Play FreeCell
Setting the table…
How to play FreeCell
FreeCell deals the entire 52-card deck face up into eight tableau columns — nothing is hidden, so every game is a puzzle of pure skill, and nearly every deal can be won. Your goal is to build the four foundations, one per suit, from Ace up to King.
The tableau
Build the eight columns downward in alternating colors — a red Six goes on a black Seven. Only properly ordered runs move together, and an empty column is the most valuable space on the board: any card or run can start one, not just a King.
The free cells
The four cells at the top left are your workspace. Each holds exactly one card — park a card there to reach what is buried beneath it, then bring it back down to a fitting column, or send it straight to its foundation.
Moving runs
A run moves one card at a time behind the scenes, so its size is limited by your working room: one more than your empty free cells — doubled for every empty column you are not moving onto. With all four cells and no columns open you can carry five cards; open a column and that becomes ten. If a run is too big to carry, PlayCards tells you exactly how many can move.
The foundations
One pile per suit, Ace to King, at the top right. Double-click or double-tap an eligible card to send it home quickly. Foundations only grow in FreeCell — once a card is banked it stays banked, so keep low cards in play while you still need them to hold a run.
Beginner tips
- Free the Aces and Twos early — they are safe on the foundations and never worth holding back.
- Keep your free cells open. Every occupied cell shrinks what you can move; a full row of cells is usually a lost game.
- Work toward an empty column before you need one — it doubles your carrying capacity and can hold any card while you reorganize.
- Plan a few moves ahead: with every card visible from the deal, the information is all there. Stuck? Ask for a Hint (the H key), and remember undo is unlimited and free — rewinding to try a different line is how FreeCell is meant to be played.
FreeCell is part of the PlayCards table — prefer hidden cards and a stock to dig through? Try classic Klondike Solitaire.