How Eight Off works
All 52 cards are in view from the start. Winning is about planning, not luck.
- Foundations. Build four piles from Ace up to King, one suit each. They are in the top right.
- Columns. Eight columns of six cards. Build down in the same suit: the 6 of clubs goes on the 7 of clubs.
- Free cells. Eight cells at the top left, each holding one card. Four are full at the start.
- Empty columns. Only a King (or a run that starts with a King) can go into an empty column.
- Moving runs. You can move a same-suit run that has no more cards than your empty free cells plus one.
Eight Off compared with FreeCell
| Eight Off | FreeCell | |
|---|---|---|
| Free cells | 8 (4 full at the start) | 4 |
| Building in the columns | Down, same suit | Down, alternating colours |
| Empty column takes | A King only | Any card |
| Cards per column at the start | 6 | 6 or 7 |
More on the original game: FreeCell rules and strategy.
Tips for Eight Off
- Keep cells free. They set how long a run you can move, so do not fill them without a reason.
- Dig out the low cards first. Aces and 2s buried under long columns hold up the foundations.
- Plan for the Kings. Empty columns only take a King, so an empty column with no King nearby is not much help.
- Build long same-suit runs. They can be moved later and they are the quickest way to a foundation.
- Cards go home safely. When a card goes to the foundation, nothing can ever be built on it in the columns, so there is no loss in sending it up. The game does this for you with auto-play.
Other games
Frequently asked questions
What is Eight Off solitaire?
Eight Off is a FreeCell-style game. All the cards are dealt face up into eight columns, and you have eight free cells to park cards in. Columns are built down in a single suit, and the foundations are built from Ace to King.
How do you set up Eight Off?
48 cards are dealt face up into eight columns of six. The other four cards go into four of the eight free cells, leaving four cells empty. The four foundations start empty.
How does Eight Off differ from FreeCell?
Eight Off has eight free cells instead of four. You build down in the same suit instead of alternating colours, and only a King can go into an empty column.
How many cards can I move at once in Eight Off?
As many as you have empty free cells, plus one, as long as they form a same-suit run. With five empty cells you can move six cards.
Is every Eight Off deal winnable?
No, but a large share of them are. It is one of the more winnable solitaire games, which is part of why people like it.
What goes in an empty column?
Only a King, or a run that starts with a King.