# FreeCell **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 12, 2000, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freecell/10338 "2000-04-12T06:36:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![HAIRY41](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e8c25b/32.png) [@HAIRY41](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HAIRY41)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2000, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freecell/10338/1 "2000-04-12T06:36:00Z")
I’ve been hooked on FreeCell these past 3 weeks .Now that I’ve learned to slow down and analize the cards before I make my first move I’m disapointed if I can’t complete 5 games in a row every evening. How does that compare to you folks ? ---
**Author:** ![A\_girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c68b51/32.png) [@A\_girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/A_girl)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2000, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freecell/10338/2 "2000-04-12T06:43:00Z")
I love FreeCell! I used to play all the time. My record was 7 wins. I don’t play it much anymore, but it’s a great game. A girl ---
**Author:** ![SPOOFE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@SPOOFE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SPOOFE)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2000, 7:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freecell/10338/3 "2000-04-12T07:25:00Z")
I don’t play Freecell (in fact, I pretty much avoid any game that doesn’t require at least 32 megs of RAM… I’m a loser, sue me), but what I’m wondering about the game is this… with the billion or so (it’s a lot) number of combinations possible in that game, it’d be possible to have a few combinations that would have you win right when it begins, right? They probably removed those particular combinations right off the bat… but what about combinations that have you lose right when you start? How many of these combinations can there be? Oh, and for some fun… in Freecell, when selecting a game number, insert “-1” or “-2” (without the quotes). It’s fun (no, it won’t crash your computer). ---
**Author:** ![Flyhalf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ea5d25/32.png) [@Flyhalf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flyhalf)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2000, 8:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freecell/10338/4 "2000-04-12T08:52:00Z")
14 in a row. * * * When you know that your time is close at hand Maybe then you’ll begin to understand Life down here is just a strange illusion ---
**Author:** ![Zor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/848f3c/32.png) [@Zor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zor)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2000, 9:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freecell/10338/5 "2000-04-12T09:04:00Z")
From the FreeCell help files… > [@](#): > > It is believed (although not proven) that every game is winnable. I remember having a string of 56 wins until I accidnetally deleted the record. If you’re willing to just sit there and stare at the screen for long hours, it can be done. I can also attest that I’ve never played a game that was unwinnable too… ---
**Author:** ![techchick68](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ea5d25/32.png) [@techchick68](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/techchick68)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2000, 9:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freecell/10338/6 "2000-04-12T09:06:00Z")
During my MCSE classes and the same time working as a receptionist, I became somewhat an expert on Free Cell… \< sigh \> I am not as good at it anymore, but still can kick some butt on it…I just spend too much time on the internet to play games anymore. ---
**Author:** ![AWB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bb73d2/32.png) [@AWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AWB)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2000, 10:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freecell/10338/7 "2000-04-12T10:27:00Z")
Of the 32000 legitimate (1-32000) games, only 1 has proven unwinnable. As reported once in Games magazine, a group of players kept track and only one game eluded them. Wish I could remember which one… * * * Wrong thinking is punished, right thinking is just as swiftly rewarded. You’ll find it an effective combination. ---
**Author:** ![WillGolfForFood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/82dd89/32.png) [@WillGolfForFood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WillGolfForFood)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2000, 11:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freecell/10338/8 "2000-04-12T11:13:00Z")
I’m afraid I’m a genuine FreeCell addict. I play 100 games (no, not all in one session!) of which my goal is to win 90+, then I clear the score and start over. Like Zor, my best streak was in the 50s. I gotta get a life… ---
**Author:** ![DVous\_Means](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9fc29f/32.png) [@DVous\_Means](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DVous_Means)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2000, 11:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freecell/10338/9 "2000-04-12T11:22:00Z")
A workmate and myself between us had a string of 32 consecutive wins in FreeCell, on the computer provided at the Ambyulance station where I work. Unfortunately, one of our colleagues, who is somewhat less skilled at the game than we are, came along and stuffed the whole thing up with his first aborted game. Who knows just how big the record could have been if he had played Minesweeper instead…? * * * Knock softly but firmly, 'cause I like soft firm knockers… ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2000, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freecell/10338/10 "2000-04-12T12:10:00Z")
I won 76 consecutive games. I was hoping to make it to 100, but on game 77 I made a stupid mistake. I haven’t had the interest to start over. * * * “I must leave this planet, if only for an hour.” – Antoine de St. Exupéry Are you a turtle? ---
