Get the full experience in CardRules+
300+ games with text-to-speech, game night planner, quick reference cards, and offline access.
Download on Google Play- Use 2 standard decks (104 cards).
- Deal 10 columns of 4 face-up cards each (40 cards visible).
- Remaining 64 cards form the stock.
- Move only one card at a time between columns.
- Build tableau columns in descending order of the same suit.
- Draw one card from stock to the waste pile; top waste card is playable.
- Fill empty columns with any single card.
- Win by completing all 8 foundation piles (Ace to King by suit).
- Win rate is only about 10%, making it extremely difficult.
Rules
Forty Thieves is a notoriously difficult double-deck solitaire game where 40 cards are dealt face-up across 10 columns. With strict building rules and low win rates, it is a challenging puzzle for experienced solitaire players.
Objective
Build 8 foundation piles from Ace to King, each in a single suit, using 2 standard decks.
Setup
- Players: 1 player.
- Deck: 2 standard 52-card decks (104 cards).
- Tableau: 10 columns of 4 face-up cards each (40 cards visible).
- Stock: 64 remaining cards, drawn one at a time to a waste pile.
- Foundations: 8 empty piles, one for each suit (two per suit since there are 2 decks).
Gameplay
- Building: Only one card may be moved at a time. Build tableau columns in descending order of the same suit.
- Stock: Draw one card to the waste pile. The top waste card is always playable.
- Foundations: Build up by suit from Ace to King.
- Empty Columns: Any single card may fill an empty column.
Tips and Strategies
- With same-suit building and single-card movement, this is extremely restrictive — plan meticulously.
- Empty columns are your lifeline. Create them early and protect them.
- Playing cards from the waste pile to free up tableau moves is essential.
- Estimated win rate is around 10%, so celebrate every victory.
Tips & Strategy
Plan many moves ahead. The single-card movement restriction means repositioning is costly and sometimes impossible.
The stock pile is enormous (64 cards). Managing the waste pile order and finding opportunities to play from it are critical skills.
Trivia & Fun Facts
Forty Thieves is considered one of the hardest standard solitaire games, with professional players reporting win rates around 10-15%.
How many face-up cards are in the initial tableau of Forty Thieves?
History & Culture
Legend says Napoleon played this game during his exile at St. Helena, giving it one of its alternative names.
Forty Thieves holds a respected place in the solitaire canon as one of the most challenging classic patience games.
Variations & House Rules
Limited and Courtyard ease restrictions slightly. Streets and Alleys deals all cards and has no stock pile. Indian Patience allows any-suit building.
For an easier experience, allow moving sequences instead of single cards. This dramatically increases the win rate.
