diff --git a/html-src/howtoplay.html b/html-src/howtoplay.html
index 3837760a..7afa4d42 100644
--- a/html-src/howtoplay.html
+++ b/html-src/howtoplay.html
@@ -99,7 +99,8 @@ to the main <i>data/tiles</i> or your home <i>~/.PySolFC/tiles</i> directory.
 <li> Scoring only begins after you make your first move.
      Also, if you undo all your moves back to the start
      the game won't score either.
-<li> You will lose a game if you consume a hint or start demo mode.
+<li> You will lose a game if you consume a hint (unless free hints are enabled)
+     or start demo mode.
 <li> You can restart any time to get another chance to win this game.
 <li> If you don't want to score a lost game you can temporarily change
      the player options.
diff --git a/po/de_pysol.po b/po/de_pysol.po
index 9ffc0ba9..9361a9f5 100644
--- a/po/de_pysol.po
+++ b/po/de_pysol.po
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ msgstr ""
 "Project-Id-Version: PySol 0.0.1\n"
 "Report-Msgid-Bugs-To: \n"
 "POT-Creation-Date: 2021-12-10 10:19-0500\n"
-"PO-Revision-Date: 2022-03-12 09:02-0500\n"
+"PO-Revision-Date: 2022-05-26 22:09-0400\n"
 "Last-Translator: H. Schaekel <Holger.Schaekel@web.de>\n"
 "Language-Team: German\n"
 "Language: de\n"
@@ -2426,6 +2426,9 @@ msgstr "Tips zulassen"
 msgid "Enable shuffle"
 msgstr "Neu mischen zulassen"
 
+msgid "Free hints"
+msgstr ""
+
 #: pysollib/kivy/menubar.py:561
 msgid "Enable highlight piles"
 msgstr "Spielfeldstapel hervorheben"
@@ -4798,6 +4801,9 @@ msgstr ""
 msgid "Enable shu&ffle"
 msgstr "Sound aktivieren"
 
+msgid "Free hin&ts"
+msgstr ""
+
 #: pysollib/ui/tktile/menubar.py:491
 #, fuzzy
 msgid "Enable highlight p&iles"
diff --git a/po/fr_pysol.po b/po/fr_pysol.po
index d8c20b13..8e910a4d 100644
--- a/po/fr_pysol.po
+++ b/po/fr_pysol.po
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ msgstr ""
 "Project-Id-Version: 1.02\n"
 "Report-Msgid-Bugs-To: \n"
 "POT-Creation-Date: 2021-12-10 10:19-0500\n"
-"PO-Revision-Date: 2022-03-12 09:02-0500\n"
+"PO-Revision-Date: 2022-05-26 22:10-0400\n"
 "Last-Translator: Eric Rausch <neelix570@gmail.com>\n"
 "Language-Team: French\n"
 "Language: fr\n"
@@ -2468,6 +2468,9 @@ msgstr "Activer indices"
 msgid "Enable shuffle"
 msgstr "Activer mélanger"
 
+msgid "Free hints"
+msgstr ""
+
 #: pysollib/kivy/menubar.py:561
 msgid "Enable highlight piles"
 msgstr "Surbrillance des piles"
@@ -4846,6 +4849,9 @@ msgstr "Activer &indice"
 msgid "Enable shu&ffle"
 msgstr "Activer &mélanger"
 
+msgid "Free hin&ts"
+msgstr ""
+
 #: pysollib/ui/tktile/menubar.py:491
 msgid "Enable highlight p&iles"
 msgstr "Surbrillance des piles"
diff --git a/po/it_pysol.po b/po/it_pysol.po
index 7f222582..db452fae 100644
--- a/po/it_pysol.po
+++ b/po/it_pysol.po
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ msgstr ""
 "Project-Id-Version: it_pysol\n"
 "Report-Msgid-Bugs-To: \n"
 "POT-Creation-Date: 2021-12-10 10:19-0500\n"
-"PO-Revision-Date: 2022-03-12 09:02-0500\n"
+"PO-Revision-Date: 2022-05-26 22:10-0400\n"
 "Last-Translator: Giuliano Colla <giuliano.colla@gmail.com>\n"
 "Language-Team: Italiano <it@li.org>\n"
 "Language: it\n"
@@ -2481,6 +2481,9 @@ msgstr "Abilita suggerimenti"
 msgid "Enable shuffle"
 msgstr "Abilita mescola"
 
+msgid "Free hints"
+msgstr ""
+
 #: pysollib/kivy/menubar.py:561
 #, fuzzy
 msgid "Enable highlight piles"
@@ -4912,6 +4915,9 @@ msgstr "Abilita su&ggerimenti"
 msgid "Enable shu&ffle"
 msgstr "Abilita m&escola"
 
