Copyright: Solitaire by Tom Warfield


Contents

FreeCell Plus

by Tom Warfield
Internet Email: Tomstaaf1@aol.com
World Wide Web:  http://users.aol.com/Tomstaaf1/pgs/freeplus.html
Compuserve:  75237,254  SWREG #9592

General Information

Benefits of Registration

How to Play FreeCell

How to Play Seahaven Towers

How to Play Stalactites

Features

How to Register

About

Other Programs by the Same Author

Pretty Good Solitaire

Napoleon Solitaire


General Information

This game is intended as a replacement for the version of FreeCell that comes with Windows 95  (Or for Windows 3.x users, that comes with the Microsoft Entertainment Pack).   FreeCell is a fun game, but Microsoft's version leaves a bit to be desired.  For example, you can only undo one move.  And you only have 32000 possible games to choose from.

In this version of FreeCell, you can undo all the way back to the beginning of the game.  There are over 2 billion possible games, which you can select by game number.   The autoplay feature automatically moves cards from the tableau to the foundations for you.  And games are saved for you automatically when you leave the program!

And there are two additional games, should you ever (gasp!) get tired of playing FreeCell.  Seahaven Towers is a game very similar to FreeCell, except it has 10 tableau piles instead of 8, and cards are built down by suit in the tableau, instead of by opposite colors.  Stalactites is a game where there is no building allowed in the tableau, and there are only 2 cells to use.

Important Notes about the AutoPlay feature

Windows 95 Issues

Screen Resolution Issues

Benefits of Registration


Important
Notes about the AutoPlay feature

AutoPlay

AutoPlay is the feature that moves playable cards from the tableau to the foundations automatically. This feature can be a great time and effort saver, and I highly recommend its use.

However, there are a couple of things about AutoPlay that you should be aware of.  First, in FreeCell it is not necessarily a good idea to automatically play every possible card to the foundations.  The best strategy is to keep the foundations pile roughly even with each other (for example, don't play the clubs foundation pile up to 5 or 6 when the ace of hearts hasn't come out yet).  Because of this, the AutoPlay feature will NOT play a card to the foundations if it determines that that card might be necessary for play on the tableau.  You can, of course, override this if you wish by playing the card to the foundations yourself.  But remember, if AutoPlay doesn't move a card that it could move, there's a reason.


Auto Play

By selecting Auto Play from the Options menu, any cards in the tableau or cells that can be legally moved to the foundation are automatically moved there.  This speeds up play.

Important Notes about the AutoPlay feature


Windows 95 Issues

FreeCell Plus is designed to run on Windows 95, although it works fine in Windows 3.x.  There are a few things Win95 users should be aware of, however.

If you run Win95 with a screen resolution of 800x600 or more, you should have no difficulties.  You may want to resize the game window to your liking.  I recommend placing the taskbar at either the top or bottom of the screen, as the games like as much horizontal space as possible.

Screen Resolution Issues

The main problems with FreeCell Plus and Windows 95 occur at the 640x480 resolution.  The problem is the taskbar, and how much valuable space it takes up. I recommend hiding the taskbar (this can be done by going to the Start menu, Settings | Taskbar, and turning on "AutoHide").


Screen Resolution Issues

FreeCell Plus was developed to run in 640x480 mode.  However, if you run it in higher resolutions, you can resize the game window to make it bigger.  FreeCell Plus will then adjust to the bigger window the first time you do a "New Game".  This will spread out the piles.  FreeCell Plus will remember how big you made the window and always run at that size.

You can adjust the size of the game window at any time.  FreeCell Plus will always adjust to a new window size after a "New Game".

Note: If you switch resolutions and play a game that was previously played at another resolution, you will need to "New Game" to get FreeCell Plus to adjust to the new resolution.


Benefits
Benefits of Registration

The registration price for this program is only $10!   This program is shareware, and if you use it for longer than a 30 day evaluation period, you should register the program.  Supporting shareware development will result in better programs.

If you do register this program, this is what you will get for your money:

•	Instructions on how to get rid of the registration notices.  (Instructions will be sent by e-mail if you specify an e-mail address; otherwise, they will be sent by regular mail).

•	Free upgrades to all future versions, if you have a Compuserve, America Online, Prodigy, or Microsoft Network account.  These upgrades will be sent by e-mail, so be sure to include your e-mail address on the registration form if you wish to take advantage of this benefit.

•	Technical support, via e-mail.

•	The eternal gratitude of the author.

You can register online on the Compuserve service by GO SWREG.  The registration number is #9592.  You will be sent the registration instructions by e-mail, as well as any future upgrades.

Registration Form


Registration Form

FreeCell Plus 1.0

Print out this form.  (To print, select Print from the File menu.)
Send this form along with a check for $10 to:

Thomas Warfield
1309 N Hershey Rd #8
Bloomington IL  61704  USA

You can register online on Compuserve: GO SWREG, registration #9592.

Name_________________________________

Address_______________________________

City__________________State_____Zip_____

E-Mail address__________________________
(if a Compuserve, Prodigy, America Online, or Microsoft Network account,
you will receive upgrades by  e-mail.)

Where did you hear about FreeCell Plus?

______________________________________

Suggestions:

______________________________________

______________________________________

______________________________________

PCW102


FreeCell

In FreeCell, the entire deck is dealt into 8 piles of cards, called the Tableau.  Above the Tableau are 4 Cells (marked with X's), and 4 Foundation piles (to the right of the Cells).

Object

The object of the game is to build up the Foundation piles from ace to king, one for each suit.  The first cards that go on the Foundation are the aces, then a two of the same suit can be placed on an ace, and so on.  The game is won if all 52 cards are moved to the Foundation piles.

