Game Instructions

FreeCell is based on a deck of 52 cards. The cards are shuffled and divided into 8 columns. In 4 columns there are 7 cards, and there are additional 4 columns containing 6 cards in each. The cards remain visible throughout the game. Above the card columns there are 8 cells: 4 cells along the right side of the window, and 4 cells on the left side of the window. 4 cells are the house cells, and 4 cells are used for the storage of free cards. Home cells are used to move the aces and after that all the other cards in a serial order. After all cards have been played and put in order - you've achieved victory. The other 4 empty cells are used to "hold" the cards before they're placed. They are being used to move the cards from the deck in order to achieve victory. This means, we are temporarily storing the cards there until another step to put them in order (series). You can move cards to the free deck cells, or cards to the house but it is not possible to move cards back from the house cells to the deck/empty cells. The purpose of the game is to arrange the cards in ascending order, starting from Ace using the house and vacant cells. In order to win the game all 52 cards must be in house cells. Each house cell should contain 13 cards.

Game Rules

The game rules are very simple. In order to move all 52 cards, you need to use the house and the empty cells. Start the game in transferring all the aces into the house cells. Cards can be moved into house cells only if they have the same colour and series (e.g. Hearts, Spades etc.) and only if they are in ascending order. After a card has been moved into the house cell - they can not be used again. You can arrange the cards in columns only from a higher to a lower cards order. You can move all the series you have created from column to column, as long as the empty cells are completely vacant. The more empty cells are available, the more cards you can move from column to column. When there are 4 cards available in the empty cells, it's only possible to transfer one card, so we recommend you avoid this and keep your free cells as vacant as possible. Each free cell can contain one card only. You can move cards to home cells, but not vice versa. If you do an illegal move in FreeCell, a warning window appears and also informs you, when you have only one legal move left. To see more options, simply select the "Options" on the game menu bar.

How to win?

You win the game when the 4 home cells have the complete deck of cards for each series (e.g. Spades, Hearts, etc.) in ascending order.

Example Images

Start mode: 8 columns are full of cards waiting for arrange in home cells, 8 cells are vacant.

An example of a situation where 2 house and 2 free cells are used.

Example of a situation where 4 free cells are used. Transfer cards options from column to column is limited to a single card only. Exactly this situation should be avoided as much as possible - only when there is absolutely no choice.

Image of situation when winning the game as it is displayed in "windows".

The statistics can be shown when you wish to see the status of your personal games won or lost.