HOW TO PLAY FREECELL SOLITAIRE
FreeCell is a strategy-based Solitaire game in which all 52 cards are visible from the beginning. The goal is to move every card to the four foundations, sorted by suit from Ace to King.
Runitaire includes classic FreeCell and Baker’s Game, a more challenging variation in which tableau sequences are built by suit.
FREECELL SETUP
All 52 cards are dealt face up across eight tableau columns. Four free cells and four empty foundations are placed above the tableau. Because there are no hidden cards or stock pile, most FreeCell games can be solved through careful planning.
HOW TO WIN
Complete all four foundations by building each suit upward in this order: Ace, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, Jack, Queen and King.
FREE CELLS
- Each free cell can hold one card.
- Cards in free cells can be moved back to the tableau or to a foundation.
- Use the free cells as temporary storage while rearranging the tableau.
- Keeping more free cells empty allows you to move longer sequences of cards.
GAME MODES
- FreeCell builds tableau sequences downward by rank in alternating colors.
- Baker’s Game builds tableau sequences downward by rank in the same suit.
Baker’s Game is generally more difficult because cards can only be arranged with other cards of the same suit.
TABLEAU RULES
- All cards begin face up.
- Build tableau columns downward in rank.
- In FreeCell, cards must alternate color: red on black and black on red.
- In Baker’s Game, cards must be arranged in the same suit.
- Any single card can move to an empty tableau column.
- A valid sequence can also move to an empty column if enough temporary spaces are available.
MOVING MULTIPLE CARDS
The number of cards you can move at once depends on how many free cells and empty tableau columns are available.
Each empty free cell can temporarily hold one card. Each empty tableau column that is available as temporary space doubles the number of cards you can move.
When moving a sequence into an empty tableau column, that destination column is not counted as usable temporary space.
For example:
- 2 empty free cells and no usable empty columns: up to 3 cards.
- 2 empty free cells and 1 usable empty column: up to 6 cards.
- 2 empty free cells and 2 usable empty columns: up to 12 cards.
If a sequence is too long to move with the available temporary spaces, Runitaire will not let you pick it up.
FOUNDATION RULES
- Each foundation begins with an Ace.
- Foundations build upward by rank in the same suit.
- Only an available top card can be moved to a foundation.
- Double-click a playable top card to send it to a foundation.
PLAY FREECELL SOLITAIRE
Choose classic FreeCell or Baker’s Game and put your planning skills to the test on Runitaire.