                        FREECELL FAQ/WALKTHROUGH
            By Dennis L. "Fox" Doucette (rocketshow@hotmail.com)
                              Version 1.1
                              June 9, 2000
|============================================================================|
|This FAQ is Copyright 2000 by Dennis L. Doucette.  This FAQ is PURE Public  |
|DomainWare, and may be absolutely freely distributed so long as it is used  |
|unaltered and is NOT converted to HTML or any other format (in other words, |
|it is kept as a text file). In addition, please e-mail me if you intend to  |
|use my guide and please be kind enough to wait for my reply before you      |
|publish.                                                                    |
|============================================================================|
|The latest version of all my FAQs can be found at http://www.gamefaqs.com   |
|============================================================================|

|=================|
|TABLE OF CONTENTS|
|=================|

1. Revision History/Credits
2. What is FreeCell, and WHY do a FAQ for it?
3. Strategy Section
4. List of Game Boards/Walkthrough (Ongoing)
5. Coming Soon
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|===========================|
|1. REVISION HISTORY/CREDITS|
|===========================|

Version 1.00 (6/3/00)---Credit is due to Sailor Bacon on the GameFAQs Message
Boards for giving me the idea to undertake such a thoroughly quixotic effort
as a FreeCell FAQ.  I'm not sure how long it will take me to get all 32,000
game boards done...I think that depends on the quality of medical care I get
between now and when I turn 73 about fifty years from now.  Anyone who wants
to contribute to this walkthrough is COMPLETELY encouraged to do so.

Version 1.1 (6/9/00)---Nine more walkthroughs done, including 7 by Candice
Blodgett (kairsharga@hotmail.com), which are marked as "CB" over the word
"Solution".  The ones that I've done have been redesignated as "DD".

STILL TO DO: About 85 million hours' worth of work, that's what!  Again, if
you want to write down every move you make in the course of winning a game, by
all means do.  You will be fully credited for any walkthroughs that you come
up with.
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|=============================================|
|2. WHAT IS FREECELL, AND WHY DO A FAQ FOR IT?|
|=============================================|

FreeCell is one of the games that comes with Windows 95 and later preloaded on
most PC's sold today.  It is a form of Solitaire, but offers a better chance
for the player to overcome poor luck of the draw by skillful play.  It is also
one of the world's greatest ways to waste time, and is probably responsible
for more lost hours of productivity in the workplace than all the bacteria and
viruses on Earth combined.

I decided to do a FAQ for it...well, because it was there.  I thought it would
be kind of fun to write down the solutions to each and every one of the games,
if only to test the theory (urban legend is more like it) that EVERY game has
a solution.
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|===================|
|3. STRATEGY SECTION|
|===================|

There are certain things you'll need to know in order to be able to solve most
of these puzzles.  They are the basic tenets of the game and without them, you
will spend a lot of time losing.

RULE #1: Survey the Board before you do ANYTHING.
-------------------------------------------------
This rule almost goes without saying.  You should be able to identify how you
intend to free up the four aces, and how you plan to get the lower cards out
from under the higher cards.  You should also be able to find ways to keep the
"free" cells (the four cells up above the layout) open for as long as possible
for the simple reason that free cells, once occupied, become a hindrance
rather than a help.

RULE #2: Empty Columns are your BEST Friends.
---------------------------------------------
Follow me on this one.  You can move a column of cards equal to the number of
free cells currently on the board, plus one.  If you can use an empty column
as a free cell, you get the number of points in a standard move, multiplied by
the number of empty columns plus one.  In other words, if you have two free
cells and no empty columns, you can move three cards.  If you have a column
with one card in it, moving the card into a free cell allows you to move FOUR
cards instead of three, and you're left in a situation where even though you
may only be able to move two cards at a time, you may be able to free up a
card that will free up a cell and...you get the idea.  Empty Columns are worth
more than their weight in gold.

RULE #3: Don't Make a Move Just Because You Can.
------------------------------------------------
You may be able to move some cards up to the foundation piles (the piles on
the upper right corner of the screen that represent your "scoring" piles) even
though the game doesn't move them up automatically.  There's a reason why the
game doesn't do this, however.  You may be able to move the 3, 4, and 5 of
hearts and diamonds up to the foundation piles, but if you've got the 4 and 2
of spades still on the board, you'll have to waste a free cell because there's
no way at that point to get the 4 and the 2 into a sequence.  Just trust me on
this one.

