How to Play FreeCell

THE PLAYBOOK · GLSFW

How to play FreeCell

Choose a round of FreeCell and settle into its rules. Build four suit foundations from ace to king. Keep the game area visible while you use its controls. Choose a comfortable screen position before beginning. Use the example below to understand a decision.

One face-up deck. Transfer capacity counts available cells and spare empty columns. Free solo play, no wagering.

Focus on one rule

Choose one rule to keep in mind for this round. Apply it consistently rather than guessing what another version might allow. Make the next step deliberately.

Your goal

Build four suit foundations from ace to king. An attractive position is not enough unless the goal is met. The example below illustrates a decision.

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. Keep the playing area visible while using these controls. 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. Apply the same reasoning to the position in your own round. Keep the game’s format in mind.

Watch out for this

Random deals are not guaranteed solvable. A hint is a legal move, not a winning strategy. Read the feedback to see why an action did not have the expected result. After a move, check what changed. Decide which rule explains the new state before acting again.

Common questions