Playing the game

The top card of any Tableau pile can be moved to a Foundation pile, if possible (this can be done either by dragging or dropping the card, or by double-clicking on the card).  The top card of any Tableau pile can also be moved to any Cell.  Only one card is allowed at a time in a Cell.  Cards in the Cells can be moved to the Foundation piles, if possible, or back to the Tableau, if possible.

Only the top card of any Tableau pile can be moved, unless there are enough empty cells or Tableau piles that a group of cards could be moved individually.  In that case, the entire group can be moved at once as a shortcut.  Tableau piles are built down by alternating color. For example, a red 7 could be played on a black 8.


Seahaven Towers

Seahaven Towers is nearly identical to FreeCell.

FreeCell

The differences are: in Seahaven Towers there are 10 tableau piles instead of 8, and in Seahaven Towers the tableaus are built down in suit, rather than by opposite color.  Therefore, a 8 of spades can only have a 7 of spades played on it.  Also, the cells are in the middle of the screen at the top, and the foundations are split up on the two sides.


Default


Stalactites

In Stalactites, 48 cards are dealt face up into 8 piles of 6 cards each, forming the Tableau piles.   The other 4 cards are dealt to 4 Foundation piles.  To the left of the Foundations are two Cells.

Object

The Foundation piles are to be built up without regard to suit, wrapping around from King to Ace as necessary, until each pile has 13 cards.  The first card of each pile is offset so you can tell when each pile is full.  The game is won if all 52 cards are played to the Foundations.

Playing the game

There is no building allowed in the Tableau.  The top card of each Tableau pile is available for play.  Tableau cards may be moved to the Cells or the the Foundations, if possible.  Only one card is allowed in each Cell at any one time.  Cards in the Cells can only be played to the Foundations- they are not allowed to go back to the Tableau.


Features

New Game

Select Game

Restart Game

Undo

Redo

Card Backs

Statistics

King Only

AutoPlay


New Game

Selecting New Game from the Game menu will deal out a new deck.  If you are in the middle of a game and Game Statistics is on, a loss will be added to your statistics.


Select Game

Selects a specific arrangement of cards to play.  The arrangements are numbered from 1 to 2,147,483,647.  To avoid selecting a new arrangement, select cancel.


Restart Game

Selecting ReStart Game from the Game menu will start the current game over again from the beginning.  This will not affect your statistics.


Undo

Selecting Undo from the Options menu will undo the last move.  Moves can be undone back to the beginning of the game (of course, ReStart Game would be easier in this case).


Redo

Selecting Redo from the Options menu will replay any moves you have undone,  in case you change your mind.


Card Backs

Selecting Card Backs from the Options menu allows you to select between 6 different card backs.  Card Backs are only visible in games where some cards are face back.  A card back change will not go into effect until a new game is started.


Statistics

Statistics gives the number of games won, lost, and the percentage of wins.  Selecting Clear starts the count over from zero.


King Only

By selecting King Only from the Options menu, you can only fill an empty tableau pile with a King.  With this not selected, any card can be placed in an empty tableau pile.


About

FreeCell Plus 1.0

Copyright © 1996 Tom Warfield  All Rights Reserved.

Thomas Warfield
1309 N Hershey Rd #8
Bloomington IL  61704  USA

Technical Support is available by e-mail to:  Tomstaaf1@aol.com (note the last character before the @ is a one) or on Compuserve: 75237,254.

Acknowledgements

Thanks to Microsoft for Visual Basic 3.0, which allowed a humble programmer like myself to write games like this.  Thanks to Stephen Murphy for writing QCARD.DLL, the wonderful playing cards that this program uses.  Thanks to my beta testers: Michael Calligaro, Lorrita Morgan, Kevin McGillicuddy, Kevin Crowley, James Simpson and others.  And thanks to my primary tester, Diane.

Version History

Version 1.0 - 1/25/96 - original version

Vendor Information

FreeCell Plus may be distributed via BBSs, online services, and the Internet, as long as all files (FREEPLUS.EXE, FREEPLUS.HLP, QCARD.DLL, FILE_ID.DIZ, VENDOR.DOC and README.1ST) are present and unmodified.  It may be sold on diskette or CD-ROM as long as it is clearly marked as "shareware" and the the shareware concept is adequate explained. Diskette and CD-ROM vendors should direct inquiries to the author at the postal or email addresses above, in order to get the most recent version.


Pretty Good Solitaire

Pretty Good Solitaire is a collection of 30 Windows solitaire games, including most of the classic solitaire games.  It contains all the same features as Napoleon Solitaire, such as autoplay, game saving, statistics, and so on.  The 30 games include Klondike, Canfield, FreeCell, Spider, Seahaven Towers, Yukon, Forty Thieves, and many more.  Look for this collection in the same place that you found Napoleon Solitaire, or download it from the World Wide Web at http://users.aol.com/Tomstaaf1/pgs/pgs.html.

Pretty Good Solitaire 2.0
by Tom Warfield
released November 15, 1995
Registration price: $12   Compuserve SWREG #8322
http://users.aol.com/Tomstaaf1/pgs/pgs.html


Napoleon Solitaire

Napoleon Solitaire is a collection of Windows solitaire games based on the game Forty Thieves.  It contains Forty Thieves and 10 other variations on Forty Thieves, such as Rank and File, Indian, Number Ten, and more.  It also contains a Game Wizard that allows the user to create his or her own solitaire games by changing the rules.  Up to 900 different solitaire games can be created.  Look for Napoleon Solitaire in the same place you found Pretty Good Solitaire, or download it from the World Wide Web at http://users.aol.com/Tomstaaf1/pgs/napsol.html.

Napoleon Solitaire 1.0
by Tom Warfield
released January 2, 1996
Registration price: $15
http://users.aol.com/Tomstaaf1/pgs/napsol.html