Game Setup
FreeCell uses a standard 52-card deck. All cards are dealt face-up into 8 columns (tableau). The first 4 columns receive 7 cards each, and the remaining 4 columns receive 6 cards each.
The Playing Area
Tableau (8 Columns)
The main playing area where all 52 cards are dealt. Build columns in descending order with alternating colors.
Free Cells (4 Cells - Top Left)
Four cells that can each hold one card temporarily. Use these strategically to move blocking cards.
Foundation Piles (4 Piles - Top Right)
Build these by suit from Ace to King. Moving all 52 cards here wins the game.
Movement Rules
Tableau Building
- Build columns in descending order (King down to Ace)
- Use alternating colors (red on black, black on red)
- Example: Place red 6 on black 7, or black Queen on red King
- Any card can be placed in an empty column
Foundation Building
- Build each suit in ascending order from Ace to King
- Start each foundation with an Ace
- Continue: A → 2 → 3 → 4 → 5 → 6 → 7 → 8 → 9 → 10 → J → Q → K
- Cards on foundations cannot be moved back to the tableau
The Supermove Rule
While technically you can only move one card at a time, the game allows "supermoves" - moving multiple cards as a shortcut.
The number of cards you can move at once equals:
(1 + empty free cells) × 2(empty columns)
Example: With 2 empty free cells and 1 empty column: (1+2) × 2 = 6 cards at once.
Winning the Game
Win by moving all 52 cards to the four foundation piles. Each foundation must contain all 13 cards of one suit (Ace through King).
Good news: 99.9992% of all FreeCell games are solvable! Only 8 deals out of the first million are known to be unsolvable.