Every card is dealt face-up, so FreeCell is the thinking player's solitaire — with careful planning nearly every deal can be won. Solitaire Nest FreeCell is free, needs no signup, and runs right in your browser on phone or laptop, online or off.
How to play FreeCell Solitaire
The board has three areas: four free cells (top-left), four foundations (top-right), and eight tableau columns where all 52 cards start face-up. Your goal is to move every card up to the foundations.
- Foundations build up by suit: Ace first, then 2, 3, and on to the King. Fill all four to win.
- Tableau columns build down in alternating colors — a red six on a black seven, a black nine on a red ten.
- A free cell holds exactly one card as temporary storage. Use them to unstick a jam, but keep as many open as you can.
- Any card may move onto an empty column — not just a King, unlike Klondike.
- Officially you move one card at a time. Empty free cells and empty columns let you shift a whole ordered run in one motion — a supermove. The more free cells and empty columns you have, the longer the run you can carry.
- Double-click or double-tap a card to send it straight to its foundation.
Moving cards: drag or tap
On a computer you can drag a card or a run onto any legal spot. On a phone, tap a card to pick it up — the game highlights every legal destination — then tap where you want it. Tap the card again to put it back down. Both methods work everywhere, so play whichever feels natural.
Why FreeCell is almost always winnable
Because nothing is hidden, FreeCell is a game of pure planning rather than luck. The vast majority of random deals are solvable, so a loss usually means a better line existed. The skill is sequencing: free the cards you need, keep at least one free cell open, and empty a column early to gain room to maneuver.
Tips to win more games
- Get the Aces and twos up early — they never help you on the tableau.
- Guard your free cells. A run you cannot rebuild after filling every cell is a dead end.
- Empty a whole column when you can; an empty column doubles the length of run you can move.
- Plan a few moves ahead before you commit — use Undo freely to explore, and Hint when you are truly stuck.
- When only foundation moves remain, the Auto button appears to finish the board for you.