How to Play FreeCell

THE PLAYBOOK · SHIDIAO001

How to play FreeCell

Start FreeCell by looking at the playing area and its controls. Build four suit foundations from ace to king. Look at what changes after your first action. Identify the playing area and the controls you need. Look at what changes after your first action.

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

Build a steady rhythm

Take enough time to read a new position. If a game has a timer, learn its controls first rather than searching for them during the round. Use the example to check your reasoning.

Your goal

Build four suit foundations from ace to king. An attractive position is not enough unless the goal is met. Take a moment to understand the current position.

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. Use the control method described here for this activity. Make sure you are interacting with the game rather than the surrounding page.

A useful example

With two empty cells and no spare empty column, a group of at most three cards can move together. Focus on why the action is allowed, not only its outcome. Check the stated objective.

Watch out for this

Random deals are not guaranteed solvable. A hint is a legal move, not a winning strategy. Take a moment to reassess the position before continuing. After a move, check what changed. Decide which rule explains the new state before acting again.

Common questions