How to Play Forty Thieves Solitaire
Forty Thieves, also called Napoleon at St Helena, is the best-known of the hard two-deck solitaires. Its reputation is deserved: most deals are lost, which makes a win worth having.
The deal
- Two decks, 104 cards.
- Ten columns of four cards each, all face up: the forty thieves.
- The remaining 64 cards form the stock, face down.
- Above the columns are eight foundations, two per suit.
Moving cards
- A card can go onto a card one rank higher of the same suit: the 7 of hearts on the 8 of hearts.
- Only one card moves at a time: the top card of a column or the top of the waste.
- Any card may go into an empty column.
- Click a card to pick it up, then click where it goes. Double-click sends it to the best place.
The stock and the waste
Click the stock to turn one card onto the waste. The top waste card can be played at any time. When the stock runs out, that's it: there is no second pass.
The foundations
Move Aces to the foundations as they appear and build each suit up to the King. There are two foundations for each suit. Cards on a foundation never come back down.
Winning and losing
You win when all 104 cards are on the foundations. If the stock is empty and nothing can move, the game is lost. Undo is unlimited, so you can always try a different line.
Josephine
The Josephine option in the settings lets you move a run of cards in suit together. The deal and the goal are the same, but many more games can be won. Your stats are kept separately for the two rules.
Playing on kawu
- Undo as much as you like.
- Hint suggests a useful move.
- The daily deal (classic rule) is the same for everyone each day.
Next, read the Forty Thieves strategy guide. For another two-deck game, try Spider.
Frequently asked questions
Why is Forty Thieves so hard?
Three rules work against you: columns build in suit only, you can move just one card at a time, and the stock is dealt once with no second pass. Even careful play wins well under half the time.
What is the Josephine rule?
Josephine is Forty Thieves where a run of cards in suit may move together. It's the same deal and goal, with far more games winnable. Pick it in the settings.
Can I take a card back from a foundation?
No. Once a card is on a foundation it stays there, so think before sending up a card you might still need as a landing spot.
Last updated 2026-10-20