Freecell Solitaire Strategy Guide: Rules, Tips, and How to Win Every Game

Freecell is a classic single-player card game renowned for its strategic depth and 100% solvability rate when played optimally. Unlike traditional solitaire, Freecell allows full control over card movements using four free cells and eight tableau columns. This guide covers essential rules, step-by-step strategies, and advanced techniques to master this brain-teasing game.  

Basic Rules & Setup  

1. Deck: Standard 52-card deck (no jokers).  

2. Layout:  

   - 4 Free Cells: Top-left (temporary storage for 1 card each).  

   - 4 Foundations: Top-right (build suits from Ace to King).  

   - 8 Tableau Columns: Deal all cards face-up into columns (7-7-7-7-6-6-6-6).  

3. Objective: Move all cards to foundations sorted by suit (A♠→K♠, A♥→K♥, etc.).  

4. Legal Moves:  

   - Build tableau columns in descending order with alternating colors (e.g., 8♦ on 9♣).  

   - Use free cells to temporarily store cards and unlock deeper tableau access.  

Beginner Strategy: Key Principles  

1. Free Cell Management  

- Never fill all four cells: Always keep 1–2 cells open for critical moves.  

- Prioritize freeing Aces: Move Aces to foundations ASAP to create tableau space.  

2. Tableau Unlocking  

- Expose buried cards: Focus on columns with the fewest face-down cards.  

- Build long descending sequences: Example: 10♠-9♥-8♦-7♣ unlocks multiple moves.  

3. Foundation Order  

- Build foundations evenly to avoid blocking suits.  

- Delay moving Kings to foundations until necessary.  

Advanced Tactics  

1. Super Move Planning  

- Calculate moves ahead: Use free cells to reverse-engineer complex sequences.  

   - Example: Store 5♦ and 4♠ in free cells to place 6♥ on 7♣.  

- Empty a tableau column: A free column acts as an extra free cell for temporary storage.  

2. Suit Prioritization  

- Focus on blocked suits: If a suit’s Ace is buried, prioritize unearthing it.  

- Balance foundation progress: Avoid overcommitting to one suit.  

3. The 2/3 Rule  

- For every 2 uncovered cards, reserve 1 free cell to maintain flexibility.  

Step-by-Step Example  

Scenario:  

- Tableau: Column 1 has [K♣, Q♦, J♥], Column 2 has [10♠, 9♣].  

- Free Cells: Empty.  

Solution:  

1. Move 9♣ to a free cell.  

2. Place Q♦ on K♣ (alternating colors).  

3. Move 10♠ onto J♥ (descending order).  

4. Retrieve 9♣ from the free cell to continue building.  

Common Mistakes to Avoid  

1. Wasting free cells: Filling all cells early limits future moves.  

2. Prematurely moving Kings: Kings block tableau columns; keep them until needed.  

3. Ignoring suit balance: Overbuilding one suit starves others of foundation space.  

Game Variants & Scoring  

- Microsoft Freecell: Includes game numbers (e.g., 11982) with predefined deals.  

- One-Card/Two-Card Move: Some versions restrict moving single cards only.  

- Scoring: Penalize for time or moves; aim for minimal moves (ideal range: 50–70).