Forty Thieves Solitaire: Mastering the Ultimate Two-Deck Challenge

Last Updated: January 2026 | Reading Time: 12 minutes

Forty Thieves Solitaire - also known as Napoleon at St. Helena, Big Forty, or simply Le Cadran - stands as one of the most challenging and historically significant solitaire games ever created. First documented in 1826, this two-deck patience game requires exceptional strategic thinking, perfect planning, and unwavering patience. With a win rate of just 10% even among expert players, Forty Thieves represents the Mount Everest of solitaire gaming.

📜 Historical Note: Legend attributes this game to Napoleon Bonaparte during his exile on St. Helena (1815-1821). Whether he actually played it remains debated, but the name "Napoleon at St. Helena" persists. The game was first published in Lady Adelaide Cadogan's "Illustrated Games of Patience" in 1874, making it one of the oldest documented solitaire variants.

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📋 Quick Reference: Forty Thieves at a Glance

Attribute	Details
Difficulty	Extremely Hard (Master Level)
Win Rate	~8-12% for expert players
Decks	Two standard 52-card decks (104 cards total)
Average Game Time	15-25 minutes
Skill vs. Luck	80% Skill, 20% Luck
Alternative Names	Napoleon at St. Helena, Big Forty, Le Cadran
First Documented	1826 (nearly 200 years old)

Game Objective

Move all 104 cards to eight foundation piles, building each suit from Ace to King (13 cards per foundation). With two complete decks in play, you'll build two separate foundations for each suit.

🏗️ Setup and Layout

The Tableau (10 Columns)

Unlike most solitaire games with 7 columns, Forty Thieves uses 10 tableau piles:

Deal 4 cards to each of the 10 piles
ALL cards face-up from the start - complete visibility
Total: 40 cards in the tableau (hence "Forty Thieves")

💡 Key Insight: The complete visibility of all tableau cards transforms Forty Thieves into a pure puzzle. Unlike Klondike where hidden cards create uncertainty, here you can see everything - but the restrictive rules make optimal play extraordinarily difficult.

The Stock

64 cards remain in the stock after the initial deal
Cards are drawn one at a time to the waste pile
NO REDEALS - You get one pass through the stock, period
This no-redeal rule is what makes the game brutally challenging

The Waste Pile

Cards from the stock are placed here
Only the top card of the waste pile can be played
Cards cannot be returned to the stock

The Foundations (8 Piles)

Eight foundation piles - two for each suit
Build from Ace to King in each suit
Each foundation will contain 13 cards when complete

📏 The Defining Rules

1. Single Card Movement Only

🚨 The Core Challenge: You can move ONLY ONE CARD AT A TIME. No sequences, no multi-card moves. This single rule is what makes Forty Thieves one of the hardest solitaire games ever created.

Implications:

You can't move a sequence like "8♠-7♠-6♠" as a unit
To move buried cards, you must first move every card above them
Empty columns become extremely valuable as temporary storage
Planning becomes critical - you must think 10+ moves ahead

2. Build Down by Suit

On the tableau:

Build downward (K → Q → J → 10 → ... → 2 → A)
Must match exact suit (not just color)
Example: 7♠ can ONLY go on 8♠ (not 8♣)

3. Empty Spaces Can Hold Any Card

Unlike many games, any card can fill an empty tableau column
Not restricted to Kings
Empty spaces are your most powerful tool

4. No Stock Redeals

Once you've gone through the 64-card stock, it's gone
No second chances
Every stock draw is a commitment

🧠 Master Strategies for Forty Thieves

1. Empty Columns Are Everything

Rule #1: Your primary goal for the first half of the game is creating and maintaining empty tableau columns. Empty spaces give you the flexibility to rearrange cards and access buried cards. Expert players often have 2-3 empty columns before touching the stock.

Empty column strategies:

Create Early: Work on creating your first empty column within the first 10-15 moves
Maintain Multiple: Try to always have at least one empty column available
Use Wisely: Don't fill empty spaces unless it directly advances your position
Temporary Storage: Use empty columns to temporarily store cards while rearranging sequences

2. The Stock Management Principle

💡 Expert Technique: Never draw from the stock until you've explored every possible move in the tableau. The stock is your only source of new options - once it's gone, you must work with what you have. Draw only when absolutely necessary.