In addition, don't build a big pile unless you're at or near the top of an
empty column.  It can be bloody annoying having K-Q-J-10-9-8-7 stacked in a
sequence under which lay three of the aces.  You're not going to win that game
using that strategy, so try moving the king to a free cell (but don't use all
of your free cells for kings because there's no place to put them outside of
empty columns).

RULE #4: Try to Work In Order.
------------------------------
Another simple thing.  Once you've freed all the aces, go looking for the 2's.
After the 2's come the 3's.  Et Cetera.  Keeping to your stated purpose is a
good way to keep from wasting space and time on pointless moves.

Follow these four rules and you should be well on your way!  I'm the proud
owner of a 26-game winning streak at this game, so I hope that this strategy
is as effective for you as it's been for me.
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|==================================|
|4. LIST OF GAME BOARDS/WALKTHROUGH|
|==================================|

Since this is the first edition, this is obviously not going to be complete!
I'm working on compiling these, one board at a time.  The walkthrough is not
necessarily set in stone, since some (most) boards have more than one way to
arrive at the solution!

Note the following:
K,Q,J,A: King, Queen, Jack, Ace (duh!)
H,D,S,C: Hearts, Diamonds, Spades, Clubs (double duh!)
T: Ten (to keep all the card notations as 2 characters)
2-9: If you have to ask...
FC: Free Cell, FP: Foundation Pile, ES: Empty Space

Boards archived: 1-3, 6343, 10234, 13448, 22633, 25277, 31997-32000
Total walkthroughs contributed by author:
Candice Blodgett (kairsharga@hotmail.com):   7
Dennis L. "Fox" Doucette (rocketshow@hotmail.com): 4

|========|
|BOARD #1|
|========|
DD
Solution:
3D-FC, 2C-FC, QC-FC, 7H-8C, 8C-ES, 6C-7H, JH-FC, 4D-FC, QS-KH, JH-QS, TC-JH,
8H-9C, 7D-FC, 7S-8H, 3C-FP, 3H-FP, 5H-6C, 4H-FP, 3S-FP, 8D-FC, 4S-5D, 3D-4S,
5H-FP, 6H-FP, KD-FC, JD-TS, KD-ES, QS-KD, TS-JD, 9D-TS, 9S-TH, 9H-TC, 8H-9S,
9C-ES, 8D-9C, 8S-9H, TD-JS, 5C-6D, 4D-5C, KS-FC, KC-FC, 9S-TD, KC-ES, 8C-9D,
TH-ES, 9C-TH, KS-ES, QH-KS, QD-KC, KH-ES

|========|
|BOARD #2|
|========|
DD
Solution:
SA-FP, 5S-FC, 8D-9S, TS-JH, 4H-FC, 4S-5H, 6D-FC, 3H-4S, 2C-3H, 7S-8D, 6D-7S,
5S-6D, 4H-5S, 5H-ES, 3S-4H, 6S-7D, KH-FC, 9H-TS, 5D-6S, 8S-9H, QS-KD, 4C-5D,
7D-8S, JH-QS, 3D-4C, 7C-8H, 6C-ES, 5H-6C, 6H-7C, TD-ES, 8H-ES, QH-FC, 9C-TD,
TH-FC, TC-ES, KS-FC

|========|
|BOARD #3|
|========|
DD
Solution:
AH-FP, 9H-FC, 5S-6H, 4S-5H, TD-JC, 3H-4S, JD-FC, TS-FC, 9D-FC, QC-KD, JD-QC,
TS-JD, 9D-TS, 9H-ES, 8C-9H, 9S-TD, 5H-6C, 3S-FP, KH-FC, 5C-FC, 4C-FC, 3C-FP,
4C-FP, 5C-FP, QD-FC, 4D-5S, QH-FC, JH-FC, QH-ES, JC-QH, 7S-8D, 6C-ES, 8D-9S,
KH-ES, QS-KH, JH-QS, TC-JH, 7D-8C, QD-KC, KD-ES, JS-QD, KS-ES

