Baker's Game – Play Online Free
The 1920s ancestor of FreeCell. Same layout, but columns build down in the same suit instead of alternating colours.
- Cards
- 52
- Free cells
- 4
- Columns
- 8
- Foundations
- 4
- Build
- By suit
- Win rate
- Lower
How to play Baker's Game
- Deal: 52 cards are dealt face up into 8 columns.
- Goal: move every card to the 4 foundations, building each one up by suit from Ace to King.
- Columns build down in the same suit (for example 9♠ on 10♠).
- Free cells hold one card each. Use them to dig out buried cards, and empty them again quickly.
- An empty column accepts any card or ordered run.
- You can move an ordered run as a group when there is room to move it one card at a time: (free cells + 1) × 2 for each empty column.
Baker's Game vs classic FreeCell
| Rule | Baker's Game | FreeCell |
|---|---|---|
| Cards | 52 | 52 |
| Free cells | 4 | 4 |
| Columns | 8 (7×4 + 6×4) | 8 (7×4 + 6×4) |
| Build columns | Same suit | Alternating colours |
| Foundations | 4 | 4 |
| Empty column | Any card | Any card |
| Group moves | (cells + 1) × 2^empty columns | (cells + 1) × 2^empty columns |
Strategy tips
- Free Aces and Twos first; look for them before your first move.
- Empty a whole column early. It is worth more than any free cell.
- Before using a free cell, check that you can empty it again within a few moves.
- Building by suit is strict: count which same-suit card you need next before filling a column.
- Use Undo freely. Every deal can be replayed by its game number.
FAQ
Is every Baker's Game game solvable?
Not every random deal is. Use Undo and Restart freely, and try the same game number again with a different plan.
How is Baker's Game different from classic FreeCell?
Martin Gardner described it in Scientific American in 1968. Building by suit makes it much harder than FreeCell.
Is there a daily challenge?
Yes. Every day there is one FreeCell deal for all players, with a monthly calendar, streaks and a daily leaderboard. Open the Daily button above the table.
Do I need to sign up?
No. Your stats are kept in this browser.
Rules follow Wikipedia descriptions of Baker's Game. Win rates are published estimates and will be replaced by this site’s own data.