Winning FreeCell Strategies to Master the Game

If you know how to play FreeCell Solitaire but want to win the game more consistently, then you're in the right place.

FreeCell is slightly different from regular Solitaire because all the cards are turned face up and you can store cards from the tableau in four free cells. The free cells allow you to remove cards that are blocking gameplay. The objective of this Solitaire variation is to move cards from the tableau to the four foundation piles from ace to king by suit.

We'll show you how to use nine FreeCell strategies, which you can practice by playing online for free at Solitaire Bliss.

1. Scan the Tableau for Aces and Twos

To win FreeCell, you have to complete four foundation piles, and aces and twos are how you start each one. Because they are such low cards, aces and twos aren't useful for sequencing on the tableau anyway. So prioritize moving them off of the tableau at the start of the game. Since you're able to see all the cards, you can spot them all and move any aces and twos that are easily accessible. If they're buried further up a column, you'll need to strategize how to arrange cards into free cells or sequences so you can access them.

2. Use the Free Cells As a Last Resort

Because free cells allow you to move cards and sequences across the tableau, you should prioritize saving the free cells as a last resort. If you find yourself getting stuck, the last thing you want to do is move four single cards into those cells. The number of sequenced cards you can move at a time is equal to the number of open free cells plus one, so if all four cells are filled you can only move one card at a time.

Only use the free cells when it helps you build sequences or move cards to the foundation piles. For example, if a nine of spades is blocking a sequence of a red nine through a black queen from being moved on top of a red king, you can use the free cell to store the nine while you move the sequence.

3. Prioritize Creating Empty Columns

Empty columns become spaces that can hold extra cards and help you make more moves. So take cards out of columns and place them in foundation piles or sequences of opposite colors on the tableau in an effort to clear the column.

Those empty spaces can hold any card or sequence you need, which will allow you to make additional moves, and the higher the card ranks, the more moves you can make. For example, if you have a four of diamonds and a ten of spades in your tableau, putting the ten into an empty column allows you to create a longer sequence and arrange more cards than a four would.

4. Move High-Ranking Cards to Empty Columns

Because empty columns should be used to store longer sequences while you move cards to the foundation piles, you should avoid placing lower-rank cards in the empty column.

For example, if you move a queen into the empty column, you'll be able to make a longer sequence than you would if you placed a five there. Saving empty columns for high-ranking cards ensures you'll have a better chance of moving cards into sequences for the foundation piles. However, be wary of moving a lone king to an empty column unless you can build a sequence on it. Kings cannot be placed on any other cards, so moving a king to an empty column without thinking ahead can waste your free space.

5. Strategize Sequences to Free Lower-Rank Cards

Lower-rank cards can't have long sequences built on them, but they are necessary to keep the building of foundation piles going. That means that if lower-ranking cards are blocked on the tableau, it can stop your gameplay. So prioritize freeing those cards in any way possible.

Use your free cells and empty columns to unlock trapped cards, building sequences that uncover necessary cards or free them to foundation piles. But don't complicate matters by building longer sequences on top of lower-rank cards. For example, if you continue to build a sequence on a column that has an ace buried in it, you'll need to move that sequence at some point so you can free the ace.

6. Build Foundation Piles Evenly to Avoid Getting Stuck

Because the goal of the game is to move all of the cards into the foundation piles, you may think putting available cards into those piles is the right strategy. But you should concentrate on building the foundation piles evenly.

Because you must build sequences that alternate in color, uneven foundation piles can make it much harder to make moves across the tableau, especially if you need the cards you've already played into the foundation piles.

For example, if you stack one black foundation pile up to six, but leave the other at three, you now only have one option for any black four, five, or six you might need for building a sequence. If the other black cards are buried in columns, you will be stuck until you can free them.

7. Avoid Building Long Sequences That Block Cards

Remember, the amount of cards you can move at one time is equal to the number of free cells plus one. This means any sequence exceeding five is difficult to move.

Because long sequences can be hard to move, you should avoid building them on top of low-ranking cards that need to be moved to the foundation piles. If you do build a long sequence that buries a two or a three, you'll end up blocking that card and will need to break up the sequence to further gameplay.

8. Deliberately Split Up Long Sequences

Because cards or sequences can only be moved depending on the amount of free cells available, you'll need to split up your longer sequences so they can be moved. You can do this by using your empty columns or free cells.

Let's say you have three free cells open and one empty tableau column. On the tableau, you have a sequence of a black jack through a black seven in one column, and you have a sequence with a red six through a red two. If you want to combine the sequences, keep in mind that you'll only be able to move four cards. So, you can move the five through two onto an empty column, placing the six of diamonds onto the seven from the other sequence. Then you can move the sequence of five through two back onto the six of diamonds.

If you don't have a free column, but have several free cells available, you can still use this strategy. Let's say you have two empty free cells available, and you have a queen and jack in one column that you want to combine with a ten through seven in another. Use one of the free cells to empty another column and use that column to hold the seven and eight, since you can only move two cards with one free cell. You can move the nine and ten onto the jack, and then move the seven and eight there as well.

9. Use the Undo Button

Because you can play FreeCell online, you should use the undo button if you realize you made a wrong move or got stuck. The undo button will allow you to learn from your mistakes without having to restart the whole game.

Are All Freecell Games Winnable?

Not every game of FreeCell Solitaire is winnable. The win rate of FreeCell Solitaire is about 33% when playing with a regular deck of cards. However, you're able to play winnable-only games if you play online with Solitaire Bliss.

Fun FreeCell Solitaire Games

Once you've got the hang of playing FreeCell, there are several other FreeCell Solitaire card game variations you should try.

• Easy FreeCell: This game is set up and played exactly like regular FreeCell. However, this version gives you foundation piles with the aces and twos already stacked in place.
• Eight Off: This variant has eight free cells: four without cards and four with cards. Instead of making sequences with alternating colors, you must make descending sequences of cards of the same suit. However, only kings can be moved into empty columns in this version.
• Easy Eight Off: This game also has eight free cells and the same-suit sequencing rule. However, it is easier than Eight Off since an empty tableau pile can be filled with any card, instead of only a king.
• Baker's Game: In this version, you're only given four free cells, and you can only make sequences with cards of the same suit, making this a difficult game to play.

If you're interested in trying these FreeCell strategies or playing any of the variations, you can play FreeCell for free online with Solitaire Bliss. You can log in to check your progress and compete with your friends. Try Solitaire Bliss today!