Play FreeCell online, free

A solitaire where almost every deal can be won, as long as you think a few moves ahead.

By the AI Vibe Coded Games editors Updated 2 min read

How this FreeCell works

All 52 cards are dealt face up into eight columns. You have four free cells that can each hold one card, and four foundations to build from ace to king by suit. Build the columns downwards in alternating colours. You can move only one card at a time, but the game lets you move a whole run when you have enough free cells and empty columns to do it legally, and works out that limit for you.

Every deal has a number from 1 to 1,000,000, so you can replay a deal that beat you or share a favourite. There's a random-deal button, auto-move to the foundations when it's safe (which you can switch off), a hint button, unlimited undo, a move counter and a timer. It supports drag and drop and tap to select.

Where it comes from

FreeCell was invented in 1978 by Paul Alfille on the PLATO computer system. It became famous when a desktop operating system bundled a version, and its "nearly always winnable" reputation came with it. In that original numbering, one deal in the first 32,000 was famously impossible. The deals here use our own numbering, so treat "almost every deal" as a promise about the game's shape rather than a guarantee for a specific number.

How many cards can you move at once?

The rule of thumb is: (free cells + 1) multiplied by 2 for every empty column. With two free cells empty and no empty columns you can move three cards. With one empty column and no free cells you can move two. With two free cells and one empty column you can move six. Keep that sum in your head and you'll know whether a plan is possible before you start it.

Strategy

  1. Free cells are precious. Fill them only when you have a plan to empty them.
  2. Dig for the aces early. A buried ace is the most common reason deals get stuck.
  3. Aim to empty a column. An empty column is worth more than a free cell.
  4. Don't auto-build the foundations carelessly. A low card that sits in the tableau can be a bridge for a longer run.
  5. Plan out a few moves, then check with undo. It's a puzzle, so treat it like one.

Questions people ask

Can every FreeCell deal be won?

Almost every one. A tiny fraction of deals in the classic numbering are impossible, and our deals use their own numbers.

How do I replay a deal?

Choose a deal number from 1 to 1,000,000 and the same layout appears every time.

Is there a hint?

Yes, and unlimited undo.

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