Eight Off Solitaire· CardHearth
Eight Off1 deck8 columns8 free cellsalmost every deal winnable
How to play, tips & FAQ
How to play Eight Off Solitaire
Eight Off is a friendlier member of the FreeCell family. Every card is dealt face-up across eight columns, you get eight free cells for temporary storage (four start filled), and you build the four foundations up from Ace to King by suit.
The tableau builds down in suit (a 9♠ on a 10♠), not by alternating colour. Each free cell holds one card, and an empty column accepts only a King. A same-suit run can be slid as a group as long as you have the free space for it — the more cells and empty columns you keep open, the more cards you can shift at once.
Strategy: with everything visible, Eight Off rewards reading ahead. Keep free cells empty whenever you can, work an empty column open early, and don't bury a card you'll need to receive a run. Almost every deal is solvable, so a loss is a puzzle to learn from — Undo (U) is unlimited and Hint (H) nudges you along.
Frequently asked questions
How is Eight Off different from FreeCell?
Eight Off gives you eight free cells instead of four, and the tableau builds down in suit (a 9♠ on a 10♠) rather than by alternating colour. Empty columns can only be filled by a King. The extra cells make it gentler than FreeCell — almost every deal is winnable.
How many cards can I move at once?
A same-suit run can be moved as a unit, limited by your free cells: empty free cells + 1 cards at once. Empty columns don’t raise the limit — they only accept Kings, so they can’t relay a run the way FreeCell columns do. With eight cells you usually have plenty of room.
How do I win?
Build all four foundations up from Ace to King by suit. Because every card is face-up from the start, Eight Off is pure planning — a loss is almost always a misplay rather than a bad deal.
Prefer the classic? Play FreeCell, or take onForty Thieves.