Easy Freecell

Easy FreeCell Objective

The goal of Easy FreeCell is to clear the tableau by arranging cards into four foundation piles in ascending order (ace to king) and separated by suit.

Easy FreeCell is less difficult than classic FreeCell because the aces and twos are already arranged in their proper foundation piles.

Easy FreeCell Setup

Easy FreeCell uses a single 52-card deck and is set up with three main areas:

• Tableau: Cards are dealt face up into eight columns to create the tableau. The first four columns have six cards each, and the last four columns have five cards each. All cards except aces and two are dealt into the tableau.
• Foundation piles: Four foundation piles are built above the tableau. These piles ascend in order from ace to king and are separated by suit, and the aces and twos are already placed into their piles, giving you a headstart.
• Free cells: Four free cells also sit above the tableau. Because all cards have been dealt into the tableau or placed into foundation piles (only aces and twos), you have no stockpile to turn to when you get stuck. So you can use the free cells as temporary storage to help you move and arrange cards in the tableau.

Easy FreeCell Rules

• Sequence cards in descending order and alternating color (red/black) in the tableau. You can arrange cards by placing a card on top of another that is one rank higher and the opposite color. You follow this rule for single cards and sequenced cards. For instance, you can move a 8♣ onto a 9♦, or you can move a sequence (9♥, 8♠, 7♦) onto a 10♠. Cards can only be placed onto the bottom card of each column.
• Use free cells to prevent getting stuck. Because you can’t use a stockpile if you get stuck, use the free cells to arrange cards and uncover ones needed for sequences and foundation piles.
• The number of open free cells limits how long of a sequence you can move. You can move cards individually into open cells, or you can move an entire sequence as long as the number of cards in the sequence equals the number of free cells plus one. For example, if you have two free cells open, you can move the sequence 7♠, 6♥, 5♠.
• Any card or sequence, regardless of rank, can fill an empty column. As long as you have enough free cells to move the sequence, a sequence of cards or a single card of any rank can be placed in an empty column.
• Build foundation piles in ascending order by suit. The foundations will already be filled with their aces and twos, so you can move cards from the tableau or free cells onto foundation piles as long as they ascend order and are separated by suit.

Easy FreeCell Strategies

• Have a plan for the free cells. The free cells help you keep the game moving, but if you use them without thinking ahead, you can get stuck. So have a plan for why you’re moving cards into free cells as well as a plan for moving them back into the tableau. Otherwise, you risk keeping the cards sitting in the free cells, blocking play, instead of using them as temporary storage. Also, avoid filling up all the free cells or else you significantly reduce your ability to move cards around the tableau.
• Build long sequences in empty columns. Building a long sequence helps you get cards in order and ready to move the foundation piles, but if you build a long sequence on top of unsequenced cards, you end up blocking cards you might need. So reserve long sequences for empty columns.
• Prioritize uncovering threes and fours. Threes and fours are the first to be placed into foundation piles, so uncover them early so you can reduce the amount of cards in the tableau. Getting the threes and fours into their foundation piles can remove a total of eight cards, which is equal to more than one column of cards in the tableau!
• Empty columns when possible. An empty column gives you another place to move cards and build sequences without blocking other tableau cards. So empty columns when you can by building sequences and moving cards to foundation piles.
• Avoid uneven foundation piles. Because you have to alternate colors to create a sequence, you don’t want to build a single foundation pile too high and bury cards you might need. For example, if you build the spades to the rank of nine but the rest of the piles are built to just five, you are forced to rely on accessing the 7♣ when you need a black seven.

If you get the hang of Easy FreeCell and want more of a challenge, give FreeCell a try. You can also play other variations such as Baker’s Game and Eight Off for different challenges. Play them all for free on Solitaire Bliss!