How to Play FreeCell Solitaire: 9 Steps (with Pictures) - wikiHow (2024)

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Last Updated: June 18, 2024

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FreeCell Solitaire is considered one of the hardest types of solitaire. The goal of this game is to get all the cards from all four suits (Hearts, Spades, Diamonds, and Clubs) onto your foundation piles, where each can hold only one suit. You must put the cards in ascending order, starting from Aces all the way up through Kings (Ace, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, Jack, Queen and King). These stacks will be built by shuffling cards between the columns of your tableau and four empty spots, or "free cells," which can hold one card each.

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  1. 1

    Shuffle your deck of cards before setting up the game. Use a standard deck of 52 cards.

    • Set aside the two Joker cards, as you'll not need them at all during this game.
  2. 2

    Start placing the cards in eight piles. All of them should be face up (four of the piles will have seven cards and the rest will have six). These columns are called your "tableau".

    • There is no reverse deck like in Klondike Solitaire. All of your cards are on the playing area at all times.

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  3. 3

    Leave room for the four "foundation" piles where you'll end up placing your cards from Aces to Kings. Also leave room for your four "free cells" where you will be able to temporarily store any one card while playing the game.

  4. 4

    Start your foundation piles when you get the chance. Move any Aces when they become available.

    • Your goal will be to build up these foundation piles, one for each suit, from Ace to King, in order.
    • Make sure that you will not need a given card before placing it on the foundation. Once you place a card on a foundation pile, you cannot put it back in your tableau or in your free cells.
  5. 5

    Move cards from one column of the tableau to another, if the opportunity arises. You can do this in order to strategically free up cards that are currently stuck behind others. Unless you have open free cells (see below), move just one card at a time.

    • The cards in the columns must be placed in descending order. They must also alternate between black and red (suits do not matter in the columns). For example, you can place a black 9 on a red 10 or a red Jack on a black Queen.
  6. 6

    Keep an eye open for any empty columns in the tableau. If there are any, then you can move a card to the free space (or potentially a stack of cards, if you have open free cells, according to the rules below).

  7. 7

    Move cards into the free cells strategically, too. Each of the four free cells can hold one card, no more. You can move a card from the tableau to a free cell at any time, and, if the opportunity arises, you can later move it back to the tableau or to the foundation (from which if can’t be moved).

  8. 8

    Move one card at a time, unless you have open free cells. You can normally move a single card at a time between the columns. However, if you want to move a sequence of cards (in descending order), you can move them depending on how many free cells you have:

    • If you have four empty free cells, you can move five cards.
    • If you have three empty free cells, you can move four cards.
    • If you have two empty free cells, you can move three cards.
    • If you have one empty free cell, you can move two cards.
  9. 9

    Keep trying to master the game! You won't always win, because of its difficulty, but you can enjoy the challenge along the way. Build up your foundations any way you can.

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      • Using your free cells will be useful, but can also make the game harder.

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      About This Article

      wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. To create this article, 11 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. This article has been viewed 221,722 times.

      77 votes - 75%

      Co-authors: 11

      Updated: June 18, 2024

      Views:221,722

      Categories: Shedding Card Games

      Article SummaryX

      To play FreeCell Solitaire, first deal out all of the cards in a standard deck in 8 columns in front of you, moving from left to right. The 4 columns to the left should each have 7 cards, and the 4 columns on the right should each have 6 cards. Leave room for 4 “foundation piles” and 4 “free cells” above the columns. The goal of the game is to move all of the cards in the columns to the 4 foundation piles. To start a foundation pile, move an open ace from the face-up columns to the pile. A card is open if it’s at the bottom of a column with no other card covering it. To complete a foundation pile, move cards in the same suit as the starting ace onto the pile in ascending order ending with the king. You can also move an open card to a new column as long as the card you place it on top of is one rank higher and an opposite color. For example, you can move an open 4 of diamonds onto an open 5 of clubs in a different column. You can also move open cards to the free cells to access the cards above them in their column. There can only be one card in each free cell at a time. Cards in the free cells can be moved back to the columns or into the foundation piles if the opportunity arises. If you run out of cards in one of the 8 columns, you can move any open card to fill the empty space. Continue moving cards and building up the foundation piles until you’ve completed all 4 piles in ascending order from ace to king.

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      How to Play FreeCell Solitaire: 9 Steps (with Pictures) - wikiHow (2024)

      FAQs

      How do you play picture frame solitaire? ›

      Picture Frame Solitaire

      Cards are turned face up, completing four rows of four cards each. Kings must be placed in the four spots across the top, queens go in the spaces across the bottom and two jacks on both ends of the middle rows. Any number cards or aces can be used in the middle spots.

