FreeCell Solitaire Family
FreeCell Variants
FreeCell
Medium
- Win Rate: 99.999% solvable
- Deck: Single (52 cards)
- Free Cells: 4
- Tableau Columns: 8
- Building: Alternating colors, descending
- Best For: Players who want skill to determine wins
Double FreeCell
Advanced
- Win Rate: Skill-driven, often 75–90% for strong players
- Deck: Double (104 cards)
- Free Cells: 8
- Tableau Columns: 10
- Building: Alternating colors; two foundations per suit
- Best For: Players who want deeper sequencing and supermove management
What Makes FreeCell Unique
FreeCell stands apart from other solitaire games in several key ways:
1. Complete Information
Unlike Klondike where cards start face-down, FreeCell deals all 52 cards face-up. You can see every card from the first move, eliminating luck and enabling pure strategic planning.
2. The Four Free Cells
These temporary storage spaces hold single cards, giving you flexibility to reorganize the tableau. Managing these cells is the core skill of the game.
3. Supermoves
While technically only one card can move at a time, the game automates multi-card moves. The formula (Empty Cells + 1) × 2Empty Columns determines how many cards you can move at once.
FreeCell vs Other Solitaire Families
| Feature | FreeCell | Klondike | Yukon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cards Visible | All 52 | ~24 initially | ~31 initially |
| Win Rate | 99.999% | 43-52% | 25-30% |
| Skill vs Luck | Almost pure skill | Mixed | Skill-heavy |
| Temporary Storage | 4 free cells | None | None |
| Stock Pile | None | Yes (24 cards) | None |
| Tableau Building | Alternating colors | Alternating colors | Alternating or same suit |
Key FreeCell Concepts
(Empty Cells + 1) × 2Empty Columns
With 4 empty cells and 2 empty columns, you can move up to 20 cards at once!
Why Empty Columns Beat Free Cells
Empty tableau columns are exponentially more powerful than free cells:
- Each empty free cell: +1 card per supermove
- Each empty column: ×2 cards per supermove
This is why expert players prioritize clearing columns over keeping cells empty.
FreeCell History
FreeCell's journey to becoming one of the world's most popular card games:
- 1978: Paul Alfille creates FreeCell for the PLATO educational computer system
- 1991: First widely available version appears on DOS
- 1995: Microsoft includes FreeCell in Windows 95, reaching millions of players
- 1999: Players solve 31,999 of 32,000 Microsoft deals; #11982 proven impossible
- Today: FreeCell remains one of the most-played solitaire variants worldwide
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the win rate for FreeCell?
- What is Double FreeCell?
- Is FreeCell always winnable?
- Is every game of Solitaire winnable?
FreeCell Glossary
- Free Cells - The 4 temporary storage spaces
- Supermove - Moving multiple cards at once
- Double FreeCell - Two-deck FreeCell with 8 cells
- Foundation - Build Ace to King by suit
- Tableau - The 8 playing columns
Ready to Master FreeCell?
With 99.999% of games being winnable, every loss is a learning opportunity. How high can you get your win rate?
Play FreeCell Solitaire