If you’re unfamiliar with this version of Solitaire, read this to ensure you can make the most out of your hand when you play Eight Off online here at a Clockwork Brain. The changed-up approach may initially appear daunting if you’re used to the standard version of FreeCell or classic Online Solitaire. But once you start getting the hang of it, you’ll likely have developed a healthy addiction to this engaging version of the game.
Eight Off Objectives
The objective of the Eight Off Solitaire game is to clear the board of all cards after having stacked each suit in order from Ace to King in the foundation.
The Board’s Arrangement and Setup
At play is one standard 52-card deck, dealt face up across eight columns, six rows down. The four remaining cards are placed face-up in the free cell area. Among the benefits of playing Eight Off online is you don’t have to worry about setting it up, as it’s done for you. Still, it’s good to know what you’re dealing with.
The Eight Off game has a unique board arrangement consisting of the foundation, the tableau (or the playing area), and the free cells.
The Foundation
The foundation can be seen on the board’s right-hand side, denoted by 4 empty card slots. This is where you remove cards from play as you stack suits.
The Tableau
The tableau is the playing area where the cards have been set up for gameplay. In a successful game, this area will become emptied of its cards, having been shifted into the foundation area.
The Free Cells
There are 8 free cells just above the tableau, 4 of which will have cards in them at the launch of a new round. Throughout the game, you can place one card in each of these cells to help clear up cards that would otherwise be locked behind them.
How to Play Eight Off Online
Gaming platforms take their share of liberties with the games they carry, and there are aspects unique to the version found here. Anything unique to this site will be clarified so you know it could be different elsewhere.
Gameplay
A good start to any Eight Off round is to see what you can remove from the start. Since the foundation must begin being populated, you need to scan the board for easily accessible aces that can be moved from the tableau into the foundation.
Look for any that may be exposed at the bottom of the columns or in the spaces populated with cards in the free cell area. You may need to shift a few cards into the free cell area to expose an ace.
Basic Card Movement
- Cards can be stacked in the tableau descending from King to 2, so long as they are the same suit.
- You can always move at least one card from column to column, but any more than one at a time will depend on how many free cells you have open. For example, if you’ve filled all the free cells with cards, you can only move one card from one column to another. If you have one open free cell spot, you can move two (of a suited stack, i.e., a stacked 10 and 9 of the same suit), 2 open cells will allow you to move three, and so on.
Kings and Empty Spaces
Strategically, opening up empty columns in the tableau created advantages. When a column is cleared of cards, you can move a king into its place. This allows you to stack the suit from the top without worrying about burying differently suited cards under the stack.
Note: This is where A Clockwork Brain does things differently than other platform variations. In other variations, you can only move a king into an empty column, but you can use any card here. However, it’s recommended that you only use cards other than a king when caught in a bind.
Making the Most of Using Free Cells
Some care needs to go into how you use available free cells, and this is an area of the game where thinking several moves ahead is important. During a game, you’ll find it increasingly necessary to shift around stacks of cards rather than one at a time (particularly toward the last third of a round), which will hinge on how many empty free cells are available.
Move cards into the free cell area you know you’ll need within the next few moves to avoid it becoming stagnant. A failed round of Eight Off is when you have filled all your free cells with stagnant cards and run out of moves.
Undo
You can use the undo option if you’ve painted yourself into a corner. However, this option is limited, so you should only “undo” when all options have run out.