Forty Thieves

OBJECTIVE OF FORTY THIEVES: Move all cards to foundation piles.

NUMBER OF PLAYERS: 1 Player

NUMBER OF CARDS: Two standard 52-card (104 cards)

RANK OF CARDS: A, K, Q, J, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2

TYPE OF GAME: Patience

AUDIENCE: Adult

INTRODUCTION TO FORTY THIEVES

Forty Thieves is a complicated form of solitaire that is very difficult to win. Winning the game is largely based on the luck of the deal.

HOW TO PLAY

Set-Up

Deal 10 piles (tableau piles) of four cards, face-up. Leave space above the 10 tableau piles for 8 foundation piles. There will be 40 face-up cards. Cards that remain form the waste pile, which may be used later in the game.

Rules

Move each card onto the foundation piles to win. Foundation piles begin with an Ace of a suit, descends, and rises back up to the King of that same suit.

You may only move cards on at a time. