Play FreeCell Solitaire for Free Online

What Is FreeCell Solitaire?

FreeCell solitaire is a classic card game that has been entertaining players for decades. It is a variant of solitaire, but with a unique twist that sets it apart from other versions.

In FreeCell solitaire, the player must arrange all 52 cards in four foundation piles, one for each suit, in ascending order from Ace to King. The twist comes in the form of four free cells, which allow the player to temporarily move cards around the board to create better sequences.

This game requires strategy, critical thinking, and a bit of luck to win which makes it one of the most challenging solitaire games out there. With the right moves, players can build long chains of cards, free up blocked cards, and ultimately clear the board.

A Brief History of FreeCell Solitaire

FreeCell was first developed by Paul Alfille in 1978 as a computer game for the PLATO system. The game quickly gained popularity among computer users and was later included in the Microsoft Windows operating system in 1991.

The game‘s popularity continued to grow, and in 1995, Jim Horne developed a version of FreeCell that allowed players to replay previous games. This feature was a huge hit among players and cemented FreeCell‘s place as a beloved classic.

Despite its popularity, FreeCell was not without controversy. Some players believed that the game was unsolvable and accused Microsoft of creating an impossible challenge. However, in 1994, mathematician David P. Willis proved that every game of FreeCell was indeed solvable, given the right strategy.

Today, FreeCell remains a beloved classic and can be found on most computer systems and mobile devices. It’s simple yet addictive gameplay and the ability to replay previous games continue to attract players of all ages.

How to Play FreeCell Solitaire

In FreeCell solitaire, the objective is to move all the cards to the four foundation piles in ascending order. The foundation piles are located at the top right corner of the screen and are separated by suit. To move the cards, you need to use the four open cells and four open tableau piles.

The tableau piles are located in the middle of the screen and hold the majority of the cards. The cards in the tableau piles can be arranged in descending order, and the colors need to alternate. For example, a red 9 can be placed on a black 10.

To move cards from the tableau piles to the foundation piles, you need to follow the same suit and ascending order. A foundation pile starts with an Ace of hearts, and the next card you can move there is the two of hearts.

Rules of FreeCell Solitaire

Here are the rules you need to follow to play this game seriously and engage yourself in the process:

Objective: The goal of FreeCell is to move all 52 cards to the four foundation piles in ascending order, starting with the Ace and ending with the King. The foundation piles are located at the top right of the game board.
Set up: The game begins by shuffling the 52 cards and dealing them into eight tableau piles at the bottom of the game board. Four foundation piles and four free cells are located at the top right of the game board.
Gameplay: You can move cards to the foundation piles in ascending order by suit, or you can move a card to a card of another color and one rank higher. You can also move a card to a free cell to temporarily store it.
Free cells: The four free cells in the top left of the game board can hold one card each. You can move a card to a free cell to free up space in the tableau piles. You can also move a card from a free cell to a tableau pile or foundation pile.
Empty tableau piles: You can move a King, or a King and its sequence of cards, to an empty tableau pile.
Winning the game: You win the game when all 52 cards are moved to the foundation piles by suit starting from Aces.

The Setup of FreeCell Solitaire

Here is a step-by-step guide to setting up FreeCell solitaire.

Open the game on your computer or device. There are many versions available for download.
Once the game is open, you will see a tableau with eight columns of cards. The first four columns have seven cards each, and the remaining four columns have six cards each. The rest of the cards are placed in the top-left corner of the screen as a deck.
Your goal is to move all the cards to the foundation piles, which are located in the top-right corner of the screen. There are four foundation piles, one for each suit (hearts, diamonds, clubs, and spades). The foundation piles should start with the Ace of each suit and build up in ascending order until the King of each suit.
To free up cards and move them from the tableau to the foundation piles, you need to create stacks of cards in descending order and alternating colors. For example, you can place a red five on a black six, a black four on a red five, and so on.
To move a card, click on it and drag it to the desired location. If the move is allowed, the card will snap into place. If the move is not allowed, the card will snap back to its original location.
Keep playing until you have successfully moved all the cards to the foundation piles or until you have no more moves left.

How to Win in FreeCell Solitaire?

As we have already established, FreeCell solitaire is a challenging game that requires strategy and skill to win. If you‘re looking out to improve your chances of winning, here are some tips to keep in mind:

Always start by looking for any possible moves that can be made in the tableau or the foundation. FreeCell is a game of planning, and the more you can anticipate future moves, the better.
Try to keep as many free cells open as possible. These empty spaces allow you to move cards around and create new sequences. However, don‘t just move cards to the free cells without a plan, as you may end up blocking yourself later on.
Finally, practice and patience are key. FreeCell is a game that requires practice and experience to master. Don‘t get discouraged if you don‘t win right away – keep practicing and you‘ll get better over time.

Tips and Tricks

Below are the best tips and tricks for becoming a good FreeCell solitaire player:

Plan ahead: One of the most important things you can do in FreeCell is to plan. Don‘t just move cards around randomly; think about how each move will affect the rest of the game.
Use the free cells wisely: The free cells are your best friends. They allow you to temporarily store cards and free up space on the tableau. But don‘t use them too quickly or too often. You only have four freecells, so use them strategically.
Always try to create an empty column: Creating an empty column is crucial in FreeCell, as it allows you to move entire stacks of cards around the tableau. Look for opportunities to move cards around and create an empty column.

Best Strategy for Solitaire FreeCell

Here are the best strategies to key to when looking to become an expert player:

Plan: Before you make any moves, take a few moments to analyze the layout of the cards on the board. Look for cards that are blocking other cards and try to come up with a plan to move them out of the way.
Focus on building your foundation piles: The ultimate goal of FreeCell is to build up the four foundation piles in ascending order, starting with Ace and ending with King. Focus your efforts on building these piles as quickly as possible.
Empty columns are your friends: Whenever you have an empty column on the board, try to move a King or other high-ranking card into it. This will give you more options for moving other cards around the board..

Games Similar to FreeCell Solitaire

Below are some solitaire games that are similar to FreeCell solitaire:

Spider solitaire: This is a classic card game that‘s similar to FreeCell. The objective is to arrange all the cards in descending order from King to Ace in each of the four suits.
Klondike solitaire: This is the most popular version of Solitaire, and it‘s similar to FreeCell in that the objective is to arrange all the cards in descending order from King to Ace. However, unlike FreeCell, the cards are dealt in a specific pattern, and you can only move cards that are face up.
TriPeaks solitaire: In this game, the objective is to clear all the cards off the board by matching cards that are one higher or one lower than the card at the bottom of the screen. It‘s similar to FreeCell in that you need to plan your moves carefully to win.

Is It Difficult to Play FreeCell Solitaire?

Whether or not FreeCell solitaire is difficult to play depends on a few factors. First, it‘s important to note that the game is generally considered to be more challenging than classic solitaire. This is because the player has more control over the order in which the cards are played, which requires more strategic thinking.

However, with that being said, FreeCell solitaire is not an impossibly difficult game to master. With practice and patience, players can learn to navigate the game‘s rules and build winning strategies.

Conclusion

FreeCell solitaire can provide hours of entertainment for players of all skill levels. With the option to play for free online, anyone can enjoy the game without the need to purchase physical cards or software. Why not give it a try today and see how challenging it will be for you?