Play Streets and Alleys Solitaire Online - The Open Castle Challenge

Streets and Alleys is Beleaguered Castle without the free Aces. All 52 cards are dealt face up into eight columns, so you see everything from the first move. The tableau builds down regardless of suit, one card at a time, and there are no free cells. Every empty column you earn is your only storage.

How to Play Streets and Alleys Solitaire

Objective: Move all 52 cards to the four foundation piles, building them up by suit from Ace to King.

Game Setup

• 8 Tableau Columns: All 52 cards dealt face-up
• Left 4 columns: 7 cards each
• Right 4 columns: 6 cards each
• 4 Foundations: All four start EMPTY - you must dig the Aces out yourself
• No Free Cells: Unlike FreeCell, there is no temporary storage
• No Stock: All cards visible from the start

Basic Rules

• Build tableau sequences in descending order (King, Queen, Jack...)
• Suit and colour do not matter - any 7 goes on any 8
• Move one card at a time, always - there are no sequence moves
• Empty columns can be filled with any card
• Foundations build up by suit from Ace to King
• All cards are visible from the start - pure strategy!
• No stock: when no move can put another card on a foundation, the game is over

Key Differences from FreeCell

Understanding how Streets and Alleys differs from FreeCell is crucial:

• No Free Cells: The biggest difference - no temporary storage spaces
• Suit-blind building: FreeCell alternates colours; here any rank-order fits
• Single Card Moves Only: You can never move a sequence, not even to an empty column
• More Challenging: Without free cells, requires more planning
• Same Visibility: All cards still face-up from the start

Strategic Implications

Empty Columns are Everything

Without free cells, empty tableau columns become your ONLY temporary storage. Creating and preserving empty columns is absolutely critical to success.

Planning is Essential

With all cards visible but no free cells, you must plan move sequences carefully. You can't just "park" a card - every move must be part of a larger strategy.

Foundation Timing

Moving cards to foundations is even more critical in Streets and Alleys. Once a card is on a foundation, you can't use it for tableau building, so timing matters.

Winning Strategy Tips

• Create empty columns first - These are your only "free cells"
• Plan complete sequences - Think about how to free specific cards
• Expose buried Aces - Getting Aces out opens up play
• Don't rush to foundations - Keep cards in tableau for maneuvering
• Work backwards - Start with the goal and plan backwards
• Use empty columns temporarily - Move cards to empties, rearrange, then move back
• Build foundations evenly - Keep all four at similar heights
• Look for blocking cards - Identify which cards are preventing progress

Advanced Techniques

Column Clearing Strategy

To clear a column, you need to:

1. Identify which column is easiest to clear
2. Move cards from that column to other columns in order
3. Use the newly empty column to rearrange other cards
4. Repeat with additional columns if possible

Multi-Step Sequences

Many moves require 3-5 step sequences:

1. Move card A to empty column
2. Move card B to another column
3. Move card C to where B was
4. Move card A from empty to where C was
5. Move desired card to empty column

Foundation Decision Making

Ask yourself before moving to foundations:

• Will I need this card for building?
• Does moving it block any important sequences?
• Are there cards below it I need to access?

Card Liberation

Some cards are deeply buried. Calculate the exact sequence of moves needed to free them, ensuring you have the column space to execute.

Why Play Streets and Alleys?

• Pure Strategy - All cards visible, no luck
• Extreme Challenge - Harder than FreeCell
• Perfect Information - See every card from start
• Skill-Based - Rewards planning and foresight
• 100% Free - No downloads or signups
• Quick Setup - No stock pile to deal with
• Satisfying Wins - Victory feels earned
• Undo Support - Learn from mistakes

History of Streets and Alleys

Streets and Alleys predates FreeCell and is actually one of the ancestor games that inspired FreeCell's creation. The name comes from the tableau layout - the left four columns with seven cards form the "streets" while the right four columns with six cards form the "alleys." The game has been popular among serious solitaire players for its strategic depth and challenging gameplay.

Difficulty

Streets and Alleys is considered very difficult. Every card is visible, as in FreeCell, but the lack of free cells makes finding a solution much harder.

Tips for FreeCell Players

If you're transitioning from FreeCell:

• Forget about free cells - They don't exist here
• Forget alternating colours - Rank order is all that counts
• Treat empty columns as precious - They're your only storage
• Plan even further ahead - You can't "park" cards temporarily
• Be more conservative - Fewer risky moves without free cell backup
• Accept more losses - This is genuinely harder

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Filling empty columns carelessly - These are your most valuable resource
• Not planning sequences - Random moves lead to deadlock
• Moving to foundations too early - You may need those cards
• Ignoring blocked cards - Always have a plan to free trapped cards
• Giving up too quickly - Complex sequences exist, you just need to find them

Comparison to Other Games

vs. FreeCell

FreeCell alternates colours and gives you four free cells. Streets and Alleys ignores suit entirely but gives you nothing to park a card on. The looser build rule does not make up for the missing cells, so it plays harder.

vs. Baker's Dozen

Both show all cards and both build down regardless of suit. Baker's Dozen spreads 13 short piles and never lets you fill a space, so empty columns are the whole difference.

vs. Klondike

Klondike has hidden cards and a stock pile. Streets and Alleys has perfect information but no free cells, making it more strategic but differently challenging.

Test your strategic mastery with Streets and Alleys - FreeCell for experts!

Frequently asked questions

How is Streets and Alleys different from Beleaguered Castle?

The aces. Beleaguered Castle places all four on the foundations before play begins; Streets and Alleys makes you dig them out of the tableau yourself, which is most of the difficulty.

Does suit matter when building the tableau?

No. Any 7 goes on any 8. Suit matters only on the foundations, which build up in suit from ace to king.

Can I move a sequence of cards together?

No. One card at a time, always — not even into an empty column. Every run you assemble has to be dismantled card by card.

Are there free cells?

None. Empty columns are your only storage, which is what makes this game harder than FreeCell despite the looser building rule.

What can go on an empty column?

Any card. Because there are no free cells, an empty column is the most valuable thing on the board — spend it only on a card you can name.

Is every deal winnable?

No. Every card is face up from the start, so there is no luck in what you can see, but some layouts have no solution. The game tells you the moment no legal action remains.

Why is it called Streets and Alleys?

The name is usually explained by the layout: the four left columns of seven cards are the streets and the four right columns of six cards are the alleys.

What is the best way to create an empty column?

Look for a column whose cards can all be built onto other columns. The four right columns start with six cards each, so they are often quicker to clear than the four left columns of seven.