GAME COMPARISON
Solitaire vs FreeCell: what's the difference?
Both games use one 52-card deck and the same goal of building four suits from Ace to King. But classic Solitaire (Klondike) is a game of hidden cards and luck, while FreeCell shows you every card from the start and is almost pure planning.
The key differences at a glance
| Klondike Solitaire | FreeCell | |
|---|---|---|
| Tableau | 7 columns, 28 cards, most face down | 8 columns, all 52 cards face up |
| Stock pile | 24 cards, drawn 1 or 3 at a time | None |
| Extra space | None | 4 free cells, each holding one card |
| Empty columns | Kings only | Any card or sequence |
| Hidden information | Yes, face-down cards and stock order | None |
| Can every deal be won? | No, a meaningful share can't | Almost all |
| Main skill | Managing risk and the stock | Planning sequences ahead |
How Klondike Solitaire works
Klondike is the game most people simply call Solitaire. Twenty-eight cards are dealt into seven columns, with only the top card of each column face up. The other 24 cards form the stock, which you turn over one card at a time (Turn 1) or three at a time (Turn 3). You build down the tableau in alternating colours and send cards up to the foundations by suit.
Because most cards start face down, you're always making decisions with incomplete information. Some deals are lost before you make a single move, because a key card is buried where you can't free it. See how to play Solitaire for the full setup and rules.
How FreeCell works
In FreeCell, all 52 cards are dealt face up into eight columns, four of seven cards and four of six. There's no stock. Instead you get four free cells, temporary spaces that can each hold any single card. You build down in alternating colours just as in Klondike, and any card can be placed in an empty column, not just a King.
The number of cards you can move as a group depends on how many free cells and empty columns you have. With more empty spaces you can shift longer sequences, which is why keeping cells free is the heart of FreeCell strategy.
Which is harder?
They're hard in different ways.
- Klondike is harder to win because luck plays a bigger part. Even perfect play can't win every deal, and Turn 3 is much stricter than Turn 1 because you can only reach every third card in the stock.
- FreeCell is harder to play well because there's nothing to blame but your planning. Nearly every deal can be won. Of the 32,000 numbered deals in the original Microsoft version, only one (deal #11982) is known to be unwinnable. When you lose, a better sequence of moves existed.
Strategy differences
In Klondike
- Prioritise moves that turn over face-down cards, especially in the longest columns.
- Don't empty a column unless you have a King ready to fill it.
- In Turn 3, remember where useful cards sit in the stock so you can plan your next pass.
In FreeCell
- Treat free cells as precious. Filling all four early is the most common way to get stuck.
- Free the Aces and twos first. They're often buried, and every one you release opens up space.
- Plan several moves ahead. Every card is visible, so you can work out a whole sequence before you touch anything.
- Empty columns are worth even more than free cells, because they let you move longer sequences.
Which should you play?
Play Klondike if you want a relaxed game with an element of chance, where a win feels like a lucky break you've earned. Play FreeCell if you enjoy puzzles and want every game to be winnable through careful thinking. Many players use Klondike to unwind and FreeCell when they want to concentrate.
Both are free to play here: Klondike Turn 1, Klondike Turn 3 and FreeCell. For another comparison, see Solitaire vs Spider.