Stock management rules:

Delay Drawing: Make all possible tableau moves before drawing from stock
Plan Before Drawing: Before drawing, ask "What card would I need to make progress?"
Count Cards: Track which cards you've seen to estimate what remains in stock
Emergency Reserve: Try to have empty columns available before starting heavy stock draws

3. Foundation Building: Slow and Deliberate

Unlike faster solitaire games, Forty Thieves requires conservative foundation building:

Foundation Rules:

Aces: Move immediately (no downside)
2s & 3s: Usually safe to move, but verify no tableau use first
4s-7s: Keep in tableau unless blocking progress
8s-Kings: Keep in tableau as long as possible

Why delay foundation moves:

Cards in tableau remain flexible and useful
You might need that 6♦ to uncover a buried card
Foundations lock cards away permanently
Build foundations rapidly only in endgame when tableau is organized

4. Deep Thinking: The 10-Move Lookahead

Forty Thieves rewards deep calculation:

Before moving, visualize the next 5-10 moves
Ask: "If I make this move, what becomes possible next?"
Look for move sequences that expose key cards or create empty columns
Identify potential dead-end positions before committing

Advanced Tactic: Expert players often spend 2-3 minutes planning before making significant moves. Patience and calculation beat speed in Forty Thieves. Think of it as chess, not reflex gaming.

5. Suit Tracking and Card Counting

With 104 cards, mental tracking becomes crucial:

Duplicate Awareness: Remember that every card exists twice in the deck
Key Card Tracking: Note where both copies of critical cards are (like both 9♠s)
Missing Cards: If you need a Q♥ and haven't seen either copy, both are in the stock
Probability: Estimate odds of drawing needed cards from remaining stock

6. Sequence Breaking (When Necessary)

Sometimes you must break up good sequences to progress:

            Example: You have K♥-Q♥-J♥-10♥ in one pile, but need to access a card beneath. You must temporarily break the sequence by moving cards to empty columns or other piles, then rebuild it later.
        

Sequence breaking guidelines:

Only break sequences when it exposes critical cards
Have a clear plan for rebuilding
Use empty columns as temporary storage during the process
Ensure the cards you're exposing are worth the disruption

7. The "Unlock Chain" Technique

Often, accessing one card requires a complex series of moves:

Identify the target card you need
Work backward: what cards are blocking it?
Find where those blocking cards can move
Create empty columns if needed for the sequence
Execute the unlock chain in reverse order

💡 Advanced Tactics

The "Reserve Column" Strategy

Designate one or two columns as "working space":

Use these columns for temporary card storage during complex rearrangements
Keep them relatively clear compared to other columns
Think of them as your "scratch pad" for manipulating cards

The "Suit Consolidation" Method

When possible, keep same-suit cards in nearby columns:

Easier to track and combine sequences
Reduces mental load when planning moves
Facilitates building long same-suit runs

The "Stock Preview" Calculation

Before drawing from stock, calculate:

How many stock cards remain: 64 minus cards drawn
Which key cards you haven't seen yet
Probability of getting a useful card on next draw
Whether delaying the draw gives better options

🚫 Fatal Mistakes to Avoid

Mistake #1: Drawing from Stock Too Early
New players draw from the stock at the first sign of trouble. Experts exhaust all tableau possibilities first. Every stock draw that doesn't lead to progress is wasted opportunity.

Mistake #2: Filling Empty Spaces Carelessly
An empty column is worth its weight in gold. Filling it with "any card" because it's available wastes your most valuable resource. Only fill empty spaces strategically.

Mistake #3: Moving to Foundations Too Aggressively
That Q♠ might seem useless now, but you might desperately need it later to access buried cards. Foundation moves are essentially irreversible - make them only when certain.

Mistake #4: Not Planning Move Sequences
Making moves one at a time without planning ahead is a recipe for disaster. You must visualize 5-10 moves ahead to avoid painting yourself into corners.

Mistake #5: Ignoring Duplicate Cards
Forgetting that every card exists twice leads to poor decisions. "I need the 8♥" isn't enough - you need to know where BOTH 8♥s are.