|===========|
|BOARD #6343|
|===========|
CB
Solution:
AS-FP, 4C-FC, TC-FC, 8C-FC, 7S-8D, 3D-FP, 6H-7S, 8C-9D, 7D-8C, 6S-7D, KD-QS,
5C-6H, 4H-5C, 4D-FP, KH-FC, 6D-7C, 8S-FC, JC-QD, KH-ES, QC-KH, JD-QC, TC-JD,
9C-FC, JH-QS, TS-JH, QD-ES, JS-FC, 8S-ES, 7H-8S, TH-JC, 9C-TH, 5S-6D, 9D-TC,
KD-ES, 9H-TS, 8S-9H, 8D-9C, KC-ES, JS-ES, TD-JS, KS-ES, 6C-7H, 8H-FC, QH-KC,
JS-QH, 4C-FP, 8H-ES, 7C-8H, 4S-FP, 9S-TD

|============|
|BOARD #10234|
|============|
CB
Solution:
AS-FP, JS-QH, 5H-6C, 8D-9S, 7S-8D, 3C-4D, TD-JS, 4S-5H, 7H-8S, QH-ES, 9S-TD,
6C-7H, JD-FC, 4C-FC, AC-FP, 3C-FP, 4C-FP, JH-FC, KC-FC, 7D-8C, JH-ES, TH-FC,
TC-JH, 3S-4D, 5C-FP, TH-JC, 7C-ES, 3D-4S, 6S-7D, 9C-TH, 6H-7C, 5H-6S, 8S-ES,
KS-FC, 8H-9C, 9D-TC, 7C-8H, 5S-6H, 8S-9D, QC-ES, 4H-FP, JD-QC, 8C-9H, TS-JD,
9H-TS, KD-ES, 6D-7S, KS-ES, QD-KS, JC-QD, KH-ES

|============|
|BOARD #13448|
|============|
CB
Solution:
AS-FP, 9C-FC, 8C-FC, 8S-FC, 7D-FC, 9C-ES, 8D-9C, 6H-7C, 5S-6H, 8S-9H, 7D-8S,
TS-FC, 3H-4C, 2C-3H, 3C-4H, 9H-TC, 4H-5S, 5C-FC, 6S-7D, 5H-6S, 6D-7S, 5C-6D,
4C-5H, 3S-FP, 4S-FP, KD-FC, TS-ES, TD-FC, 9D-TS, 8C-9D, 9S-FC, TD-JS, 9S-TD,
8D-9S, 9C-TH, QH-FC, KH-QS, 8H-9C, 7H-8C, 6C-FP, TH-ES, KC-ES, JD-QS, QH-KC,
7S-8H, QC-FC, KD-ES, QC-KD, TS-JD, TC-ES, QD-ES

|============|
|BOARD #22633|
|============|
CB
Solution:
AS-FP, 6C-FC, TS-FC, QC-KH, 5D-6S, 4C-5D, 6D-7C, 5C-6D, 7C-8H, QD-KS, 3D-FP,
5H-FC, TD-FC, TS-ES, 9D-TS, 9S-TH, 6H-FC, QH-KC, 6C-ES, 5H-6C, QD-FC, KS-FC,
8C-9D, JH-QC, KS-ES, QD-KS, TS-JH, 6S-ES, 4D-FP, 3C-FP, 8S-FC, KD-FC, 6H-7S,
4C-FP, 5C-FP, 5D-FP, 5H-6S, 6C-FP, 6D-FP, 7C-FP, 7S-8H, KC-ES, 9H-ES, 8S-9H,
5S-6H, 7D-8S, 6S-7D, TH-JC, 4H-FP, KD-ES, QS-KD, JD-QS, JC-QD, 8D-9S, TS-JD,
KH-ES, TC-JH, JS-QH, 9C-FC

|============|
|BOARD #25277|
|============|
DD
Solution:
AC-FP, 3S-4H, 2H-3S, 5H-6S, 4C-5H, QH-FC, TH-JS, 5S-FC, 6C-7D, 7D-8S, QC-ES,
8S-9D, 7S-8D, 8C-FC, QC-KH, KH-ES, 9S-TD, 5D-6C, 3D-FP, 3H-4C, 8D-9S, 3C-FP,
JD-QC, 5S-ES, 4H-5S, TS-JD, 6H-7S, 9C-TD, 8H-9C, 7S-8H, QH-ES, JS-QH, 7C-8D,
6D-7C, 5S-6D, 6S-ES, 4S-5D, 4D-FP, 9C-ES, TD-FC, QD-KS, KD-FC, KD-ES, QS-KD,
KC-ES, 9H-TS, TC-ES, JC-QD

