How to play Forty Thieves

Forty Thieves (also called Napoleon at St Helena) is a classic two-deck patience game. It's famously hard — only about one game in ten can be won — which makes every win worth bragging about.

Setup

Shuffle two decks together. Deal ten columns of four face-up cards — forty cards, the 'forty thieves'. The other 64 cards form the stock.

Building

Build down in the columns by suit: a 7 of hearts can go on an 8 of hearts. Only the top card of a column can move, one card at a time. Any card may fill an empty column.

Foundations

Eight foundations build up by suit from Ace to King. Move cards there as soon as it's safe.

Stock and waste

Turn one card at a time from the stock to the waste. The top waste card can be played. There is no redeal.

Winning

Win by moving all 104 cards to the foundations.

Tips from the table

Getting a column empty is the single most important goal — it gives you room to unbury cards.
Don't rush cards to the foundations if you still need them to hold a building sequence.
Look at the next stock card before committing; with no redeal, every draw matters.

More free card games

Same table, no loading screens — pick your next hand.