Freecell Solitaire can primarily be seen just as the Klondike. It has several variations too to provide the level of puzzle difficulty to its players. A great choice to hand you a casual game that situates you for some brain-stimulating challenges with the simple set of playing cards, sorted out as the puzzle to solve itself.

As we have reviewed quite a number of solitaire game titles in the past, we have encountered those listing freecell among its playable variants of solitaire. Freecell is an "open" type of solitaire – which means all the cards dealt are on a face up position, even from the very start of the game. This lets you analyze the outcome of moves before you make them, and have more control of deciding your appropriate moves. Therefore, nearly game can be won with properly guided direction to the player. For this sole reason too - may help explain its popularity among the variants of solitaire.

Freecell is played with a complete deck of 52 playing cards. Each game, a row of eight cards is dealt face up to start the tableau. A further five rows of eight cards are dealt face up on top of the first to form eight columns of six cards each. The final four cards are dealt to the first four columns so that the first four columns in the tableau each contain seven cards and the last four columns on the right each contain six cards. The goal is to build the four piles of cards up in ascending sequence from Ace to King following their suits (hearts, diamonds, spades, clubs).

To begin with playing the game, The exposed card at the end of each tableau column is available for play. You may move it to any empty FreeCell at any time to release the card beneath. As an Ace card comes to play (becomes available), it may be transferred to any of the four piles – which then are built up in ascending suit sequence. You may move an exposed card from end of a tableau column or from a freecell to another tableau column if it will form a descending sequence of alternating colors just like how Klondike is played.

Depending on the variation that you play, pertaining rules to the game may change to hand you some more difficulty in resolving the given puzzle – much like of a difficulty setting. The standard freecell has four freecells available with random cards dealt as you begin each game. A harder variation takes one freecell at a time. The fewer the freecells become, the harder it is to accomplish the given puzzle, reducing your chances to beat the game.

Tactics to win the game are pretty simple to follow too. As you start the game, before moving any cards, you should always make time to analyze the layout and try to figure choke points therein (such as Aces and other low valued cards that are buried deep in a column). Develop a priority plan to free these choke points early in the game. In general, games that have low valued cards dealt near the bottom of columns will be easier to turn in than games that are dealt with them buried deep into the columns.

Other than that, try to keep as many freecells available when possible. Longer sequences of cards can be moved if you have a lot of empty freecells. Once they are used up, the game pertains to become very difficult to handle. Also, clear out tableau columns if possible. An empty tableau column is more powerful than an empty freecell as they double the number of cards that can be moved as a packed sequence.

You may fill an empty tableau column with an entire descending card sequence of alternating colors. If a column of card contains an already filled sequence with no cards lower valued cards above it, then you can simply leave it and forget about it for the rest of the game as it won't be blocking any cards throughout the remainder of the game. The key is to always create packed sequences of cards in the tableau rather than using the freecells and to quickly assess which cards might release the best initial sequence.

To get you started practicing some Freecell solitaire (or any other legit solitaire games for that matter), we would suggest to start with Greek Goddesses of Solitaire, a great find from Big Fish Games, that hones challenging levels of the authentic counterpart of all basic and widely known Solitaire games including Freecell Solitaire. We are compelled to suggest this game due to the fact that it properly guides beginners to the original mechanics of the game.

If these series of articles interest you - into getting better at solitaire games, we will continue with more varieties of Solitaire on the following article. So until then, happy card sequencing, and puzzle solving!