Moves0
Time00:00
Quick Game

Your ChallengeSix DDI difficulty levels.

Start instantly from the analyzed Microsoft deal set, grouped by Deal Difficulty Index. Or choose Random to jump beyond the verified 32K range.

The six DDI options only draw from analyzed deals. Random intentionally selects from the range above #32,000, where solvability has not been verified.

Select difficulty
A game of open information

FreeCell is solitaire with nothing to hide

All 52 cards are visible from the first move. There is no draw pile to rescue a bad plan later: winning comes down to how well you manage your free cells, open columns and the order of your moves.

52 cards face up

See the entire problem before your first move.

4 free cells

Temporary space is your most valuable resource.

8 tableau columns

Empty one and your ability to reorganize grows fast.

Learn how to play FreeCell
More ways to play

Choose your challenge

A fresh board is only one way into FreeCell. Play the shared daily deal, recover a difficult position, or jump to a numbered Microsoft deal.

Daily Challenge

One deal. One day.

Everyone gets the same numbered deal. Come back tomorrow for a new board.

Play today's deal Rescue Puzzles

Start in trouble.

Drop into a critical position from a difficult deal, recover your space and finish the game.

Try a puzzle The Famous Exception

Deal #11982

Play the one deal from Microsoft's original 32,000-game collection that became famous for being unsolvable.

Play #11982
32,000 Microsoft deals analysed

How difficult is your FreeCell deal?

FreeCell Now's Deal Difficulty Index (DDI) compares Microsoft's original 32,000 FreeCell deals using one consistent analysis model. Look up any classic deal, see its difficulty score, rank and percentile, or browse from the easiest boards to the hardest rated challenges.

Explore the FreeCell Deal Difficulty Index

Easiest FreeCell Games Hardest Solvable FreeCell Games

Deals analysed
32,000
Rated deals
31,996
Difficulty bands
6
The essentials

How to play FreeCell

The rules are simple. The challenge is preserving enough space to keep useful moves available several turns ahead.

01

Read the board

All 52 cards begin face up across eight tableau columns.

02

Build down

Arrange tableau cards in descending rank and alternating colors.

03

Protect your space

Each free cell holds one card. Empty tableau columns create even more mobility.

04

Build the foundations

Move each suit from Ace through King to clear the board and win.

Read the complete rules
Think beyond the legal move

Three ideas that win more games

Good FreeCell play is mostly resource management. A move can be legal and still make the position much harder.

Keep free cells free

Filling a free cell reduces what you can move next. Use them as temporary workspace, not permanent storage.

Empty columns are power

An empty tableau column is flexible working space and can dramatically increase your effective move capacity.

Do not rush every card home

A foundation move can remove a card you still need for sequencing. Build home when it helps the whole position.

FreeCell strategy Understand supermoves
Latest comparison · Alternatives

247 FreeCell vs FreeCell Now

247 FreeCell offers more game variants and score-driven play. FreeCell Now focuses on numbered Microsoft deals, difficulty analysis and solving tools.

Read the full comparison All alternatives
The deal that would not die

31,999 solved. One left.

Players worked through Microsoft's original collection of 32,000 FreeCell deals until every board had a known solution except #11982. Under standard four-free-cell rules, that last holdout is the famous exception.

Play Deal #11982 Can every game be won?
Original deals
32,000
Solved
31,999
The exception
#11982
Questions & answers

FreeCell Now FAQ

Everything you need to know before your next game.

Is FreeCell Now free to play?

Yes. FreeCell Now is completely free to play, with unlimited FreeCell games, Undo and Hint.

Can I play FreeCell in full screen?

Yes. Use the full-screen button above the game board to get a larger playing area. Full-screen availability depends on your browser and device.

Does FreeCell Now work on Windows 11, Mac, and mobile phones?

FreeCell Now is designed to work in modern web browsers on Windows 11, macOS, and iPhone and Android phones. You don't need to install an app.

Do I need to download anything or sign up?

No. Just open FreeCell Now in your browser and start playing. There's no download or account registration required.

Can I play a specific FreeCell deal number?

Yes. Choose Play a Deal # to enter a Microsoft FreeCell deal number and replay the same card layout, including deals from the original 32,000-game collection.

Why are the cards in FreeCell Now so simple?

FreeCell rewards reading the board at a glance. Our cards skip traditional face-card illustrations to reduce visual clutter and make ranks and suits easier to scan. Our minimalist approach is also a nod to the simplicity of Paul Alfille's original FreeCell on PLATO.

Can I undo moves or get hints?

Yes. Use Undo to take back a move, or Hint to get a suggestion when you're stuck.