FreeCell move capacity
FreeCell Sequence Moves: Calculate Your Capacity
FreeCell moves a sequence by simulating legal single-card moves through open workspace. Empty free cells and cascades therefore control the longest group you can move.
How many cards can I move?
Count empty columns before moving, including the destination if it is empty.
(2 + 1) × 2^1 = 6. Every empty column can serve as temporary workspace.
This is a workspace limit, not a guarantee that a move is legal. The cards must descend in alternating colors and fit the destination. A valid sequence has at most 13 cards. This calculator does not change your game.
Use the practical formula
Maximum length is (empty free cells + 1) × 2 to the power of empty cascades.
- 2 free cells and 1 empty cascade: 6 cards
- 0 free cells and 2 empty cascades: 4 cards
- Do not count an empty destination as extra workspace
Validate the sequence first
Capacity does not make an invalid tail movable. Every card must descend by one and alternate red and black.
- Expose the top card
- Check every colour change
- Check every rank step
Protect workspace
An empty cascade multiplies capacity. Fill one only when the move releases a low card, opens another cascade, or creates a stronger continuation.
- Keep one free cell open
- Avoid parking cards without an exit
- Release Aces and low cards
Why five-card capacity does not mean any five cards
At the start of deal 617 there are four empty free cells and no empty columns: (4 + 1) × 2⁰ = 5. This is a capacity limit, not permission to move an arbitrary pile.
- The bottom two cards in column 1 are 4♠ followed by J♦. Their ranks are not consecutive, so they cannot move as one sequence even with all four free cells empty.
- Parking J♦ in a free cell leaves three cells and no empty columns. The capacity becomes (3 + 1) × 2⁰ = 4.
- For a separate workspace example, two free cells and one empty column allow six cards onto an occupied column. If that empty column is the destination, the limit is only three: it cannot also serve as temporary workspace.
Check the entire selected tail, the destination's color and rank, and only then the available capacity. Failure of any one condition rejects the move.
Practice Microsoft deal 617 →If this link resumes a saved attempt, use Restart to return to the opening. The exercise does not load a mid-game position.