Game Instructions

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Solitaire Strategy Guide

How to Play Josephine Solitaire

Master this challenging double-deck solitaire variant. Build same-suit sequences and move all 104 cards to the foundations.

Estimated game time: 15-25 minutes Win rate with solid play: ~5-10% Great for: Strategic thinking · Patience · Advanced players

Game Setup & Layout

Josephine uses two standard 52-card decks (104 cards total) dealt into ten tableau columns, a stock pile, a waste pile, and eight foundation piles.

  • Tableau: 10 columns with 4 face-up cards each (40 cards total).
  • Stock: The remaining 64 cards form the draw pile.
  • Waste: Holds drawn stock cards; only the top card is playable.
  • Foundations: Eight piles (two per suit) building from Ace to King in suit.

Primary Objective

Move all 104 cards onto the eight foundation piles, building each from Ace to King in the same suit.

Key Difference: Unlike Klondike, Josephine requires building in the SAME SUIT on the tableau (not alternating colors). This makes the game significantly harder.

Core Move Rules

  • Build tableau piles DOWN in SAME SUIT (e.g., 7♥ goes on 8♥, not on 8♦).
  • Move sequences of same-suit cards as a group (e.g., 8♥-7♥-6♥ can move together).
  • Any card or sequence can fill an empty tableau column.
  • Build foundations UP in suit from Ace through King.
  • Draw one card at a time from the stock to the waste pile.
  • NO REDEALS - once the stock is empty, it stays empty!

Scoring System

  • +10 points for moving a card to a foundation.
  • +5 points for tableau-to-tableau moves that expose cards.
  • -15 points for moving a card back from foundation to tableau.
  • Time and move count tracked for personal improvement.

Pro Strategy Tips

  • Empty columns are extremely valuable - use them wisely to reorganize.
  • Prioritize exposing and playing Aces early to start foundations.
  • Don't rush cards to foundations if they might be needed for tableau building.
  • Build long same-suit sequences when possible for maximum flexibility.
  • Watch for "blocking" situations where needed cards are buried.
  • Since there are no redeals, manage your stock draws carefully.

Advanced Tip: Empty tableau columns are your most powerful tool. Try to create and maintain at least one empty column for maneuvering.

About Josephine Solitaire

Josephine is a variant of the famous "Forty Thieves" (also known as "Napoleon at St Helena") family of patience games. It's named after Joséphine de Beauharnais, Napoleon's first wife.

The key difference from Forty Thieves is that Josephine allows moving sequences of same-suit cards as a group, making it slightly easier - though it remains one of the more challenging solitaire variants.

Historical Note: Legend has it that Napoleon played solitaire games during his exile on St. Helena, giving this family of games its alternate name.

Related Games

  • Forty Thieves - The harder original variant with single card moves only.
  • Klondike Turn One - The classic single-deck solitaire with alternating colors.
  • Aces and Kings - Another double-deck challenge with bidirectional building.

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