FreeCell is one of the most popular versions of Solitaire games. After the classic Solitaire version was launched on the market, Microsoft decided to level up the players' determination and desire to win all possible games and launched FreeCell. Its rules are quite simple, where the players must build up all four foundations known as Home Cells and sort the same suit cards starting from the Ace and ending with the King. Also, the players have eight columns that form the tableau, on which they have to do several movements to release the necessary cards. But, the FreeCell game is more than that! You will find more about it in the following paragraphs.
How FreeCell Developed?
Interestingly enough, some sources claim that FreeCell dates back even further than 1945 and originates from one Scandinavian game under the name Napoleon in St. Helena. However, this card game as it was established by Paul Alfille, a student for medicine, who changed the popular Baker's Game by introducing some new features like alternating colors in the gameplay process. Microsoft as well made this entertainment renowned by including FreeCell in their Windows OS since 1995.
Basic Rules of Playing FreeCell
A player who starts playing FreeCell has a tableau on the screen split into three important sections. In the upper left side of the screen, the player finds four cells without any cards on them. These are being used to park cards temporarily to release other cards from the main tableau. On the right upper corner, players will find the foundation piles that they will use to build up the suits and arrange the cards from the Ace to the King. It's to be mentioned that each pile will be used to form the foundation for each color and card sign. The main tableau includes eight stacks of cards mixed between each other. The player has to unlock the cards and sort them on the four foundations, where each pile should start with the Ace. So, whenever the player releases it, he/she should immediately add it to one of these four stacks and keep adding cards with the same color and sign as the respective Ace. When the player clears any column in the tableau, he/she can move free cards on it. Besides, the cards added on the free four spots or cells can be used by the player whenever he/she considers it necessary. As we already mentioned, FreeCell Solitaire uses only one deck of cards and they are sorted in eight face-up different tableau columns. However, the players can play only the last card which is exposed on the deck. If they need the card which is underneath the last one, players can either move it to a new column, where it fits, or park it on the free cells. When it comes to the movement rules, the players should know that they can move the cards from one column to another only if they manage to arrange them in descending order and secure a sequence as red, black, red, and so on. Another important rule that gamers shouldn't forget is that once they've placed a card on the Home Cell, the players cannot play that card again and this is the rule available for the classic version of FreeCell Solitaire, however, there are some other variations, where cards can be transferred back to the tableau. The players win such a game when they have no cards left on the tableau or in the four empty cells. Also, the session is won when all cards have been arranged correctly on the four foundation piles.
How to Win FreeCell Solitaire Game Easier and Faster?
FreeCell has quickly become one of the most popular methods to kill the time for different categories of players. Whether we are talking about students, young professionals, or busy entrepreneurs, they all played FreeCell Solitaire once in their lives. It takes just a few rounds of playing and the gamers will swiftly find it very interesting and challenging. In comparison to classic Solitaire, FreeCell can be won more based on a coherent strategy than on luck. Thus, the first trick that players can use to win each FreeCell card game is to not rush to move cards immediately when they open this game. They should first study the tableau carefully and try to plan their initial moves. The expert players recommend that they should first try to move those cards which can easily expose others. Also, the players have greater chances to win if they focus on releasing the deuces and the aces. If they manage to avail of them as quickly as possible, the players can start to build the foundations from there. Getting these cards in the Home Cells as early as can be is one of the smartest moves that a player can make to increase his/her chances to win such a game. Another effective strategy is to avoid filling the free cells immediately and all at once. When you have them all full, you might need one more free spot to release an important card, which becomes impossible as you've rushed in filling the spots. Even though the players expose different cards that might be added to the foundation piles, they shouldn't hurry in doing so. It might be necessary to build other stacks that will reveal other important cards in the near future. So, hurrying up is not always a good decision. With a bit of organization and a calm mind, almost every FreeCell game can be a success. As there are still some games that are impossible to win, the statistics show that eight games out of a million are under this category.
Conclusion
Apart from being a fantastic pastime to kill the time, FreeCell Solitaire is also an excellent method to improve your mental health and get rid of the ordinary problems that might appear in life. Either if players try it in the computer-based version or in the real one, FreeCell Solitaire offers a serious exercise for the brain. When they start playing it, the gamers are forced to stimulate their brain activity to visualize and plan the next movements and outcomes. Also, the FreeCell game teaches players the lesson of patience. This is the only method that they can use to win each game and have a great time playing it.