How to Play Seahaven Towers
Seahaven Towers is a precise, deeply strategic solitaire game that combines the temporary storage concept of FreeCell with same-suit building rules. Every move is a single card, making each free cell and empty column a precious resource that demands careful planning.
Setup
Seahaven Towers uses one standard 52-card deck. The deal creates a 10-column tableau with 4 free cells:
- Tableau: 10 columns of 5 cards each (50 cards), all dealt face-up
- Free Cells: 4 temporary storage spaces — the remaining 2 cards are placed in the first two free cells at the start, leaving 2 cells empty
- Foundations: 4 empty foundation piles, one for each suit (build Ace to King)
Total: 50 cards on the tableau + 2 in free cells = 52 cards. All cards are visible from the start — pure skill, no hidden information.
Objective
Build all four foundation piles from Ace up to King, one per suit. Move cards from the tableau and free cells to the foundations. The game is won when all 52 cards are on the foundations.
Rules
Moving Cards
- Only single cards can be moved — no group moves or supermoves are allowed
- You may move the top card of any tableau column or any card in a free cell
- Cards can be moved to: another tableau column (following stacking rules), a free cell (if empty), or a foundation pile
Tableau Stacking
- Build down in the same suit — place a 9 of Spades on a 10 of Spades
- Unlike FreeCell (alternating colors) or Spider (any suit for building), Seahaven requires strict same-suit stacking at all times
Empty Columns
Empty columns can only be filled with a King. No other rank is allowed. This restriction makes empty columns both powerful (they give you breathing room) and demanding (you need a King ready to use them).
Free Cells
The 4 free cells serve as temporary storage for individual cards. Two start occupied, giving you only 2 empty cells to work with initially. As you move those starting cards to the tableau or foundations, you gain more flexibility. Managing free cells is the core strategic challenge.
Foundations
Build foundations from Ace to King in suit. Once a card is on a foundation, it stays there. Cards that can be safely moved to foundations are auto-moved — since Seahaven uses same-suit stacking, any card whose rank is next for its suit's foundation is always safe to auto-move.
Strategy Tips
- Free the starting free cell cards early. Your first priority should be moving the 2 cards that start in free cells to the tableau or foundations. Having all 4 free cells available dramatically increases your options.
- Build same-suit sequences in place. Before moving cards around, look for opportunities to stack cards in same-suit descending order within the tableau. A column with 10-9-8-7 of the same suit is extremely valuable.
- Create empty columns strategically. Empty columns are like extra free cells — but only Kings can fill them. Before emptying a column, check if you have a King that benefits from the space.
- Plan multi-step moves carefully. Since you can only move one card at a time, transferring a sequence of 3 cards requires 2 free cells. Count your available temporary storage (empty free cells + empty columns with Kings ready) before starting a complex move.
- Prioritize uncovering Aces and 2s. Getting low cards to the foundations early frees up tableau space and opens future auto-moves. If an Ace is buried under several cards, plan a sequence of moves to excavate it.
- Don't fill free cells casually. Each occupied free cell reduces your maneuverability. Only use free cells when the move creates a clear benefit — uncovering a needed card, building a sequence, or enabling a foundation play.
Seahaven Towers vs FreeCell vs Baker's Game
| Feature | Seahaven Towers | FreeCell | Baker's Game |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columns | 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Free Cells | 4 (2 start occupied) | 4 (all empty) | 4 (all empty) |
| Stacking Rule | Same suit | Alternating color | Same suit |
| Move Type | Single card only | Supermoves allowed | Supermoves allowed |
| Empty Column Fill | Kings only | Any card | Any card |
| Cards per Column | 5 | 6–7 | 6–7 |
| Win Rate | ~85–90% | ~82% | ~75% |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Seahaven Towers?
Seahaven Towers is a strategic solitaire game played with one 52-card deck. Ten columns of 5 cards are dealt face-up, with 2 remaining cards placed in free cells. Build four Ace-to-King foundation piles by suit using single-card moves only.
How is Seahaven different from FreeCell?
Seahaven uses same-suit stacking (not alternating colors), has 10 columns instead of 8, starts with 2 free cells occupied, only allows single-card moves (no supermoves), and restricts empty columns to Kings only.
How is Seahaven different from Baker's Game?
Both use same-suit stacking, but Seahaven has 10 columns (vs. 8), starts with 2 free cells occupied (vs. all empty), deals 5 cards per column (vs. 6-7), and strictly enforces single-card moves without supermoves.
Can I move groups of cards?
No. Seahaven Towers only allows moving one card at a time. To transfer a sequence, you must manually use free cells and empty columns as intermediate storage for each card.
What can fill an empty column?
Only Kings can be placed in empty tableau columns. This restriction makes empty columns both powerful and precious — don't empty a column unless you have a King ready.
What is the win rate?
About 85-90% for expert players. The 10-column layout and 4 free cells provide good maneuverability, but same-suit stacking and Kings-only empty columns create meaningful strategic decisions.
Is Seahaven harder than FreeCell?
Seahaven is generally harder due to same-suit stacking, single-card moves, and Kings-only empty columns. However, the 10-column layout partially compensates, and the high win rate makes it satisfying to master.
Learn More
- Play Seahaven Towers — Try it now, free online
- How to Play Baker's Game — Same-suit stacking with FreeCell layout
- How to Play FreeCell — The classic free cell game
- Types of Solitaire — Explore 20+ solitaire variants