📈 Mastery Progression Path

Beginner Level (Games 1-30)

Goal: Understand the rules and finish 10 games

Focus on the single-card movement restriction
Practice creating empty columns
Don't worry about winning - learn the mechanics
Use undo frequently to understand consequences
Expected Win Rate: 0-2%

Intermediate Level (Games 31-100)

Goal: Win 5 games

Start planning 3-5 moves ahead
Delay stock draws until tableau is exhausted
Keep 1-2 empty columns open when possible
Build foundations conservatively
Expected Win Rate: 3-5%

Advanced Level (Games 101-300)

Goal: Win 20 games

Regularly plan 7-10 moves ahead
Track key cards mentally (both copies)
Master empty column management
Execute complex unlock chains
Expected Win Rate: 6-9%

Expert Level (300+ games)

Goal: Consistent 10-12% win rate

Deep calculation becomes second nature
Can evaluate position strength instantly
Rarely make "obvious" moves without analysis
Recognize unwinnable positions early
Expected Win Rate: 10-12%

🎲 Forty Thieves vs. Other Games

Feature	Forty Thieves	Spider	Klondike
Decks	2 (104 cards)	2 (104 cards)	1 (52 cards)
Movement	Single card only	Sequences	Sequences
Building Rule	By suit descending	Any suit descending	Alternating color
Redeals	None	Unlimited	Draw 1: Unlimited Draw 3: Limited
Difficulty	Extreme	Hard	Medium
Win Rate	8-12%	20-30%	30-40%

Scoring System

Our implementation includes comprehensive scoring:

+10 points for each card moved to foundations
+500 points for winning the game
Time bonus: +2 points per second under 5 minutes

Perfect Game: 1,540+ points (1040 foundation + 500 win + time bonus)

Typical Win: 900-1100 points (most games take 15-20 minutes)

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Why is Forty Thieves so hard?

Three factors combine to create extreme difficulty: (1) Single-card movement only, (2) No stock redeals, and (3) Suit-only building. Each restriction alone makes a game harder; together they create one of the most challenging solitaire games ever designed.

What's a good win rate for Forty Thieves?

Even expert players win only 8-12% of games. A 5% win rate indicates solid intermediate play. If you're winning 15%+ consistently, you're among the world's elite Forty Thieves players.

Can every Forty Thieves deal be won?

No. Many deals are mathematically unwinnable regardless of perfect play. Estimates suggest 30-40% of deals are unwinnable from the start. The challenge is maximizing wins on winnable deals.

How long does a game typically take?

Expert players spend 15-25 minutes per game. Beginners may spend 30-40 minutes as they learn to plan complex sequences. Fast play usually indicates insufficient planning.

Should I play easier variants first?

Yes. Master Klondike, then Spider, then Yukon before attempting Forty Thieves. These games teach foundation skills (planning, sequencing, resource management) that transfer to Forty Thieves.

What if I get completely stuck?

Use undo liberally during learning. Go back 20-30 moves and try alternative approaches. Analyze what early decision led to the stuck position. Forty Thieves is unforgiving, but every loss is a learning opportunity.

Quick Tips for Your Next Game

            Create at least one empty column in first 15 moves
Never draw from stock until all tableau moves exhausted
Keep cards in tableau unless certain foundation move is safe
Plan minimum 5 moves ahead before committing
Track both copies of key cards mentally
Use empty columns for temporary storage during rearrangements
Break sequences only when it exposes critical cards
Build foundations slowly and deliberately
Accept that most games are unwinnable - focus on maximizing wins
Patience beats speed - take your time planning

        

🚀 Ready for the Ultimate Challenge?

Forty Thieves Solitaire represents the pinnacle of single-player card game strategy. Nearly 200 years after its creation, it remains one of the most demanding and rewarding patience games ever devised. Every win is a testament to your planning, patience, and strategic mastery.

This is not a casual game. Forty Thieves demands your full attention, rewards deep thinking, and punishes hasty decisions. But for those willing to invest the time to master it, no other solitaire game provides the same level of intellectual satisfaction.

Your win rate will start near zero. You'll lose dozens of games before your first win. But each game sharpens your skills, teaches new patterns, and builds the mental models needed for success. Track your progress through our scoring system and celebrate each hard-earned victory.

Join the elite group of players who've conquered this historic challenge. The forty thieves await.

👑 Begin Your Forty Thieves Journey

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