Eight Off

Eight Off is a classic solitaire card game and a direct precursor to FreeCell. Utilizing 8 columns and 8 free cells, solvers arrange 52 cards face-up. Unlike FreeCell, cards are stacked down by same suit. Using simple drag-and-drop mouse controls, the objective is to build four foundations from Ace to King.

Setup

• Tableau: 8 columns of cards dealt face-up (6 cards each, 48 cards total).
• Free Cells: 8 temporary storage slots at the top. The game starts with the remaining 4 cards dealt into the first 4 cells.
• Foundations: 4 empty target piles at the top right.

Controls

• Move cards: Click or tap a card, then click/tap its destination
• Drag cards: Left-click and drag card to another column or empty cell
• Undo last move: Press U or click the Undo button
• Get a hint: Press H or click Hint
• Restart game: Press R or click Restart
• Mobile: Tap and drag cards with smooth touch controls

Rules

1. Only the top card of a tableau column or a card in a free cell is available for play.
2. Build tableau columns downward by same suit only (e.g., a 6 of Clubs can only be placed on a 7 of Clubs).
3. Move any single card to an empty free cell (each cell holds only one card).
4. Only a King (or a sequence starting with a King) can be placed in an empty tableau column.
5. Move cards to foundations by suit in ascending order starting with Ace up to King.

Tips

• Prioritize uncovering and moving Aces and 2s to the foundations immediately to establish piles and clear tableau space.
• Keep at least one free cell empty whenever possible; filling all 8 cells severely limits your movement options.
• Plan ahead before putting a card in a free cell; ensure you have a clear plan to move it out of storage.
• Empty columns are extremely powerful for holding sequences; utilize them surgically for King-led stacks.