      What is the best strategy for FreeCell? ›

      If you want to improve your gameplay and make your next game smoother and more successful, we've compiled some expert tips to help you.
      • Determine Your Goals. ...
      • Analyze Your Tableau Carefully. ...
      • Move the Aces. ...
      • Try Keeping the Free Cells Empty. ...
      • Create an Empty Tableau Column as Early as You Can. ...
      • Moved Packed Cards into the Tableau.
      Aug 17, 2021

      What is the basic layout for solitaire? ›

      First, deal out the cards into seven columns. The first column on the left has one card, the second column has two cards, the third has three cards, continuing to seven columns. The top card in each column is turned face up, the rest of the cards are face down.

      How do you play solitaire perfectly? ›

      Top 10 Strategies to Win at Solitaire
      1. Learn the Rules.
      2. Target Larger Stacks First.
      3. Evenly Distribute Tableau Piles.
      4. Move Quickly If You're Playing Timed Solitaire.
      5. Think about Color When Filling Spaces.
      6. Handle Your Face Down Cards First.
      7. Try Creating Stacks of Similar Suits.
      8. Avoid Emptying a Spot without a King.
      May 3, 2021

      What is the difference between FreeCell and solitaire? ›

      FreeCell is a solitaire card game played using the standard 52-card deck. It is fundamentally different from most solitaire games in that very few deals are unsolvable, and all cards are dealt face-up from the very beginning of the game.

      What is the layout of FreeCell? ›

      The Layout

      When you start the game, you will see the basic layout of FreeCell solitaire in the Game window: Four free cells at the upper left, four foundations at the upper right, and eight columns of the tableau below (unless your Preferences call for Reverse Layout).

      How do you use a picture frame? ›

      Some people lay a cloth or towel onto a table surface.
      1. Step 1- Unwrapping the Photo Frame. ...
      2. Step 2 - Remove the Backing Board. ...
      3. Step 3- Remove the Face Paper. ...
      4. Step 4 - Wipe the Frame Glass with a Lint-Free Cloth. ...
      5. Step 5 - Place Your Photo into the Photo Frame. ...
      6. Step 6 - Close the Back of Your Photo Frame. ...
      7. Step 7 - Final Check.

      How do you play the game picture picture? ›

      Each player has an answer sheet that contains 26 blanks, one for each letter. A picture is chosen and the timer is started. Players must search the picture and find an item in the picture for each letter on the sheet. Points are awarded if you have a unique word (like Scattergories).

      How do you play picture puzzles? ›

      How to Play a Picture Puzzle?
      1. Before starting to solve the puzzle, think aloud and form a plan to solve it.
      2. Look at the picture patiently and try to figure out every detail. ...
      3. Puzzles are tricky games to play. ...
      4. Always keep looking for the obvious clues and possibilities. ...
      5. Keep track of your previous moves.
      Jul 18, 2022

      Is FreeCell solitaire good for your brain? ›

      Engaging our brain's memory capabilities regularly is important for maintaining healthy cognitive functioning. Card games like Freecell – as well as other card games, board games, and brainteasers – are a great way to test your memory and keep your brain active.

      What are the rules of FreeCell? ›

      Each of the four free cells can hold one card, no more. You can move a card from the tableau to a free cell at any time, and, if the opportunity arises, you can later move it back to the tableau or to the foundation (from which if can't be moved). Move one card at a time, unless you have open free cells.

      What is a good number of moves in FreeCell? ›

      Looking at the rankings, it seems that somewhere around 40 moves and 140 card moves is typical. So 13 moves and 65 card moves is definitely much below average.

      How do you play the solitaire board game? ›

      The aim of the game is to remove every marble except one – and the last one must end up in the centre dent. The game is set up by placing 32 marbles in 32 dents, leaving the centre dent empty. To remove a marble, you have to move one marble over another marble, landing in an empty dent.

      How is solitaire card game played? ›

      The first objective is to release and play into position certain cards to build up each foundation, in sequence and in suit, from the ace through the king. The ultimate objective is to build the whole pack onto the foundations, and if that can be done, the Solitaire game is won.

      How do you play solitaire together? ›

      Double solitaire requires two players to build four piles using all available cards. Therefore, you should have two decks of cards consisting of two piles of all hearts, clubs, spade cards, and diamond cards. You can purchase these decks online or from your local supermarket or games store.

      How do you start a new game in solitaire? ›

      How do I begin a new game of Solitaire?
      1. Tap the game screen to raise the bottom Menu bar - OR - Tap the MENU button.
      2. Select the center GAME tab - OR - Select NEW GAME.
      3. At the top of the GAME tab, select NEW GAME. If you would like to play the same hand again from the beginning, choose REPLAY.

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