right Now

The version on SeniorBrainGames is built for comfortable play: large cards, simple tap-to-move (no awkward dragging), an unlimited undo, and a hint button when you get stuck. It also works offline once you've loaded it once — install our site to your home screen and you can play on a plane or anywhere without internet.

▶ Play FreeCell free online now →

If you'd like to try other classic patience games on this site, you might also enjoy Klondike Solitaire, Spider Solitaire, or Mahjong Solitaire. All free, all designed with senior-friendly large text and high contrast.