FreeCell

FreeCell is the solitaire variant where almost every deal is winnable. Invented in 1968 by Paul Alfille (as “Baker’s Game” then later refined), FreeCell rocketed to mass popularity in 1995 when Microsoft shipped it with Windows 95. All 52 cards are dealt face-up; you have 4 “free cells” to park individual cards while you reorganize the tableau. With perfect play, 99.999% of FreeCell deals are mathematically winnable — only 8 of the original 32,000 numbered Microsoft deals are unwinnable.

How to play

• Setup: 8 tableau columns. First 4 columns have 7 cards each; last 4 columns have 6 cards each. All cards are face-up.
• 4 free cells (top-left) — each can hold ONE card temporarily.
• 4 foundations (top-right) — build up by suit, A → K.
• Tableau builds DOWN by ALTERNATING colour (red on black, black on red).
• Empty columns accept any card.
• You move ONE card at a time, but the game often lets you move “supermoves” (multi-card sequences) using available free cells as intermediate steps.
• Win by sending all 52 cards to foundations.

Beginner strategy

• Play Aces to foundations immediately. Aces blocking the tableau are pure obstruction.
• Don’t fill free cells unnecessarily. Each filled cell reduces your move flexibility. Use them strategically, not as parking lots.
• Build long alternating-colour sequences. Like Klondike, but with all cards visible — you can plan multi-step sequences explicitly.
• Aim for empty columns early. Empty columns + free cells determine your supermove capacity. The more you have, the bigger sequences you can move.
• Don’t burn empty columns on the first King. Empty columns are flex space. Reserve them until you need to move long sequences.

The supermove math

FreeCell technically only allows moving ONE card at a time. But the interface lets you “supermove” multi-card sequences if you have enough free cells and empty columns. The math:

• Supermove size = (free cells + 1) × (2 ^ empty columns)
• 0 free cells, 0 empty columns → move 1 card.
• 4 free cells, 0 empty columns → move 5 cards.
• 4 free cells, 1 empty column → move 10 cards.
• 4 free cells, 2 empty columns → move 20 cards.
• The game uses intermediate steps to simulate moving the sequence as one operation.

Intermediate strategy

• Plan to the end. Because all cards are visible, expert FreeCell becomes a complete planning problem. Trace the path of every Ace and 2 to foundations before starting to move cards.
• Park troublesome cards in free cells. A King blocking your only access to an Ace can be parked in a free cell while you dig.
• Find the “lock” cards. In every deal, certain cards are critical — usually a 2 buried under a K, or a card blocking a foundation. Identify these first.
• Don’t be afraid to undo. FreeCell rewards planning. If your sequence isn’t working, undo and try a different order.
• Free cell hierarchy. The 4 free cells aren’t equally valuable — those farthest from your current focus are less convenient. Manage which cell holds which card.

Advanced strategy

• Solve from the end. Work backwards from the win condition — what’s the LAST card to go to foundations, and what state does the board need to be in?
• The empty-column doctrine. Every empty column doubles your supermove capacity. The first empty is worth 1 card; the second is worth 5 more cards; the third is worth 10 more.
• The MS deals. Microsoft’s numbered deals (1-32000) are deterministic. Game 11982 is the only unwinnable deal in that range that everyone tries. The other 7 unwinnable deals (1941, 5188, 11982, 14622, 18948, 26693, 32616, 32687) became legendary among FreeCell solvers.
• Move toward foundation order. If your Aces and 2s are buried, every move should reduce buryings — not just move cards around.

Why FreeCell is special

• 99.999% winnable. Other solitaires are ~80% winnable with perfect play. FreeCell is essentially “always winnable” — perfect play wins, mistakes cost games.
• All information visible. Klondike has face-down cards (hidden information). FreeCell shows everything. This makes it pure planning, not probability.
• Pure strategy game. No randomness within a deal once it’s dealt. The puzzle is fully determined.
• Educational value. FreeCell is used in CS education to teach search algorithms — the deal space is finite and exhaustible.

FreeCell history

• 1968 — Baker’s Game: Paul Alfille creates a variant called “Baker’s Game” on the PLATO educational computer system. FreeCell evolves from this.
• 1978 — FreeCell on PLATO: Alfille’s improved version, named “FreeCell”, becomes one of the first computer solitaires.
• 1995 — Windows 95 bundle: Microsoft ships FreeCell with Windows 95 (32,000 numbered deals included). FreeCell becomes a worldwide phenomenon.
• 1995-1996 — Numbered deals. Microsoft included deals 1 through 32000. Volunteer Internet community solves all 32000 by 2000, with 8 confirmed unwinnable.
• 2009 — Microsoft Solitaire Collection: FreeCell joins Klondike, Spider, and TriPeaks in Windows 7’s collection.

Common mistakes

• Filling all 4 free cells. Once all cells are filled, your move capacity is minimal. Plan to KEEP cells empty.
• Moving without a plan. FreeCell rewards forward thinking. Random moves usually lead to deadlock.
• Burning empty columns early. Empty columns are exponentially valuable. Don’t fill them with the first King.
• Ignoring the suit color in foundations. All four foundations matter equally. Don’t build one foundation to 10 while ignoring others.
• Giving up early. FreeCell deals are almost always winnable. If you’re stuck, the deal probably IS winnable — undo and try a different approach.

FreeCell variants

• Baker’s Game. The predecessor. Same rules but tableau builds DOWN by SAME SUIT instead of alternating colours.
• Eight Off. 8 free cells, 4 of which start filled. Different opening dynamics.
• Forecell. 4 free cells but each starts filled. Harder.
• Stalactites. Variant with 4 columns of 13 cards stacked downward.
• Sea Towers. 10 tableau columns, no free cells, but 2 empty columns at the start.

FAQ

• Q: Are all FreeCell deals winnable? A: Effectively yes — 99.999% are. Random deals are statistically always solvable; only 8 specific deals in Microsoft’s 32000 are unwinnable.
• Q: How do supermoves work? A: The game simulates the move using your free cells and empty columns as intermediates. (free cells + 1) × 2^(empty columns) = max supermove size.
• Q: What’s a “good” win streak? A: 95%+ with no undos is expert. 100% with unlimited undos is achievable with patience.
• Q: How long does a game take? A: 3-15 minutes typically. Hard deals can take 30+ minutes of planning.

For other solitaire variants, try Klondike Solitaire, Spider Solitaire, Pyramid Solitaire, or Solitaire.