🏺 Forty Thieves Solitaire

Forty Thieves Solitaire is a two-deck patience game. Build the eight foundations by suit from Ace to King. On the tableau, build down by suit and move one card at a time; any card may fill an empty column. Draw one card at a time to the waste and play from the top of the waste when possible.

🎯 Objective

Move all cards to the eight foundations (A→K by suit) using the tableau, stock and waste.

📜 Rules & Gameplay

Setup

Two decks (104 cards). Ten tableau piles; eight foundations; a stock and a waste.

Tableau

Build down by suit (e.g., 9♠ on 10♠). Only single cards move; sequences don’t move as a group. Empty columns may be filled with any card.

Stock & Waste

Turn one card at a time from stock to waste. Only the top waste card is playable to tableau or foundation.

How to Play

1. Start foundations with Aces and continue each suit up to King.
2. Use the tableau to step cards down by suit to uncover needed ranks.
3. Play from the waste to foundations whenever possible to keep lanes open.
4. Open an empty column early; it greatly increases mobility.

💡 Strategy Tips

• Prioritize freeing Aces and low cards; they unlock foundation progress.
• Don’t bury useful ranks under the wrong suit—keep columns tidy.
• Favor plays that reveal hidden cards or clear a column.

✨ Why Play Forty Thieves

A precise, strategic solitaire classic—challenging, logical, and deeply satisfying to master.