**Author:** ![divemaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/divemaster/32/78_2.png) [@divemaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/divemaster)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2000, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freecell/10338/11 "2000-04-12T12:18:00Z")
I like the game, but it is too easy as described. I play my own version where you can only fill in open columns with a King or a string headed by a King (provided there are enough “free” cells). Of course, the computer must think I’m an idiot because I have to start over games that I’ve lost by my definition when there are legal options left by the computer’s definition. Just my opinion; but any game you can win 50+ times in a row ceases to be a game and starts becoming busywork. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2000, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freecell/10338/12 "2000-04-12T12:24:00Z")
**Divemaster** IMO, Free Cell, Solitaire, etc. **are** “busywork”. Something to keep a person occupied while they’re on hold, waiting for a n extremely slow page to load, finishing a cup of coffee… * * * “I must leave this planet, if only for an hour.” – Antoine de St. Exupéry Are you a turtle? ---
**Author:** ![Mullinator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c2a13f/32.png) [@Mullinator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mullinator)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2000, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freecell/10338/13 "2000-04-12T12:26:00Z")
I loved that game until I heard (and tried) the button combo that allows you to win every game regardless of the card setup. * * * We went right out there and refused to do accoustical versions of the electrical songs that we had refused to record in the first place. ---
**Author:** ![SoMoMom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/41988e/32.png) [@SoMoMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SoMoMom)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2000, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freecell/10338/14 "2000-04-12T14:14:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by SPOOFE Bo Diddly: > **Oh, and for some fun… in Freecell, when selecting a game number, insert “-1” or “-2” (without the quotes). It’s fun (no, it won’t crash your computer).** How did you know about that? ---
**Author:** ![Myron\_Van\_Horowitzski](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de053/32.png) [@Myron\_Van\_Horowitzski](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Myron_Van_Horowitzski)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2000, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freecell/10338/15 "2000-04-12T14:41:00Z")
My goal is to play each game in numerical order. I discovered that if you lose a game the first time you play it, you can replay (and lose) the same game over and over, and it will only count the first loss. Therefore, I keep playing each game until I win it. I’m up to 3425, with 78% wins, 24 game streak. Some games it took me many tries to win: 617, 1689, 1767 and 1941. * * * Imbibo, ergo sum. ---
**Author:** ![Kiki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/dc4da7/32.png) [@Kiki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kiki)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2000, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freecell/10338/16 "2000-04-12T18:24:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by Mullinator: > \*\*I loved that game until I heard (and tried) the button combo that allows you to win every game regardless of the card setup. > > \*\* OK… spill it. What’s the button combo? * * * That John Denver’s full of shit man! ---
**Author:** ![tanstaafl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ba8739/32.png) [@tanstaafl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tanstaafl)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2000, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freecell/10338/17 "2000-04-12T18:25:00Z")
According to the FreeCell FAQ at: [http://members.aol.com/wgreview/fcfaq.html](http://members.aol.com/wgreview/fcfaq.html) only one of the standard FreeCell games cannot be solved (11982 if you care). There is also a list of the solutions for all of the games at: [http://members.aol.com/wgreview/catalog.html](http://members.aol.com/wgreview/catalog.html) * * * “Sometimes I think the web is just a big plot to keep people like me away from normal society.” — Dilbert ---
**Author:** ![yabob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yabob/32/2821_2.png) [@yabob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yabob)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2000, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freecell/10338/18 "2000-04-12T18:41:00Z")
You can add another dimension by attaching a “score” - it’s easy enough to win, but I decided you got a numerical score in the game corresponding to the number of cards still not “up” at the point where all the cards are automatically played by the program. This means you want to “play to” a particular ace or deuce that you leave buried, and you have to decide what you can get away with, and still win. If you get a game with 2 aces buried somewhere, and you can leave them buried to the end, you can score a “48” (actually, higher scores are possible, but you need a really fortiutous layout). ---
**Author:** ![Mullinator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c2a13f/32.png) [@Mullinator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mullinator)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2000, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freecell/10338/19 "2000-04-12T18:53:00Z")
I am about to post the key sequence to win every game, since Rachelle asked. Feel free to skip down if you don’t want it. At any point in the freecell game, hit Ctrl+Shift+f10. Then, choose the abort button. Move any card, and watch all of them shoot to the top. ---
**Author:** ![Nen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Nen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nen)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2000, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freecell/10338/20 "2000-04-12T19:01:00Z")
**Mullinator** , that’s just flat out mean. I sporadically endure periods of the infamous “FreeCell addiction” and have managed to get my winning streak up to 62, but it just won’t ever be the same knowing that there is a cheat. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freecell/10338.md?page=2)