Play Forty Thieves Solitaire Free Online
How to Play Forty Thieves — Quick Guide
Goal:
Build up each home pile by suit, from A to K (A, 2, 3, …).
Moving Cards:
You can organize the columns by moving cards in descending order and matching suits (like 5 on 6).
Cards can only be moved one at a time.
Stockpile and Waste Pile:
Click the stockpile to flip cards to the waste pile one by one.
The top waste card is playable.
Empty Columns:
You can start an empty column with any card.
What Is Forty Thieves Solitaire?
Forty Thieves Solitaire is one of the most challenging and strategic variations of the classic card game. Unlike traditional Klondike Solitaire, this version uses two full decks of cards (104 cards total) and requires careful planning and foresight to win. The game earned its intriguing name from the difficulty level — it's said to be as tricky as outsmarting forty thieves. With only about 10% of games being winnable even with perfect play, Forty Thieves has earned its reputation as a true test of patience and skill.
How To Set Up the Tableau and Foundations
Setting up Forty Thieves Solitaire follows a specific pattern that creates the foundation for gameplay:
The Tableau: Deal 40 cards face-up into 10 columns, with 4 cards in each column. Each card should overlap the one below it so all cards remain visible. This creates your main playing area.
The Foundations: Eight foundation piles sit above the tableau, initially empty. These are where you'll build up cards by suit from Ace to King.
The Stock: The remaining 64 cards form your stock pile, which you'll draw from during play. Cards are turned over one at a time with no redeal option.
Key Rules of Forty Thieves Solitaire
Understanding the rules is essential to mastering this challenging game:
- Building on the Tableau: You can only move one card at a time, and cards must be placed in descending order by suit. For example, you can place the 7 of Hearts only on the 8 of Hearts.
- Building Foundations: Foundation piles must start with an Ace and build up to King in the same suit.
- Empty Columns: Any available card can fill an empty tableau column, giving you valuable maneuvering space.
- The Stock Pile: Draw one card at a time from the stock. You can play it to the tableau or foundations, but there's no redeal once you've gone through the deck.
- No Sequences: Unlike some solitaire variants, you cannot move sequences of cards together — only one card at a time.
Best Strategies for Winning Forty Thieves Card Game
With such a low win rate, every move matters in Forty Thieves. These strategies can significantly improve your chances:
- Prioritize Creating Empty Columns: Empty spaces are your most valuable resource. They provide temporary storage and give you flexibility to rearrange cards. Work toward clearing columns early in the game.
- Don't Rush to the Foundations: While moving cards to foundations is the ultimate goal, doing so too quickly can trap cards you need in the tableau. Keep cards accessible until you're certain you won't need them for building.
- Plan Several Moves Ahead: Before making any move, trace out the consequences. Will this expose a card you need? Will it block an important sequence? Think at least 3-4 moves ahead.
- Expose Hidden Cards: Focus on moves that reveal new cards in the tableau. The more information you have, the better decisions you can make.
- Use the Stock Wisely: Since there's no redeal, every card from the stock is a one-time opportunity. Don't draw from the stock if you still have productive moves in the tableau.
Strategies and Tips For Winning
Several factors combine to make Forty Thieves one of the most difficult solitaire variations:
Same-Suit Building: Requiring cards to be placed on the same suit (rather than alternating colors) dramatically reduces your options and creates frequent deadlocks.
Single Card Moves: Moving only one card at a time means you can't relocate sequences, severely limiting your tactical options compared to games like Spider Solitaire.
No Redeal: You get one pass through the stock pile and that's it. Every draw is permanent, adding pressure to each decision.
Two Decks: With 104 cards in play, the game becomes complex quickly. Tracking which cards have appeared and anticipating what's left requires significant mental effort.
These elements combine to create a game where even experienced players celebrate victories, as they're genuinely hard-earned.
Where To Play Forty Thieves Solitaire Online For Free
Several factors combine to make Forty Thieves one of the most difficult solitaire variations:
Same-Suit Building: Requiring cards to be placed on the same suit (rather than alternating colors) dramatically reduces your options and creates frequent deadlocks.
Single Card Moves: Moving only one card at a time means you can't relocate sequences, severely limiting your tactical options compared to games like Spider Solitaire.
No Redeal: You get one pass through the stock pile and that's it. Every draw is permanent, adding pressure to each decision.
Two Decks: With 104 cards in play, the game becomes complex quickly. Tracking which cards have appeared and anticipating what's left requires significant mental effort.
These elements combine to create a game where even experienced players celebrate victories, as they're genuinely hard-earned.
Where To Play Forty Thieves Solitaire Online For Free
Ready to test your skills against this challenging variant? You can play Forty Thieves Solitaire online for free right here on our site. Our version features:
- Clean, intuitive interface optimized for both desktop and mobile play
- Unlimited free games with no downloads or registration required
- Hint system to help you learn optimal strategies
- Undo function to experiment with different approaches
- Statistics tracking to monitor your improvement over time
Whether you're a solitaire veteran looking for a serious challenge or a newcomer eager to test yourself against one of the game's toughest variations, Forty Thieves Solitaire offers hours of engaging gameplay. Start playing now and see if you can outsmart the forty thieves!
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