ForeCell Solitaire
How to play ForeCell
ForeCell is a one-deck solitaire game of the FreeCell family, dealt face up into eight columns of six with all four free cells filled by the deal and only Kings allowed into empty columns.
FreeCell with the four free cells dealt full, and only a King to fill an empty column.
The goal of ForeCell
Move every card onto the four foundations, building each one up by suit from Ace to King.
How to set up ForeCell
The first 48 cards are dealt face up into eight columns of six, and the last four go into the four free cells, so the game starts with every cell full. The four foundations start empty, and there is no stock.
ForeCell rules
Columns build down one rank at a time in alternating colours, as in FreeCell. The top card of a column, or a card in a free cell, can move onto its foundation, onto a column where it builds, or into an empty free cell. Once a cell has been emptied, any card may go back into it.
Only a King can move into an empty column, on its own or at the head of a run. A run already built in order moves as one move if it is at most one card longer than the number of empty free cells; empty columns do not add to that limit. A card on a foundation never comes back into play.
Click a card to play it: to its foundation if it fits, otherwise onto a column, otherwise into an empty free cell, and a King last of all into an empty column. Drag a card or a run to choose where it goes yourself. With Autoplay off in Settings, only a drag moves a card.
How to win at ForeCell
You win when all 52 cards are on the foundations. Once every column is in descending order, Auto complete, on by default in Settings, moves the remaining cards up for you. The game is stuck when no card has a legal move left.
ForeCell strategy tips
Your first aim is to empty a free cell. Look for a cell card that fits its foundation or a column, because while every cell is full, the only moves are builds, foundation plays and a King, or a run it heads, into an empty column.
An empty column only takes a King, so clear one when a King is ready to move into it, ideally a King that is sitting on cards you need.
In ForeCell only the free cells lengthen the runs you can move, since empty columns do not count. Keep at least one of them empty whenever you can.
ForeCell questions and answers
How do you play ForeCell solitaire?
ForeCell deals eight columns of six and puts the last four cards into the free cells. Build the columns down in alternating colours, move cards up to the foundations by suit from Ace to King, and use each free cell again once it empties. Only a King may start an empty column.
What is the difference between ForeCell and FreeCell?
Three things change. The free cells start full, because the last four cards are dealt into them and each column gets six cards. Only a King may fill an empty column. And empty columns do not raise the number of cards you can move at once. In both games the columns build down in alternating colours.
Can every ForeCell deal be won?
No, and some are proved lost. Out of 100 shuffled ForeCell deals, the dealing search proved 62 winnable and 10 impossible, and the Hint button's ten times longer search proved 79 winnable, with the same 10 lost. So at least three deals in four can be won, where the same test found a win in nearly every FreeCell deal. Switch on Winnable beside New deal and each new board is reshuffled until the solver proves a win.
Is there a daily ForeCell game?
Yes. ForeCell has a daily board, the same deal for everyone that day, dealt the way a Winnable board is. You need to be logged in to play it.