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What is 1st Free Solitaire?
1st Free Solitaire is a free, downloadable collection of seven solitaire card games for Windows. According to the site, it runs on Windows 11, 10, 8, 7 and XP, and the current listed version is 2.4. The seven games are Yukon, FreeCell, Klondike, Flower Garden, Nestor, Bisley and Carpet — a mix of well-known and less common patience variants.
What you get
- Small, focused game set: Klondike and FreeCell will be familiar to most players; Yukon, Flower Garden, Nestor, Bisley and Carpet give you alternatives once the standards feel stale.
- Play aids: a "Show Next Move" command, one-move undo, automatic card moving, a restart feature and shuffle selection.
- Customisation: selectable backgrounds and card backs, plus the ability to use your own .bmp or .jpg images for both.
- Sound, which the site lists among the features.
Who it suits
It fits a Windows user who wants a lightweight, no-cost solitaire package and is content with seven games. If you mainly play Spider, TriPeaks or Pyramid, note that they are not in this collection — the same publisher's paid BVS Solitaire Collection is the broader option, listed on the page at $19.95 with a 30-day trial and around 570 games. That is a much larger install and a purchase, so it only makes sense if variety matters more to you than a free, simple download.
A practical next step: download the free version first and try Yukon and Bisley, the two least familiar entries. If you find yourself missing Spider or want hundreds of variants, the larger collection is the logical upgrade; if seven games cover your needs, there is no reason to pay.
Which solitaire games are included in the free download?
The free download of 1st Free Solitaire includes seven solitaire card games: Yukon, FreeCell, Klondike, Flower Garden, Nestor, Bisley, and Carpet.
It is a Windows collection (listed for Windows 11/10/8/7/XP) aimed at players who want a small set of recognizable and less common solitaire variants without paying. The mix covers a well-known trio—Klondike, FreeCell, and Yukon—plus four rarer games, so it suits someone curious to try Flower Garden, Nestor, Bisley, or Carpet rather than someone seeking hundreds of variations. The page also describes features such as a "Show Next Move" command, one-move undo, automatic card moving, restart, shuffle selection, sound, and customizable backgrounds and card backs, including your own .bmp or .jpg images.
If breadth matters more, the same page points to BVS Solitaire Collection, a paid collection of 570 games that includes Spider, FreeCell, TriPeaks, and many others. As a practical check, decide whether you mainly want the seven listed games or a large library; if you want Spider in particular, note that it is not among the seven free titles.
How do I install 1st Free Solitaire on Windows 10 or 11?
Download the installer from the official site, run it, and follow the Windows setup wizard; 1st Free Solitaire is listed for Windows 11/10/8/7/XP, so no compatibility workaround should be needed on a current PC. The page presents a single "Download Now!" link for version 2.4, with no account or purchase step for this free collection.
What to expect during setup
- Open the downloaded file and approve the Windows prompt if one appears.
- Accept the licence terms and choose an install folder if the wizard offers one.
- Finish, then launch the game from the Start menu or the shortcut the installer creates.
If Windows SmartScreen shows a warning for an unsigned installer, use the "More info" option to check the publisher name before continuing. That is general Windows advice, not a claim about this specific file.
A practical check after installing
The collection covers seven games: Yukon, FreeCell, Klondike, Flower Garden, Nestor, Bisley and Carpet. Start with Klondike or FreeCell to confirm cards deal, the "Show Next Move" command works and undo behaves, then try a less common game such as Bisley or Carpet. If you want custom artwork, point the background and card-back settings at a .bmp or .jpg file and confirm it displays correctly.
If you want a much larger library
The same publisher offers 1st Free Solitaire alongside its commercial BVS Solitaire Collection, which is presented as 570 games including Spider, TriPeaks and Forty Thieves and is sold with a 30-day trial. Choose the free seven-game set if you mainly play Klondike and FreeCell and want a small install; consider the larger collection only if variety across many rule sets matters more than staying free.
As a next step, keep the installer file until you have played one full game, so reinstalling is quick if a shortcut or setting misbehaves.
What features does 1st Free Solitaire offer compared with the paid BVS Solitaire Collection?
