How to Play FreeCell

THE PLAYBOOK · 78JMW

How to play FreeCell

Make FreeCell your next activity in the game library. Build four suit foundations from ace to king. Check the relevant rule before repeating a move. Check the rule that explains your first action. Keep the game area visible while you use its controls.

One face-up deck. Transfer capacity counts available cells and spare empty columns. Free solo play, no wagering.

Make the controls familiar

Locate the buttons and input area before beginning a long round. Use the on-screen labels to avoid an accidental restart. Refer to the controls when needed.

Your goal

Build four suit foundations from ace to king. The feedback beside the game helps you follow the round. Try to explain the aim in your own words.

Step by step

1. Build down in alternating colours; four cells each hold one card. Empty columns accept any legal group.
2. Select a face-up card and then the destination pile or Empty slot.
3. Use foundations where available; full Spider or Scorpion runs clear automatically.
4. Undo reverses a choice. New deal shuffles again.

Controls

Click or tap cards and piles. Wide tableaus scroll inside the game; use Undo, Hint and New deal where shown. On a smaller screen, keep the active part of the board within view. Contact us with the game and device if a control does not respond.

A useful example

With two empty cells and no spare empty column, a group of at most three cards can move together. Compare this with the rule that governs the move. Look for the relevant detail.

Watch out for this

Random deals are not guaranteed solvable. A hint is a legal move, not a winning strategy. Compare the situation with the worked example. Before your first action, say what you are trying to achieve. Then compare the result with the goal.

Common questions