Subject: My approach.

Date: Thu Feb 8 12:06:50 2018
User: Derbyman
Message:
Hi! I've just joined. I hope to enjoy reading the threads here, but for now I was wondering whether my approach to playing FreeCell was shared by anyone. Not being a competitive person, solitaire games appeal to me as I only need to compete with myself. However sharing my thoughts and experiences with others is also important to me. With no strong interest in speed, I do not leave a game until I have solved it. I use the redo button for harder games. During play I like to complete the columns and to stack as little as possible, finishing with four kings in place, long and complete columns, with just one move to make and let the computer do all of the stacking! What do you think?!

Date: Thu Feb 8 14:54:03 2018
User: outskirts
Message:
Well, there is that pesky auto-homing feature.

Date: Thu Feb 8 16:25:27 2018
User: Derbyman
Message:
Absolutely, outskirts! It really annoys me when I am working out my own sequence of moves and then when I make one move the computer interrupts and takes over! It makes me think that I should go back to playing with an RL set of cards on a table. Unfortunately I am disabled and cannot sit at a table for long lengths of time. When I lie-down to rest I hold the lap-top sideways and use one finger - there's no need to rush! I wonder if it is possible to switch off the auto-homing feature?

Date: Thu Feb 8 16:30:41 2018
User: Derbyman
Message:
Of course I have just realized that I would want it back when I make my final move!

Date: Fri Feb 9 10:55:37 2018
User: Goosey_Goosey_Gander
Message:
I am a streaker so I won't compromise my chances of winning a game and if I lose one I just move on and start a new streak after a few cuss words but there have been times when a game is won for sure and I only have one or two cards out that I attempt to create long columns and let everything stack on one move, or get two suits out completely with nothing out of the other two suits, but that's all just for fun.

Date: Fri Feb 9 11:16:21 2018
User: Turpin827
Message:
I am much like GGG above - love my streaks and will stare at a deal for ages figuring out the best opening move. I also like when my winning percentage ticks up a notch, and I try to keep my win percentages high. I do play in tournaments fairly often, but rarely win. I'm just not that fast. I do best at the 'deadly' ones where you only get one shot at each deal. The best part of the game for me is the mental challenge of thinking as many moves ahead as I can until I just can't keep the card alignments accurately in my head anymore.

Date: Fri Feb 9 16:35:39 2018
User: Derbyman
Message:
Your observation regarding trying to memorize several moves ahead, Turpin827, reminds me of my interest in playing chess. Not that I am any good at that either (my rating is about 1200) as I am prone to blunders, hence my use of the redo button in solitaire! Anyway, at my skill level, and age (76 years), it's all for amusement and filling in my time.

Date: Sun Feb 11 01:59:23 2018
User: Katya
Message:
Hi, derbyman I mostly play tournaments, though not particularly good at them, so I don't want to comment on an approach to streaks. Just want to welcome you to the site and the community. Hope you have a lot of fun.

Date: Fri Mar 9 14:11:48 2018
User: Dipper
Message:
I sit on my hands now until I see a good opening. Since I started doing this I've won 275 0ut of 277 in 11x1. One of those games has not been won and the other is 1 for 11. Before that I'd lost 9 games rather quickly and couldn't seem to hit 50 wins