What is Eight Off?

Eight Off gives you double the free cells of FreeCell, but adds a couple of twists that keep it interesting.

Quick answer: Eight Off is a FreeCell-style game with eight free cells instead of four, and six of those cells already hold a card when you deal. You build down in the same suit within the columns, and only Kings can move into an empty column. The extra cells make it more forgiving than it first looks.

The setup

Eight Off deals the 52 cards into columns and gives you eight free cells, six of which start with a card already in them. That leaves two open cells to work with at the deal. The foundations build up by suit from Ace to King, just like FreeCell.

Same-suit building and the King rule

Two rules set Eight Off apart from classic FreeCell. First, you build down in the same suit in the columns, not alternating colors. Second, only a King may be placed into an empty column. Together these keep the game challenging even with all those extra cells.

How it compares

The generous eight cells make Eight Off feel roomy, but the same-suit rule tightens things back up. If you like this style, try its close relatives Seahaven Towers and Baker's Game, which also build by suit.

Play Eight Off

Related questions

What is Seahaven Towers?

Seahaven Towers deals all 52 cards into ten columns and gives you four free cells, two of which start filled. You build down in the same suit, and only Kings can be placed into an empty column. The wider layout and same-suit rule make it a tough, satisfying variant.

What is Baker's Game?

Baker's Game plays exactly like FreeCell with one key change: instead of building down in alternating colors, you build down in the same suit. That single rule makes it noticeably harder, since matching suits is more restrictive than matching colors.

What is FreeCell?

FreeCell is a solitaire game played with one 52-card deck dealt face up into eight columns. You have four free cells - open spaces that each hold a single card - and the goal is to build all four suits up from Ace to King on the foundations. Because every card is visible from the start, FreeCell is almost pure strategy.