FreeCell: The Game Where Almost Every Deal Is Winnable

Out of 32,000 deals in Windows FreeCell, exactly one has been proven impossible. Its number is 11982. I find that beautiful.

The FreeCell Miracle

FreeCell was included in Windows from 1995 through Windows 7 with 32,000 pre-numbered deals. In 1994, a group of internet volunteers called the 'FreeCell Project' set out to solve every single one. By 1996, they had solved all but one: Deal #11982. Despite thousands of attempts, #11982 has never been solved.

The near-perfection is unique among solitaire games. In Klondike, roughly 80% of random deals are unsolvable. In 4-suit Spider, the win rate for random play is below 1%. But in FreeCell, virtually every deal has a solution — you just have to find it. This makes FreeCell a game of pure skill with almost zero luck. I respect that kind of design, even if it came from a Windows developer who probably didn't calculate the statistics.

Strategy: Free Cells Are Everything

The four free cells (top-left corner) are the game's signature. Each holds one card temporarily, giving you room to maneuver. The critical strategy: never fill all four unless you're about to win. Each occupied free cell reduces your mobility exponentially.

Beyond free cells, empty columns are even more valuable — you can move entire sequences into them. Expert players plan 15-20 moves ahead, creating cascading sequences that clear entire columns.

Play FreeCell free on Cliko Games with unlimited undo and 7 difficulty levels. If you love skill-based solitaire, also try Klondike and Spider Solitaire — the game whose predictability started this whole thing.