Frequently asked questions about Eight Off
What is the difference between Eight Off and FreeCell?
Eight Off has 8 cells instead of 4, with 4 already occupied at the start, and its 8 columns each contain 6 cards. On the tableau, a card is placed on the card of the same suit one rank higher, for example the 9 of hearts on the 10 of hearts, rather than alternating red and black. Finally, an empty column accepts only a king.
Can every deal be won?
With 8 cells, almost all of them: this site’s tool, which follows the app’s rules, found a solution for each of the first 1000 deals. With 4 cells, it solves only 120 out of 1000, and with 2 cells, 3. The app does not show whether a deal is winnable.
Why can’t I place any card in an empty column?
This is the classic rule of Eight Off, and the app follows it: only a king can enter an empty column, either alone or with the sequence built on it. An empty column therefore lets you free a king and the cards it carries, rather than park just any card. To set a card aside, use the cells.
How many cards can be moved at once?
A sequence of the same suit, with at most (free cells + 1) × 2 to the power of (empty columns) cards. At the start, with 4 free cells and no empty columns, that means 5 cards; with all 8 cells free, 9. If you move a king and its sequence into an empty column, that column does not count.
Why don't cards go up to the foundations on their own?
In the app, no card moves to the foundations automatically: you control every move. A single tap on a top card sends it to its foundation when allowed. A double tap also looks for a column, then a cell.
What does the game code mean?
The code, for example EO1-C8-AAAAAFA, identifies a specific deal. C8 indicates the number of cells, and the last 7 characters identify the deal. Paste this code into the app to get exactly the same game on any device.
Can you play with fewer than eight cells?
Yes. The New Game window offers 8, 4, or 2 cells. With 4 cells, the 4 cards dealt to them fill them all; with 2, both cells are full and the remaining 2 cards go at the bottom of columns 3 and 4. This makes the game much harder.
Can you undo a move or take a card back from a foundation?
You can undo moves: the app remembers the last 100 actions, a group moved in one action returns in one action, and undoing also removes the points earned by the undone move. You can also take back the top card of a foundation: drag it to a free cell or a column that accepts it.