How Forty Thieves works
Everything is on the table from the start, so it is a game of planning. The rules are short, and they leave very little room for error.
- Layout. Two decks, 104 cards. Ten columns of four cards, all face up. The other 64 cards are the stock.
- Build down in the same suit. The 6 of clubs goes on the 7 of clubs, and only on that.
- One card at a time. You can only move the card at the bottom of a column. You cannot move runs.
- Foundations. Eight piles, built up from Ace to King in one suit. There are two of every card, so each suit has two piles.
- The stock. Click it to turn one card onto the waste. The top card of the waste is playable. When the stock is empty it stays empty: there is one pass only.
- Empty columns take any card.
Tips for Forty Thieves
- Plan before you draw. You have 64 cards in the stock and no second pass. Make every useful move on the table first.
- Look for the second copy. There are two of every card. If the 9 of spades you need is buried, check for the other one.
- Empty a column. It is your only free space. Get one early and think hard about what you put in it.
- Do not rush the foundations. A card on a foundation cannot come back to help in a column. Send it up when it frees something, or when nothing needs it.
- Watch the waste. If a card on the waste is not playable now, it may become playable after a move on the table. Keep an eye on it before you draw again.
- Use Undo. You can step back as many times as you like.
Forty Thieves compared with Klondike
| Forty Thieves | Klondike | |
|---|---|---|
| Decks | 2 | 1 |
| Columns | 10, all face up | 7, mostly face down |
| Build | Down, same suit | Down, alternating colours |
| Moving | One card at a time | Any run |
| Stock | One pass | As many passes as you like |
| Empty column | Any card | A King |
Other games
Frequently asked questions
How do you play Forty Thieves solitaire?
Two decks are shuffled together. 40 cards are dealt face up into ten columns of four. You build down in the same suit, one card at a time, and send cards up to eight foundations, each built from Ace to King in a suit. You turn cards from the stock onto the waste one at a time, and you can only go through the stock once.
How do you win Forty Thieves?
Move all 104 cards to the eight foundations. That is two full sets of each suit, Ace to King.
Can you move more than one card at a time?
No. In Forty Thieves you move a single card at a time, from the bottom of a column or the top of the waste. This is what makes it hard.
What can go in an empty column?
Any card. An empty column is one of the most useful spaces on the table.
Why is it called Forty Thieves?
The name comes from the 40 cards dealt onto the table at the start of the game.
Is Forty Thieves hard to win?
Yes. You only get one pass through the stock and you cannot move runs, so most deals cannot be won. Careful play and Undo help, and a win is something to be proud of.