Troubleshooting: Why Can't I Move Certain Cards in Freecell

Playing Freecell can be a lot of fun when you're making progress and inching towards successful completion.

But when you're stuck, with seemingly nowhere to go? Then you're not making progress, and that's far less fun. No one likes to be stuck staring at a screen without hope that they can turn things around.

Happily, those hopeless instances aren't nearly as doom-and-gloom as they first appear. Being stuck doesn't mean that it's game over. It means it's time to troubleshoot this game of Freecell and get things moving again.

Below, we'll outline everything you need to know about Freecell card movements, including what's allowed, common mistakes to avoid, and some tips for becoming a master Freecell player.

Freecell Basics: Card Movement Rules

Many people who grew up playing solitaire think that the same card movement laws apply to Freecell, but they don't. While there are some obvious similarities between traditional solitaire and Freecell, they're related-but-different games.

In Freecell, you can move any single card to:

• One of the free cells (the four positions at the top left of the screen)
• Another tableau column, if permitted; cards must follow a descending rank and alternate colors — for instance, adding a black 6 below a red 7.
• An empty column in the tableau.
• A foundation pile, if allowed (the four positions at the top right of the screen; suited cards must be added in ascending order).

Common Freecell Mistakes to Avoid

Freecell is a fair game. The cards are dealt randomly, and in all but the rarest of instances, the way the cards land makes it possible to win the game.

One study performed by Windows back in 1995 analyzed millions of Freecell games, and found that all but fourteen were theoretically winnable.

It's human error, not the cards themselves, that causes unsuccessful games. Avoiding the common Freecell mistakes that beginners make can help to improve your odds.

Filling All the Free Cells

The free cells can be a lifesaver when you get stuck, allowing you to unlock a trapped card by temporarily moving the card below it to a holding area.

But you can't do that if all the cells are occupied. Aim to keep at least one cell — and ideally more — cells free at all times.

Automatically Moving Cards to the Foundation

The ultimate aim of Freecell is to move all cards to their corresponding foundation piles, but no law says you have to get a card into the foundations as quickly as possible.

Many newcomers automatically move a card to the foundation pile, but there can be value in keeping it in the game. It might help unlock a card.

For example, let's say you have a 3H that could be moved to the foundation, but there's a potentially problematic 2J in another column. In that case, it would make sense to keep the 3H in play until that 2J card is no longer quite as troublesome.

Overlooking Empty Columns

Unlike in solitaire, where only kings can be moved to an empty column, in Freecell you can move any card. If a needed card is trapped behind another and there's an empty column, move the blocking card over.

Solving Freecell: Why Some Moves Fail

The Sequence Is Too Long

In solitaire, you can move any-sized stack to another part of the board, provided the move is valid.

In Freecell, you can only move as many cards as there are open free cells and empty columns.

For example, let's say you have Queen through Eight in one column, and you want to move it to a King in another column. Since that's five cards, you could only make the move if you had four open spaces in free cells and/or empty columns.

The Important Card is Locked in the Foundation Pile

Moving a card to the foundation pile can seem like the right move, but it can also cause failure if the move isn't well-thought-through.

The card you move to the foundation pile might have been the card you need to make progress with a column in the tableau. Before moving a card to the foundations, scan the board thoroughly and see if that card might be needed.

Tips to Master Card Movement in Freecell

Keep Some Free Cells Open

It's best to think of the free cells as temporary holding pens. Put a card in there to provoke some broader movement, then get it back into play once the job is done. That'll prevent your free cells from being filled up.

Remember, as long as you have some free cells open, you'll always have a chance.

Empty Columns When Possible

Have a couple of short columns? Emptying them can be a good way to free up space on the tableau, which can be the difference between getting things moving and having to restart the game.

Freecell Strategy: Optimizing Your Moves

Think Two Steps Ahead

You'll be much less likely to run into dead ends if you make strategic moves that take into account what comes after.

Most people run into issues because they take the most obvious move presented to them, not realizing that the ripple effects of that move will cause more problems later down the line.

Open Up Free Cells and Empty Columns

Free cells and empty columns are the Freecell equivalent of a 'get out of jail free card.' Keep your free cells open and look for opportunities to clear a column when possible.

Understanding Freecell's Unique Challenges

You can see why people approach Freecell in the same way they do solitaire, but they're separate games — and that's good news for your success rate. While solitaire success is based mostly on luck, Freecell depends on skill and strategy. If you're good enough — and you can be — then you will win plenty of games.

Here are two essential tidbits of info you need to remember.

Success Requires More Planning

The click-around-and-find-out approach won't work with Freecell. Successful games depend on successful planning. Plan your moves, think three steps ahead, and you can avoid the vast majority of issues that cause people to get stuck in the first place.

You Can Solve Most Issues

And if you do get stuck? It's not game over — not yet, anyway. Most Freecell issues can be solved through troubleshooting, such as moving cards to a Freecell or emptying a column if possible. Really struggling to see a solution? Take a five-minute walk around the block. You might just find that you return with a fresh perspective and that the right move is suddenly obvious.

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