Forty Thieves Strategy: 6 Tips to Win More Games
Forty Thieves is unforgiving, but the losing deals aren't random: they go wrong in the same few ways. New to the game? Read the rules first.
1. Empty a column early
With one card moving at a time, an empty column is your only working space: a run of three cards needs an empty column to move. Look for a column whose four cards all have somewhere to go and clear it first.
2. Keep the column empty
Don't fill an empty column just because you can. Put a card there only when it unblocks something, and prefer a King, which can never move anywhere else.
3. Columns before the waste
Every move from the columns is free; every card from the stock is a one-time offer. Make all the useful column moves you can before turning the next card.
4. Don't rush the foundations
Cards never come back from the foundations. A 6 of clubs on the table can hold a 5 of clubs; on the foundation it can't. Send a card up when both lower cards of that suit are already home, or when it's in the way.
5. Count the suits
There are two of every card. Before building a long run of spades in one column, check where the other spades are: if both 10s of spades are buried in the stock, the run will stall there.
6. Use undo as a scout
Turning cards from the stock reveals information. If a line fails, undo to the decision point and try another; you've learned what's coming.
Frequently asked questions
What's the most important Forty Thieves tip?
Empty columns. An empty column is the only way to move more than one card around, so free one as early as you can and don't fill it unless the move gains something.
Should I draw from the stock right away?
Make every column move you can first. Each card turned is one you may never see again at the right time, so turn the stock only when the table is settled.
Last updated 2026-10-20