+msgid "Free hin&ts"
+msgstr ""
+
 #: pysollib/ui/tktile/menubar.py:491
 msgid "Enable highlight p&iles"
 msgstr "Abilita evidenzia p&ile"
diff --git a/po/pl_pysol.po b/po/pl_pysol.po
index d724bbff..42230c82 100644
--- a/po/pl_pysol.po
+++ b/po/pl_pysol.po
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ msgstr ""
 "Project-Id-Version: \n"
 "Report-Msgid-Bugs-To: \n"
 "POT-Creation-Date: 2021-12-10 10:19-0500\n"
-"PO-Revision-Date: 2022-03-12 09:02-0500\n"
+"PO-Revision-Date: 2022-05-26 22:10-0400\n"
 "Last-Translator: Jerzy Trzeciak <artusek@wp.pl>\n"
 "Language-Team: Polish <pl@li.org>\n"
 "Language: pl\n"
@@ -2518,6 +2518,9 @@ msgstr "Włacz podpowiedzi"
 msgid "Enable shuffle"
 msgstr "Włącz tasowanie"
 
+msgid "Free hints"
+msgstr ""
+
 #: pysollib/kivy/menubar.py:561
 #, fuzzy
 msgid "Enable highlight piles"
@@ -4972,6 +4975,9 @@ msgstr "Włacz podpowiedzi"
 msgid "Enable shu&ffle"
 msgstr "Włącz tasowanie"
 
+msgid "Free hin&ts"
+msgstr ""
+
 #: pysollib/ui/tktile/menubar.py:491
 msgid "Enable highlight p&iles"
 msgstr "Włącz podśw&ietlanie stosów"
diff --git a/po/pysol.pot b/po/pysol.pot
index 4d34d33e..36fcbb4e 100644
--- a/po/pysol.pot
+++ b/po/pysol.pot
@@ -2303,6 +2303,9 @@ msgstr ""
 msgid "Enable shuffle"
 msgstr ""
 
+msgid "Free hints"
+msgstr ""
+
 #: pysollib/kivy/menubar.py:561
 msgid "Enable highlight piles"
 msgstr ""
@@ -4601,6 +4604,9 @@ msgstr ""
 msgid "Enable shu&ffle"
 msgstr ""
 
+msgid "Free hin&ts"
+msgstr ""
+
 #: pysollib/ui/tktile/menubar.py:491
 msgid "Enable highlight p&iles"
 msgstr ""
diff --git a/po/ru_pysol.po b/po/ru_pysol.po
index f3d09ff1..40c35ab7 100644
--- a/po/ru_pysol.po
+++ b/po/ru_pysol.po
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ msgstr ""
 "Project-Id-Version: \n"
 "Report-Msgid-Bugs-To: \n"
 "POT-Creation-Date: 2021-12-10 10:19-0500\n"
-"PO-Revision-Date: 2022-03-12 09:01-0500\n"
+"PO-Revision-Date: 2022-05-26 22:10-0400\n"
 "Last-Translator: Skomoroh <skomoroh@gmail.com>\n"
 "Language-Team: Russian <ru@li.org>\n"
 "Language: ru\n"
@@ -2494,6 +2494,9 @@ msgstr "Разрешить &подсказки"
 msgid "Enable shuffle"
 msgstr "Разрешить перемешивание &фишек"
 
+msgid "Free hints"
+msgstr ""
+
 #: pysollib/kivy/menubar.py:561
 #, fuzzy
 msgid "Enable highlight piles"
@@ -4936,6 +4939,9 @@ msgstr "Разрешить &подсказки"
 msgid "Enable shu&ffle"
 msgstr "Разрешить перемешивание &фишек"
 
+msgid "Free hin&ts"
+msgstr ""
+
 #: pysollib/ui/tktile/menubar.py:491
 msgid "Enable highlight p&iles"
 msgstr "Разрешить показывать к&учи"
diff --git a/pysollib/game/__init__.py b/pysollib/game/__init__.py
index 55201343..abe1cedb 100644
--- a/pysollib/game/__init__.py
+++ b/pysollib/game/__init__.py
@@ -1987,10 +1987,11 @@ class Game(object):
 
     def getWinStatus(self):
         won = self.isGameWon() != 0
-        if not won or self.stats.hints > 0 or self.stats.demo_moves > 0:
+        if (not won or (self.stats.hints > 0 and not self.app.opt.free_hint)
+                or self.stats.demo_moves > 0):
             # sorry, you lose
             return won, 0, self.U_LOST
-        if _stats__is_perfect(self.stats):
+        if _stats__is_perfect(self.stats) and self.stats.hints < 1:
             return won, 2, self.U_PERFECT
         return won, 1, self.U_WON
 
diff --git a/pysollib/kivy/menubar.py b/pysollib/kivy/menubar.py
index e96b511e..4671c3d9 100644
--- a/pysollib/kivy/menubar.py
+++ b/pysollib/kivy/menubar.py
@@ -557,6 +557,11 @@ class OptionsMenuDialog(LMenuDialog):
                               self.menubar.tkopt.shuffle,
                               self.menubar.mOptEnableShuffle)
 
