FreeCell, deal #8

Deal #8 is one of the easier deals in this series. Our solver won it in a line of 39 moves, so it can certainly be won.

Notes on this deal

• 2 Aces lie uncovered at the end of their columns, ready to go home straight away.
• Watch column 1: an Ace waits there under 5 cards.
• 2 pairs of cards already lie in order in the columns, a head start worth keeping.
• A test play that always takes the most promising move wins this one outright. A relaxed deal.
• The solver's line parks a card in a free cell 4 times and fills an empty column 6 times.
• At one point the solver moves a run of 5 cards in one go.

Stuck? The solver's first moves

These are the first moves of the solver's winning line, with automatic moves to the foundations switched on.

#	Card	From	To
1	3♦	column 6	free cell
2	9♣	column 5	free cell
3	3♣	column 2	foundation
4	Q♥	column 2	K♣, column 3
5	6♦	column 4	7♣, column 1
6	J♥	column 4	Q♠, column 2

FreeCell in a nutshell

All cards are face up. Build the foundations by suit from Ace, build the eight columns down in alternating colours, and use the four free cells to hold one card each. Any card may fill an empty column.

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