1st Free Solitaire is a small Windows download offering seven card games—Yukon, FreeCell, Klondike, Flower Garden, Nestor, Bisley and Carpet—with a modest set of play aids and deep visual customisation. The paid BVS Solitaire Collection, from the same publisher, is the opposite trade-off: a very large game library and more polish, at a cost.
What the free version gives you
- Seven games, weighted toward Klondike-family patience rather than modern variants.
- Play aids: a "Show Next Move" command, one-move undo, automatic card moving and a restart option.
- Setup controls: shuffle selection, sound on/off, and selectable backgrounds.
- Custom visuals: you can load your own .bmp or .jpg files as backgrounds and card backs, so the table can look exactly how you like.
- Windows compatibility across older and current versions, per the download page.
How the paid collection differs
BVS Solitaire Collection advertises 570 games, including Spider, TriPeaks, Scorpion, Pyramid, Forty Thieves and many others absent from the free set. It also promotes resizable card sets, card backs and backgrounds, and offers a free 30-day trial (the page lists a purchase price, which you should confirm on the official site).
| Aspect | 1st Free Solitaire | BVS Solitaire Collection |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free | Paid after trial |
| Game count | 7 | 570 (advertised) |
| Best for | Klondike-style players who want a light, customisable download | Players who want variety, Spider and unusual variants |
| Play aids | Next-move hint, one undo, auto-move | Not detailed on this page |
| Custom art | Own images as backgrounds/card backs | Resizable card sets and backgrounds |
Practical choice
If you mostly play Klondike or FreeCell and like tinkering with card backs, the free download covers that with no commitment. If you want Spider, TriPeaks or a large rotation of variants, the trial of the paid collection is the sensible test before buying. You can compare both on 1st Free Solitaire - Download and play.
Can I customize card backs and backgrounds with my own images?
Yes. 1st Free Solitaire lets you customize the interface with its built-in background and card-back options, and you can also use your own .bmp or .jpg image files to create custom backgrounds and card backs.
Practical use
- Personal look: Load a favorite photo or pattern as the table background.
- Matching sets: Use the same image style for card backs and background for a consistent theme.
- File format check: Stick to
.bmpor.jpg; other formats may not be accepted.
Decision criterion
If you want a simple solitaire collection with personal image customization on Windows, this fits. If you need many game variations, a larger collection such as BVS Solitaire Collection may be a better match, though custom-image support for that product is not confirmed here.
Next step: Prepare your image at a reasonable resolution, save it as .bmp or .jpg, then select it in the game’s background or card-back settings.
Is the BVS Solitaire Collection free trial worth trying before buying it for $19.95?
Yes, the BVS Solitaire Collection trial is worth trying first, but mainly as a test of whether you want a large library of games rather than as a sample of a single game. The page describes the collection as offering 570 solitaire games, including classic variations such as Spider, FreeCell, TriPeaks, Scorpion, Canfield and Pyramid, along with resizable card sets, card backs and backgrounds. A 30-day trial at 8.0MB is enough to check whether the interface and variety suit you before paying the listed $19.95.
What the trial helps you decide
- Breadth versus focus: If you mostly play Klondike or FreeCell, the free 1st Free Solitaire collection on the same site may be sufficient. It lists seven games, including Yukon, FreeCell, Klondike, Flower Garden, Nestor, Bisley and Carpet, plus features such as a "Show Next Move" command, one-move undo, automatic card moving and customizable backgrounds. The BVS trial matters more if you expect to move between many rule sets.
- Interface fit: Use the trial to test how the resizable card sets and backgrounds look on your screen, and whether the game selection is easy to navigate. A large catalogue is only useful if you can find and learn the games you want.
- Rule variety: Try a few less familiar games in the trial, not just the classics. That is the clearest way to judge whether the larger collection adds value for you.
A practical next step is to spend the trial on two or three games you have not played before, then compare that experience with the free seven-game collection. If you find yourself returning to the wider catalogue, the $19.95 price is easier to justify; if not, the free option is the simpler choice. For more solitaire downloads and strategy notes, see 1st Free Solitaire - Download and play.
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