Forty Thieves Solitaire

A challenging two-deck solitaire based on Windows Microsoft Solitaire Collection rules. Build foundations by suit, move same-suit sequences on tableau. Empty columns accept ANY card.

Frequently Asked Questions

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What can I place on empty columns in Windows Forty Thieves?

ANY card! This is a key difference from other versions. Empty columns accept Kings, Aces, or any number card. This makes empty spaces incredibly valuable as "temporary storage" for blocking cards or sequence reorganization.

What makes Forty Thieves so difficult?

Three key factors: (1) You must build down by the SAME SUIT on tableau (not alternating colors like Klondike), severely limiting your options. (2) Only one card dealt at a time, with 2 redeals. (3) Managing 104 cards across 10 columns with very limited mobility.

What's a good score in Forty Thieves?

Maximum is 1000 points. 900+ is excellent (near-perfect), 700-900 is good, under 700 means a tough game. Each foundation card earns 5 points, plus 60-point bonus per completed suit.

Can experts tell if a game is winnable quickly?

Yes! Experts often assess winnability within 10 seconds. Key indicators: (1) Are Aces and Twos accessible? (2) Can you create the first empty column fast? (3) Do trapped columns have solutions? If you can't clear one column in 20 moves, this game is probably lost.

Explore Game Details

Forty Thieves is a classic patience game using two standard decks (104 cards total). It's known for extremely low win rates and high strategic depth — only about 1 in 10 games can be won without undo. ## 🎯 Objective Move all 104 cards to the 8 foundation piles, building each from Ace to King by suit. ## 🃏 Windows Version Setup • Deck: Two standard decks shuffled together (104 cards) • Tableau: 10 columns, 4 cards face-up each (40 cards = the "forty thieves") • Foundations: 8 piles, initially empty, top-right • Stock: Remaining 64 cards face-down, top-left • Waste: Cards dealt from stock appear here one at a time ## 📐 Windows Edition Core Rules ### 1. Empty Column Rule (Important!) Unlike Klondike which only allows Kings on empty columns, Windows Forty Thieves accepts ANY card on empty spaces! This is a key feature of this version. ### 2. Building Foundations (♠) Double-click any Ace to move it directly to an empty foundation (single-click only selects it). Then build up by suit: A → 2 → 3 → ... → K. With two decks, each suit has TWO complete sequences. ### 3. Tableau Movement (🃏) Cards must build down by the SAME suit only. Example: you can place 5♥ on 6♥, but NOT 5♦ on 6♥. This strict suit rule is what makes Forty Thieves so challenging! ### 4. Dealing from Stock (📦) Click stock to deal one card face-up to waste. Only the top waste card is playable. 2 redeals — when the stock runs out, the waste is recycled back into stock (up to 2 times). ### 5. Moving Sequences (🔗) You can move a same-suit descending sequence as a group. Max movable cards = 2^n where n = empty columns, excluding the source and target columns. ## 📊 Scoring - Per card to foundation: +5 points - Complete foundation (A→K): +60 bonus - Max possible: 1000 points

Core Strategy Tips

Prioritize finding Aces and Twos for foundations — once they're placed, 2s, 3s, 4s can progressively release, reducing pile blockage and revealing hidden sequences.

Create empty columns ASAP! Empty column = temporary storage = win rate source. With an empty space, you can temporarily store blocking cards, break deadlocks, reorganize same-suit sequences, and extract deep-buried key cards.

Prioritize high cards (K/Q/J/top cards of long blocked piles) for empty columns — they're hardest to process and take most space. Avoid wasting precious empty slots on low cards (A/2/3) that can go directly to Foundation.

Don't rush to send everything to Foundation! This is the #1 beginner mistake. When you have 6♠5♠4♠ on the table and Foundation is at 3♠, sometimes keeping them as "bridge cards" before collecting all at once is better.

Prioritize clearing trapped columns — identify columns where the top card is dead, many cards are buried beneath, and A/2/3 might be hiding below. Dismantle these first.

Exhaust ALL possible moves before dealing — confirm: can you clear a column? reveal an Ace? organize a same-suit sequence? create a second empty column? Once you deal, new cards may disrupt your position.

Windows High Win-Rate Opening Strategy (Advanced)

This game seems luck-based, but the first 20-30 moves' space management determines your win rate. The core principle isn't random collection: Create operational space first, then pursue collection speed.

Mid-Game Strategy

With 2 empty columns, your win rate skyrockets! Use one column for temporary storage, another for sequence rebuilding — then start aggressively pushing to Foundations.

Endgame Tactics

When under 20 cards remain, prioritize foundations over bridge cards — rapid table clearing secures victory.

Pro Motto: Aces first, empty columns first; high cards to empties, low cards to foundations; deal slowly, two empties = guaranteed win.

Win Rate Reference: Random play: ~5% | Knowing rules: 10–15% | Pro strategy: 20%+ (depends on deal)

About This Game

Forty Thieves (also known as "Big Forty") is a classic patience card game dating back to the 19th century. Its name comes from the 40 cards dealt to the tableau at start — one for each legendary "Forty Thief" from Ali Baba folklore. This implementation follows Windows Microsoft Solitaire Collection rules: empty columns accept ANY card, strict same-suit descending rule, single-card dealing with up to 2 redeals. With only 10-15% win rate, it's beloved by strategy enthusiasts who embrace the challenge.

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