FreeCell is a card game like Solitaire, but where we can move only 1 card at a time.
In the game we find 8 card stacks, 4 free cells and 4 home cells. To win, we must move all the cards to the home cells, using the free cells as temporary storage.
The rules are:
1. We can move 1 card at a time.
2. We can move a card from one stack to another if:
- the card value is 1 less than the value of the card on top of the destination stack.
- the card we are moving and the card on top of the destination stack have diferent colors.
3. We can move a card to an empty stack or to a free cell. We can only move aces to an empty home cell.
4. We can move a card to a home cell if its value follows the value of the card on top of the home cell, and they are of the same suit.
Two hints:
1. Use carefully the free cells. There are only four of them.
2. Look for trouble spots, like aces under kings or two cards of the same value and color hidden under high value cards.
System requirements
1. 68020 or better, or a PowerMac
2. System 7 or later
3. 256-color graphics or better
Using the program
To move a card, click on it to select it (and will be highlighted) and click over the stack or cell you want to move the card to.
FreeCell for Mac provides a shortcut to move several cards with only two clicks. Simply click over the stack where the cards are and click over the stack where you want to move them. If there are enough free cells and empty stacks, the program will move them for you, otherwise it will show a warning.
Sometimes the program may (incorrectly) tell you that there is no enough space to move the requested cards. This is because the algorithm used to move the cards only takes advantage of one empty stack, ignoring the fact that there may be more empty (and not empty) stacks that can be used as temporary storage.
The program also automatically moves the unneeded cards to the home cells.
All the games have a number associated to each of them. This allows you to replay a game that you couldn't solve or that was very challenging. To specify the game, choose New game in the Game menu, and type the desired game number.
Shareware
This program is shareware. If you like it and use it regularly, I ask you to send me US$10. Please send a check to Susana Hung Ma to the following address
Susana Hung Ma
10602-154 Street
Edmonton, Alberta
Canada T5P 2J2
(I know, I know, why if I live in Venezuela I ask you to send a check to somebody who lives in Canada? Because she is my sister, and because the Post Office of my country is not very reliable when a check goes into a letter, something about black holes, UFOs, unexplained natural events, voodoo, full moon, etc, you know).
If you pay the shareware fee, I will send you the next version of FreeCell and announces of future games that I develop.
