Freecell Solitaire

Freecell Solitaire Strategy Even though Klondike is the Solitaire game that many people think of when they think of Solitaire (or Patience for our British friends), FreeCell solitaire is perhaps the more popular game worldwide, probably because if you learn the skill of the game, you can win just about every time. Here's a guide to getting started on the path to a winning hand of FreeCell.

The term "FreeCell" refers to the four empty spaces above the tableau that are used for storing cards temporarily.

Freecell Solitaire Rules

The rules of the game allow you to move just one card at a time but the FreeCells can be used to move larger sequences of packed cards between tableau columns. The more empty FreeCells you have, the larger the sequence of other cards that can be moved.

FreeCell is considered an "open" game of Solitaire meaning that all the cards are dealt face up at the start of the game. The beauty of this is you can analyze the outcome of your moves before you play them. This means that every game of FreeCell can be won with proper technique and forethought. Some games of FreeCell are time scored, some are not. Play a timed game for a bigger challenge, or an untimed game if you're still learning.

The game of FreeCell is played with a single pack of 52 playing cards. After shuffling the deck, a row of eight cards is dealt face up to start the tableau. A further five rows of eight cards are dealt face up on top of the first to form eight columns of six cards each. The final four cards are dealt to the first four columns so that the first four columns in the tableau each contain seven cards and the last four columns on the right each contain six cards.

The object of the game of FreeCell is to build on the four HomeCells by moving up in ascending suit sequence from Ace to King. This means the order of cards in FreeCell is A, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, J, Q, K.

The upturned card at the end of each tableau row is available for play and moving. You may move it to an empty FreeCell at any time to open up the card beneath it, but you should always try to keep some FreeCells empty for as long as you can.

When each of the four Aces becomes available, you can move it to one of the HomeCells. The HomeCells are then built up in ascending suit sequence to the King. You may move an exposed card from end of a tableau column or from a FreeCell to another tableau column if it will form a descending sequence of alternating colours. Empty spaces in the Tableau can be filled by any card you like, but don't waste them as empty tableau spaces are very powerful things indeed. Ideally, you'll keep moving single cards into these Cells, one at a time, until the game either blocks or you win.

Although the rules of FreeCell say you can move just one card at a time, the empty FreeCells allow you to move a sequence of cards in a run when you want. Traditionally, the maximum number of cards you can move is equal to the number of empty FreeCells on your board plus one. Remember though that this number doubles for every empty tableau column on the board. Why? Any empty tableau column acts like an extra FreeCell, so emptying a column is a powerful object.

Here's an example -- if you have four empty FreeCells and one empty column, you are able to move a sequence of ten cards rather than just five -- move the first five packed cards to the empty tableau column using the four FreeCells as temporary storage. You then move the other five cards to their final columns by using the four FreeCells. Lastly, you move the five cards you laid on the empty tableau column over to their final columns, using the four FreeCells as temporary storage once again. Sound difficult? Sure it is at first, but eventually you'll get into the swing of things.

Freecell Solitaire Strategy Tips

Here are some strategy tips to keep in mind when playing FreeCell:

Before you move any cards analyze the layout of cards at the beginning of the game and attempt to figure out where you'll get hung up -- for instance, if low cards and Aces aer at the bottom of the tableaux, you'll need to figure out a way to get those cards freed as soon as possible.
Try to keep as many FreeCells open as possible. You can move longer sequences of cards if you have a lot of empty FreeCells. Once you are down to one or two empty FreeCells then it becomes very difficult to progress.
Clear out tableau columns if possible. An empty tableau column is more powerful than an empty FreeCell as they double the number of cards that can be moved as a packed sequence.
Fill an empty tableau column with an entire descending sequence of alternating colours. If a tableau column contains nothing but a full packed sequence with no cards above it then you can simply leave it there and forget about it for the rest of the game as it won't be blocking any cards of lower rank that need to be released.
Try to create packed sequences of cards in the tableau rather than stuffing the FreeCells full to bursting.

More Solitaire Articles: