How to Play FreeCell

THE PLAYBOOK · YUBOJIAGU

How to play FreeCell

Take a moment with FreeCell before moving to another game. Build four suit foundations from ace to king. Use the example below to understand a decision. Keep the instructions close while learning this activity. 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.

Try a deliberate move

After a move, check what changed. Decide which rule explains the new state before acting again. Use the example to check your reasoning.

Your goal

Build four suit foundations from ace to king. Read that aim before choosing your first action. Check the rules when you are unsure.

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. A careful first action helps you become familiar with the layout. 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. Compare this with the rule that governs the move. Verify the rule before continuing.

Watch out for this

Random deals are not guaranteed solvable. A hint is a legal move, not a winning strategy. Check the rule before repeating the action. When a decision goes wrong, compare it with the common mistake described below. Start again only when you intend to leave the current round.

Common questions