FreeCell: Rules and How to Play
As one of the players dealt the same cards, with four free cells to help, race to send every card up first. All cards visible: skill, not luck. 1–20 players, about 8 min. Free.
Objective
FreeCell is a one-player card game in which all cards start face up in eight columns and you move them by the rules until every card sits on the foundations (one suit each, ace to king). Here everyone gets the same deal, and the faster you finish, the higher you rank. Every deal can be won.
Setup
- 1–20 players. Alone, you can chase your best time or race the CPU.
- 8 columns, 4 free cells and 4 foundations. Every card is visible from the start.
- Everyone gets the same deal and starts together on 3-2-1 (the card faces are hidden until then).
How to play
- Tap a card to select it, then tap where it should go. You can also drag, or double-tap a card to send it to the foundation. If a move is not allowed, a × and a short reason appear.
- On the columns, build down in alternating colours. Any card can go into an empty column.
- A free cell holds one card temporarily. The more free cells and empty columns you have, the more cards of a run you can move at once: up to (free cells + 1) × 2^(empty columns excluding the destination).
- There are no turns: everyone plays their own cards at their own pace. You cannot see other players' cards; the top three names and their progress (%) are shown at the edge of the screen, plus your own rank if you are 4th or lower.
- Progress is the share of the 52 cards on the foundations.
Winning and scoring
- The game is solved when every card is on the foundations. Finishers are ranked by time. Press [Send cards] to send every currently legal card to the foundations, repeating until no more can go up. One [Undo] restores the position before the batch.
- You can keep playing after the target time. Finishers within the limit rank ahead of later finishers, ordered by completion time. Players who press [Quit] rank last. Rounds that go past the limit earn no points.
- The round ends when all human players finish or quit, even if CPUs are still solving. Humans can keep playing if a CPU finishes first. After 60 minutes from the start, results use the progress so far. Unfinished players rank by progress. [Play again] starts the next round.
- With the handicap on, the winner's next deal is one level harder (more if they keep winning). Ranking is still by time.
Defaults on this site
| Item | Default on this site |
|---|---|
| Players | 1–20 players (set automatically by the party size) |
| Turn time limit | None by default (the host can set 30 or 60 seconds) |
| If someone drops mid-game | Reopening on the same device returns you to your seat. If you do not return, the CPU plays in your place. |
| Draws | In ranked play, a draw counts as halfway between a win and a loss for your rating. |
| Source of the rules | Based on the standard reference rules |
Rules supervised by Qdan, Inc. (based on the standard reference rules)
House rules
Defaults follow the standard reference rules. The party can change these.
| Name | Description | Default | Changeable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deal difficulty | How hard the deal is. Every deal can be won. | Normal | Yes |
| Handicap the winnerHandicap the winnerWhen on, the previous round's winner plays a deal one level harder. Each further win adds another level; losing returns you to the chosen difficulty. Even when deals differ, ranking is by finishing time. | Only the winner gets a deal one level harder next time. | Off | Yes |
| Time limit | Your target time. Play continues after it and the clock counts overtime. At 60 minutes from the start, results use your progress. | 10 min | Yes |
| Undo | Whether [Undo] can take back a move. | Allowed | Yes |
| Hints | Whether [Hint] can point to a card to move. | Off | Yes |
Terms
- Free cell
- One of four spots that each hold one card temporarily.
- Foundation
- The four piles you build from ace to king in one suit. Fill them all to finish.
- Column
- A pile of cards on the table. You move cards from the top.
- Progress
- The share (%) sent to the foundations.
- Handicap
- A setting that makes the winner's next deal one level harder.
- Personal best
- Your fastest finish at that deal level on this device.
FAQ
What are the rules?
Move the cards until all of them are on the foundations (ace to king in one suit). On the columns you build down in alternating colours, and any card can go into an empty column. A free cell holds one card temporarily.
What happens if I make a mistake?
If a move is not allowed, a × and a reason appear and the card stays where it was. There is no penalty.
How is the ranking decided?
By finishing order (shortest time first). Players who timed out are ranked by progress, and players who quit rank last.
Can I undo?
If Undo is enabled in the table settings (it is by default), you can take back as many moves as you like.
Play now with these rules
Last updated 2026-10-05 · Run by Qdan, Inc.