FreeCell

Goal

Move all 52 cards to the foundations in the top right to win. Build each foundation in order by suit, from ace to king.

Moving cards

1. In the tableau, cards stack in alternating colors, one rank lower each time. A red 7 goes on a black 8, for example.
2. In dark mode the red suits (♥♦) are gold and the black suits (♠♣) are light blue.
3. Each free cell in the top left holds one card. An empty column takes any card.
4. Tap a card in a run that reaches the bottom of the column with alternating red and black cards and ranks decreasing by one to select it and all cards below, or tap elsewhere in the column to select its bottom card.
5. Tap the same column again after a short pause to extend the selection one card further up the run of alternating colors and ranks decreasing by one, returning to just the bottom card after the whole run is selected.
6. Tap a card twice quickly to move it to a foundation if it can be placed there.
7. The whole column is tappable, and tapping it again after a short pause also extends the selection, so you never have to aim at the thin edge of an overlapped card.

Moving a run of cards

You can move as many cards at once as you could move one by one using the empty free cells and empty columns. When the destination is an empty column, that column does not count as a spare space.

Taking a move back

"Undo" takes back the last move. "Play the same number again" redeals the same game.

yopumi only deals games that can be won. If you run out of moves, use "Undo" and try a different order.

"Moves" increases by one each time you move a card or a group of cards together, and "Undo" reduces the count by one.

Each use of "Auto-move to foundations" counts as one move and "Undo" takes back the whole batch, while "Auto-finish" counts each move separately and "Undo" takes back one move at a time.

Tactics

Keep the free cells open

Before moving a card, check what is underneath it. Free cells are temporary holding spaces, so plan where you will move a card next before placing it in one. Filling all four right away also reduces the number of cards you can move together in a run. Before moving a card out of the way, consider whether you will be able to rearrange the columns afterward.

Use an empty column

Clearing a short column gives you space to rearrange cards. An empty column can hold any card, but before filling it right away, check whether you can use it to move cards in other columns. When moving a long run, remember that an empty destination column does not count as a temporary holding space.

Plan the order of moves to the foundations

Find the aces and the low cards first, then decide where the cards stacked on top of them will go. A card that can go to a foundation is sometimes worth keeping in the tableau to receive another card. If you run out of space after a move, undo and try freeing up a free cell or a column first.

Frequently asked questions

Q. How many cards fit in the free cells?

A. Each of the four free cells in the top left holds one card. They are temporary space while you move other cards around.

Q. Why can't I move the cards together when their ranks are in sequence?

A. Even with the colors alternating, you can only move as many cards as you could move one at a time through the empty free cells and empty columns. Free up more space and the run you can move grows.

Q. Can only a king go into an empty column?

A. In FreeCell any card can go into an empty column. Moving several cards at once is limited by the number of empty free cells and other empty columns.

Q. Is there a penalty for using a hint?

A. There is no penalty. Use a hint whenever you are unsure of the next move.

Q. Can I replay the same deal?

A. Select "Play the same number again" on the completion screen to play again. If you remember the number, you can also select it through "Play by game number" in the menu.

Q. Are FreeCell game numbers the same as in Windows, and how are they chosen?

A. FreeCell uses yopumi's own game numbers, so a number does not give the same deal as in Windows; the same number always gives the same deal in yopumi. "New game" chooses from a list of 1,000 deals confirmed to be solvable, and you can enter a number from 1 to 999,999, but if the deal is not solvable, the message is "No deal is available for that number."