What is Penguin Solitaire?
Penguin Solitaire is a FreeCell variant with two significant rule changes. First, before dealing, one card is chosen as the “beak” — three other cards of that rank start the foundations, while the beak stays in the tableau. Second, tableau sequences build same-suit downward instead of alternating-color downward. Third, there are seven free cells (“flippers”) instead of FreeCell’s four.
The combined effect is a game that rewards the same complete-information planning as FreeCell, but with stricter suit requirements on the tableau and a different foundation start that shifts which cards are immediately urgent.
Full rules
One card sets the beak rank. The other three cards of that rank start three foundations. The remaining 49 cards are dealt face-up into seven tableau columns. Seven free cells (flippers) sit above the tableau.
Tableau sequences build downward by same suit only. A sequence of same-suit cards can move as a unit without FreeCell’s group-size limit. Foundations build upward by suit from the beak rank through a full cycle back to the card just below the beak. Win when all 52 cards reach the foundations.
How Penguin differs from FreeCell
FreeCell uses alternating-color tableau sequences; Penguin uses same-suit sequences. This makes tableau building stricter — a red 7 can only go on a red 8 of the same suit, not just any red 8. The seven free cells (versus FreeCell’s four) partially compensate for this constraint by expanding temporary storage.
The beak rank can be Ace. If the beak is 5, three foundations start on 5; the fourth waits for the beak card in the tableau. Each suit then cycles 5→6→7→8→9→10→J→Q→K→A→2→3→4. This creates the same wrapping-foundation dynamic as Canfield, within the same-information format as FreeCell.
Read the full Penguin strategy guide →
Same-suit group moves
This version lets any legal descending same-suit run move together, even when all seven flippers are occupied. FreeCell’s move-capacity formula does not apply. An empty tableau column accepts only the rank immediately below the beak, or a same-suit run headed by that rank.
Assemble runs where they uncover needed cards or create a usable empty column. Keep a flipper open when a single blocker has no immediate tableau destination.
How Penguin compares
- FreeCell — alternating-color sequences, four free cells, Ace-based foundations
- Beleaguered Castle — rank-only sequences, no free cells, Ace foundations pre-placed
- Canfield — base-rank wrapping foundations, reserve pile, alternating-color sequences
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Penguin is part of The Observatory · FreeCell & open packers and is a variant of FreeCell.
More FreeCell & open packers games
- FreeCell — All cards visible. Use the four cells.
- Seahaven Towers — FreeCell cousin: ten columns, same-suit builds, two cells.
- Baker’s Dozen — Thirteen columns with kings sunk to bottom.
- Bisley — Build by suit in either direction toward eight foundations.
- Castles in Spain — Partly covered columns with alternating-color sequence moves.
- Good Measure — Ten columns of five with two Aces already on foundations.
Also try
- Gaps (Grid & sequence puzzles) — Fill four rows of gaps to build 2–K suit runs. No aces, three passes.
- Klondike (Klondike family) — The patience everyone knows. Draw 1 or 3.
- Beleaguered Castle (Castle games) — Eight columns flanking four aces.
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