How to play FreeCell: strategy for solving any deal

FreeCell is the solitaire of pure skill. Every card is face up, and nearly every deal can be solved. These habits get you there.

The rules

All 52 cards are dealt face up into eight columns. Build the four foundations up by suit from Ace to King. In the columns, build down in alternating colours. The four free cells hold one card each, and an empty column can take any card or run.

Look before you move

Find the Aces and 2s first. Count how many cards sit on top of each, and start with the ones easiest to dig out.

Keep free cells empty

Free cells are temporary parking. Each one you fill reduces how many cards you can move at once. Try never to have more than two in use.

Empty columns are powerful

With free cells alone, you can move one more card than you have empty cells. An empty column doubles that. Emptying a column early is often the key to a whole deal.

Build long runs in order

Long ordered runs move as a block when you have space, and they keep cards out of the way. Avoid burying low cards under them.

Use the numbered deals

Every deal here has a number, the same as the classic Windows game. Stuck? Replay the deal by its number and try a different first move. Deal #11982 is the famous one that can’t be solved.