HiSolitaire

FreeCell Solitaire

Four free cells, eight columns, one clear plan.

FreeCell builds tableau columns downward in alternating colors. Use the four free cells for temporary storage and build each foundation from Ace to King.

How to Play FreeCell

FreeCell starts with all 52 cards face-up in eight tableau columns. Unlike Klondike, there is no stock and no hidden information. You can see every card from the first move, so the challenge is planning rather than luck.

The four free cells at the top are temporary parking spaces. Each cell holds one card. Move a card there when you need to free a tableau card, then bring it back when it has a valid home. The four foundations build upward by suit from Ace to King.

Tableau columns build downward in alternating colors. A red 6 goes on a black 7, and a black 5 goes on a red 6. Empty columns accept any card, but they are too valuable to fill without a reason.

The Sequence Rule

You can move a group of cards together when the group is already in descending order with alternating colors. The number of cards you can move is limited by the empty free cells and empty tableau columns. More empty space means a longer group can move at once.

An empty target column does not count as extra staging space for the move itself. If you are moving a sequence into an empty column, plan the move as if that column were already occupied. This is the rule that catches most new FreeCell players.

FreeCell Strategy

  • Send Aces and 2s to the foundations early, but keep flexible middle cards available.
  • Use free cells for cards that block a useful sequence, not for cards you may need next turn.
  • Create an empty column before you need it; empty columns are the strongest resource in FreeCell.
  • Build long alternating sequences before moving them, so one move clears more space.
  • Check whether a card will be needed in the tableau before sending it to a foundation.
Planning habit: Before every move, ask which column you are trying to empty and which card is blocking it. FreeCell rewards that question more than any single clever move.

How the free cells change planning

A free cell is not just a place to put a card you cannot use. It is a way to change the order of a column without losing the card. Moving a blocker into a cell can expose a sequence that was previously buried, and bringing the card back later can place it on a better target.

The mistake is filling all four cells before you need the space. Leave at least one cell open for the next problem, especially when a long sequence is still waiting to move. Free cells are flexibility; empty columns are power. Spend them in that order.

Verified Solvable Deals

HiSolitaire uses a curated pool of FreeCell deals that have been checked offline. The browser does not run a solver while you play. Each deal in the pool has a recorded seed and solver version so the published set can be validated again when the engine changes.

FreeCell FAQ

What is FreeCell Solitaire?

FreeCell is a solitaire variant played with all 52 cards face-up. You have eight tableau columns, four free cells for temporary storage, and four foundations. The goal is to build every suit from Ace to King.

How do the four free cells work?

Each free cell holds one card. You can move any exposed tableau card into an empty free cell, then move it back to a valid tableau column or send it to a foundation. Free cells are temporary space, not a permanent destination.

How many cards can I move at once?

A movable sequence must be in descending rank and alternating colors. The number of cards you can move depends on empty free cells and empty columns. Empty columns are especially valuable because they multiply the sequence limit.

Are all FreeCell deals solvable?

Not every possible FreeCell deal is solvable. HiSolitaire publishes a curated pool of deals that have been checked with an offline solver, so every deal you can start here has a known solution.

Can I move a card back from a foundation?

In this version, foundation cards stay on the foundation once placed. Plan ahead before sending a card up, especially when a tableau sequence still needs it.

Does FreeCell save my progress?

Yes. The current deal, move history and elapsed time are saved in your browser, so you can close the tab and continue on the same device.

Klondike Solitaire · Solitaire Turn 1 · Solitaire Turn 3 · Spider Solitaire · FreeCell rules

Read the Solitaire rules guide or the scoring guide for the classic game.