Play Forty Thieves Online

How to win at Forty Thieves: strategy and tips

Forty Thieves is one of the hardest solitaires. You build down in the same suit, cards move one at a time, and you go through the stock only once. Even careful players are often said to win only about one game in ten, so every move counts.

Look before you turn the stock

Each card from the stock gets one chance. Before turning the next one, make every useful move on the table, and think about what you hope to see. A column that can take almost any card makes the stock much more useful.

Clear one column completely

Any card can go into an empty column, and empty columns let you move longer stacks. Choose the column with the fewest problem cards, the one whose cards can go elsewhere soonest, and clear it before you spread your effort around.

Build long same-suit runs

Because building is by suit, a long run like the 9, 8 and 7 of hearts is valuable. One day it will go to the foundation in one stretch. Avoid breaking such runs unless it frees an Ace or a card you need right away.

Use the waste carefully

The waste pile is your second hand of cards. When the top waste card can be played, playing it also brings the card beneath it back into reach. Sometimes making room for a waste card is worth more than a move inside the tableau.

Use both foundations of a suit

There are two foundations for each suit. If one is stuck waiting for a card, the second may be ready to take the next one. Check both before deciding a card has nowhere to go.

Send Aces and Twos home at once

Low cards are almost useless in the tableau, because only the next card of the same suit can sit on them. Move Aces and Twos to the foundations as soon as they appear, so they stop blocking the columns.

Mistakes to avoid

• Turning the stock quickly. There is no second pass.
• Filling an empty column with a low card that could have waited in the waste.
• Giving up on a game too early. Undo lets you try another line from any point.