Forty Thieves Solitaire
Two decks, 10 columns, same-suit building — only the very top card moves. Strategy every step of the way.
How to play
Forty Thieves is one of the most demanding solitaire games ever devised. Unlike Klondike or Spider, you can only move a single card at a time — no sequences, no shortcuts. With 104 cards spread across 10 tableau columns and a deep stock pile, every draw and every placement decision ripples through the rest of the game. Expect to win only about 10% of deals, making each victory genuinely satisfying.
The setup
Two standard 52-card decks (104 cards total) are used. Ten tableau columns each receive 4 face-up cards (40 cards total). The remaining 64 cards form the stock pile.
Moving cards
Only the top card of each tableau column is moveable at any time. No sequences can be moved as a group — always just one card.
Tableau building
Tableau columns build downward in the same suit. For example, 8♥ can be placed on 9♥. Any single card can be placed on an empty column.
Stock and waste
Click the stock to draw one card at a time to the waste pile. The top card of the waste pile can be played to any valid tableau column or foundation. There is no recycling — once the stock is exhausted, no more cards can be drawn.
Foundations
There are 8 foundation piles (two per suit). Build each up from Ace to King in the same suit. Both copies of each card must eventually be placed on separate foundation piles.
Winning
Move all 104 cards to the foundations. With only single-card moves and no recycling, careful management of the stock and empty columns is essential.