How to Play Forty Thieves
Master the classic double-deck solitaire challenge. Build same-suit sequences one card at a time and clear all 104 cards. See the Forty Thieves win rate for realistic expectations.
Game Setup & Layout
Forty Thieves 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.
The Challenge: Forty Thieves allows SINGLE CARD MOVES ONLY. You cannot move sequences of cards together like in Josephine or Klondike.
Core Move Rules
- Build tableau piles DOWN in SAME SUIT (e.g., 7♥ goes on 8♥, not on 8♦).
- ONLY ONE CARD CAN BE MOVED AT A TIME - no moving sequences!
- Any single card 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 CRITICAL - they're your only way to reorganize.
- Prioritize exposing and playing Aces early to start foundations.
- Think ahead - once you bury a card, it's very hard to recover.
- Don't fill empty columns carelessly; save them for emergencies.
- Avoid building long tableau sequences - they're hard to untangle.
- Count cards to track where duplicates (same rank/suit) are located.
Expert Tip: Because you can only move one card at a time, empty columns become exponentially valuable. Two empty columns let you move a 2-card sequence; three empties let you move 3 cards, etc.
Game History
Forty Thieves is also known as "Napoleon at St. Helena" or "Big Forty." Legend says Napoleon played this game during his exile on St. Helena.
The name "Forty Thieves" refers to the 40 cards dealt to the tableau at the start. It's one of the most challenging double-deck solitaire games.
Josephine Solitaire (named after Napoleon's wife) is an easier variant that allows moving sequences of cards.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Q: Why can't I move multiple cards? A: Forty Thieves only allows single card moves. This is the main challenge!
- Q: What can fill an empty column? A: Any single card can go on an empty tableau column.
- Q: How do I beat this game? A: Focus on creating and preserving empty columns, play Aces early, and plan several moves ahead.
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