Penguin Solitaire is one of the most unusual FreeCell-family games: all cards are dealt into 7 columns of 7 cards each (plus one card to start each foundation), and you get 7 free cells to work with. Its structured layout makes it more strategic than it first appears.
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Play Free Penguin âUnderstanding the Penguin Layout
In Penguin Solitaire, one card of each rank is placed on the four foundations to start (these are the "beak" cards that determine which rank you build from). The remaining 48 cards are dealt into 7 columns of 7 cards. You also get 7 free cells â more than FreeCell's 4.
All building is by suit: tableau columns build down by suit, and foundations build up by suit starting from the beak rank (wrapping around from King to Ace if needed). This strict suit requirement is the defining challenge of Penguin.
Key Strategy: Identify Your Building Suits
Before making any moves, scan the layout for each suit. Identify where the cards that can extend your four foundation piles are buried. The deeper a needed card is buried, the more free cells and empty columns you'll need to uncover it.
Because all building is by suit, mixed-color sequences common in Klondike or FreeCell don't help here. Every single move must advance a same-suit chain.
Using Free Cells Wisely
Seven free cells sounds like a lot, but Penguin's all-suit constraint means you'll need them all. Key principles:
- Park cards of the wrong suit when you need to access a card below them
- Never fill all 7 free cells simultaneously â you need at least one buffer
- Prioritize clearing free cells by playing parked cards to the foundation or tableau
- Cards in free cells are dead weight until they find a home â minimize the time they sit
Working Toward Empty Columns
Empty columns are your most powerful resource. With 7 columns of 7 cards, creating an empty column requires clearing an entire column â which typically takes early planning. Identify the shortest or most sequential column and target it first.
Once you have an empty column, you can move entire same-suit sequences into it, enabling deeper card access in other columns.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Penguin Solitaire hard to win?
Penguin Solitaire is moderately difficult. The all-suit building rule is restrictive, but the 7 free cells give you good flexibility. Most players win roughly 70â80% of deals with good strategy.
What does the "beak" card mean in Penguin Solitaire?
The beak card is the starting rank for the foundation piles. If the beak is a 6, foundations start at 6 and build up (7, 8, 9, 10, J, Q, K, A, 2, 3, 4, 5) by suit. It wraps around through Ace.
How does Penguin differ from FreeCell?
Penguin uses 7 free cells instead of 4, builds by suit instead of alternating color, and starts foundations from a random beak rank instead of Ace. The all-suit building constraint is the biggest strategic difference.
What should I focus on first in Penguin Solitaire?
Identify the foundation beak rank and find where the next cards for each suit are in the tableau. Plan routes to uncover those cards using your 7 free cells. Creating one empty column early opens many options.
Can all Penguin Solitaire deals be won?
Not all deals are winnable, but the majority are. The 7 free cells give you enough flexibility that most layouts can be solved with careful play and some foresight.