|============|
|BOARD #31997|
|============|
CB
Solution:
QD-FC, JD-FC, TD-FC, 2S-FC, QD-ES, JS-QD, TD-JS, 5D-6C, 4S-5D, 3D-4S, 3S-FC,
7D-FC, 4D-5C, 4C-5H, 3S-4D, QS-FC, KH-ES, QS-KH, JD-QS, 2S-3D, QD-KS, KS-ES,
9D-FC, 6D-FC, TS-JD, 9D-TS, 9H-TC, TH-FC, 4H-FC, 3C-FP, 9S-TD, 8D-9S, 7D-ES,
7S-8D, 6D-7S, 4C-FP, 6S-7D, 5H-6S, QH-KC, 8C-9D, 9C-FC, 5S-6D, 4H-5S, TH-9C,
7D-8C, 6C-ES, 5C-6H, 3H-FC, 8S-9H, 8H-9C, KC-ES, 6H-7C, 7H-8S, QC-FC

|============|
|BOARD #31998|
|============|
CB
Solution:
AD-FP, 2S-FC, 8H-FC, JD-FC, 3C-FC, JD-QC, 5H-FC, TS-JD, 3D-FP, 9H-TS, 8H-9S,
9C-FC, 8S-9H, JC-QD, 7C-8H, 7H-8S, 6D-7C, 4D-FP, 5S-6D, 5D-FP, 5C-6H, QD-KC,
3H-4C, 3S-FP, TD-JC, 2C-3H, 9C-TD, 8H-9C, 9S-FC, 3C-FP, QH-FC, 7D-FC, TC-JH,
2H-ES, 9D-TC, 4S-FP, 5S-FP, KS-ES, QH-KS, KH-ES, JS-QH

|============|
|BOARD #31999|
|============|
CB
Solution:
2D-3S, 4D-5S, QS-KD, QD-KS, 3S-4D, TC-FC, 5H-FC, 9C-FC, TC-JD, 9H-TC, 8C-9H,
9C-TD, 3D-FC, 7H-8C, 9S-TH, 3H-FC, 8S-FC, 6C-7H, 3H-FP, 4H-FP, 5H-6C, 5C-FC,
7C-FC, 3D-FP, KS-ES, 4S-5H, QC-FC, 8D-9S, 7C-8D, 6D-7C, 5C-6D, KD-ES, TS-FC,
5H-FP, KC-FC, 6S-7D, 8S-ES, 7D-8S, JS-QD, TD-JS

|============|
|BOARD #32000|
|============|
CB
Solution:
AH-FP, 6C-FC, 4D-FC, 3H-4S, 8H-9C, 7S-8H, 6C-7D, 3C-FC, 5H-6C, 4S-5H, KD-FC,
2C-3H, KD-ES, QC-KD, JS-FC, 9S-FC, 4D-5C, 3C-FP, TS-FC, TC-FC, 6H-7S, 3D-4S,
JH-QC, TS-JH, 8C-FC, 3S-FP, JS-QD, 5C-6H, 4S-5H, 8S-FC, QH-KC, JC-QH, 8C-ES,
7H-8C, 6S-7H, 6D-FC, TH-JS, 9S-TH, 5H-6S, 8S-ES, 7D-8S, 9H-TS, JD-FC, 8D-9S,
5S-FC, 7C-8D, 6D-7C, 5S-6D, JD-QS, TC-JD, KC-ES, QS-KH, KH-ES, TD-JC, KS-FC,
5D-6C, 9C-TD, 9D-TC

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|==============|
|5. COMING SOON|
|==============|

Coming soon (or later): The other 31,989 FreeCell games...and I'll show the
opening layout of the infamous board 11982 in the next update.  Anyone who
wants to write a walkthrough for one or more of these, simply email them to me
and if I play FreeCell with it and it works, it's in the FAQ.  You'll get your
name in each of your individual game walkthroughs as well.

Also on GameFAQs.com, check out my Triple Play 2001, Railroad Tycoon II, and
NCAA Football 2000 FAQs.  Thank you, and drive through.
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