+            self.addCheckNode(tv, rg,
+                              _('Free hints'),
+                              self.menubar.tkopt.free_hint,
+                              self.menubar.mOptFreeHints)
+
             self.addCheckNode(tv, rg,
                               _('Enable highlight piles'),
                               self.menubar.tkopt.highlight_piles,
@@ -1250,6 +1255,7 @@ class PysolMenubarTk:
             undo=BooleanVar(),
             bookmarks=BooleanVar(),
             hint=BooleanVar(),
+            free_hint=BooleanVar(),
             shuffle=BooleanVar(),
             highlight_piles=BooleanVar(),
             highlight_cards=BooleanVar(),
@@ -1310,6 +1316,7 @@ class PysolMenubarTk:
         tkopt.quickplay.set(opt.quickplay)
         tkopt.undo.set(opt.undo)
         tkopt.hint.set(opt.hint)
+        tkopt.free_hint.set(opt.free_hint)
         tkopt.shuffle.set(opt.shuffle)
         tkopt.bookmarks.set(opt.bookmarks)
         tkopt.highlight_piles.set(opt.highlight_piles)
@@ -2029,6 +2036,12 @@ the next time you restart the %(app)s""") % {'app': TITLE})
         self.app.opt.hint = self.tkopt.hint.get()
         self.game.updateMenus()
 
+    def mOptFreeHints(self, *args):
+        if self._cancelDrag(break_pause=False):
+            return
+        self.app.opt.free_hint = self.tkopt.free_hint.get()
+        self.game.updateMenus()
+
     def mOptEnableShuffle(self, *args):
         if self._cancelDrag(break_pause=False):
             return
diff --git a/pysollib/options.py b/pysollib/options.py
index 0af25449..584e86e7 100644
--- a/pysollib/options.py
+++ b/pysollib/options.py
@@ -72,6 +72,7 @@ shuffle = boolean
 undo = boolean
 bookmarks = boolean
 hint = boolean
+free_hint = boolean
 highlight_piles = boolean
 highlight_cards = boolean
 highlight_samerank = boolean
@@ -219,6 +220,7 @@ class Options:
         ('undo', 'bool'),
         ('bookmarks', 'bool'),
         ('hint', 'bool'),
+        ('free_hint', 'bool'),
         ('highlight_piles', 'bool'),
         ('highlight_cards', 'bool'),
         ('highlight_samerank', 'bool'),
@@ -307,6 +309,7 @@ class Options:
         self.undo = True
         self.bookmarks = True
         self.hint = True
+        self.free_hint = False
         self.highlight_piles = True
         self.highlight_cards = True
         self.highlight_samerank = True
diff --git a/pysollib/ui/tktile/menubar.py b/pysollib/ui/tktile/menubar.py
index 4d3b50e4..edfa149f 100644
--- a/pysollib/ui/tktile/menubar.py
+++ b/pysollib/ui/tktile/menubar.py
@@ -164,6 +164,7 @@ class PysolMenubarTkCommon:
             undo=tkinter.BooleanVar(),
             bookmarks=tkinter.BooleanVar(),
             hint=tkinter.BooleanVar(),
+            free_hint=tkinter.BooleanVar(),
             shuffle=tkinter.BooleanVar(),
             highlight_piles=tkinter.BooleanVar(),
             highlight_cards=tkinter.BooleanVar(),
@@ -218,6 +219,7 @@ class PysolMenubarTkCommon:
         tkopt.quickplay.set(opt.quickplay)
         tkopt.undo.set(opt.undo)
         tkopt.hint.set(opt.hint)
+        tkopt.free_hint.set(opt.free_hint)
         tkopt.shuffle.set(opt.shuffle)
         tkopt.bookmarks.set(opt.bookmarks)
         tkopt.highlight_piles.set(opt.highlight_piles)
@@ -508,6 +510,9 @@ class PysolMenubarTkCommon:
         submenu.add_checkbutton(
             label=n_("Enable shu&ffle"), variable=self.tkopt.shuffle,
             command=self.mOptEnableShuffle)
+        submenu.add_checkbutton(
+            label=n_("Free hin&ts"), variable=self.tkopt.free_hint,
+            command=self.mOptFreeHints)
         submenu.add_checkbutton(
             label=n_("Enable highlight p&iles"),
             variable=self.tkopt.highlight_piles,
@@ -1411,6 +1416,12 @@ Unsupported game for import.
         self.app.opt.hint = self.tkopt.hint.get()
         self.game.updateMenus()
 
+    def mOptFreeHints(self, *args):
+        if self._cancelDrag(break_pause=False):
+            return
+        self.app.opt.free_hint = self.tkopt.free_hint.get()
+        self.game.updateMenus()
+
     def mOptEnableShuffle(self, *args):
         if self._cancelDrag(break_pause=False):
             return