How La Belle Lucie works
A game of foresight. You can see every card, so the skill is spotting what blocks what.
- Layout. 52 cards in eighteen fans of three (the last has one), all face up. Four empty foundations.
- Foundations. Start each with an Ace and build up in suit to the King.
- Fans. Move the top card onto a card of the same suit one rank higher: a 6 of hearts on a 7 of hearts. One card at a time.
- Gaps. An empty fan cannot be refilled.
- Redeals. Twice, click the stock slot to shuffle the cards in the fans and deal them out again.
Tips for La Belle Lucie
- Free the Aces first. Find which fans hide them and clear the cards on top.
- Make runs, not piles. Cards of one suit in order are easy to move home later.
- Save a redeal. Use the first one only when no useful move is left.
- Use Undo. It is unlimited.
More games to try
Frequently asked questions
How do you play La Belle Lucie?
The deck is dealt face up into eighteen fans of three cards (the last fan has one). Move the top card of a fan onto a foundation, or onto another fan's top card of the same suit that is one rank higher. Aces start the foundations and each builds up in suit to the King.
How do you win La Belle Lucie?
Move all 52 cards to the four foundations, each built up in one suit from the Ace to the King.
What does a redeal do?
When you cannot move, click the stock slot. All the cards left in the fans are shuffled and dealt again into fans of three. You can do this twice.
Can I fill an empty fan?
No. A fan with no cards stays empty. Only the top card of a fan can move, one at a time.
Which cards can I move?
Only the top card of a fan, one at a time. A card with another card on top of it cannot move. Rules differ a little between sites; this page follows the common ones: eighteen fans, build down in suit, two redeals.
Can every deal be won?
No. Many cannot, especially without the redeals. Look for Aces buried under cards of the same suit before you start.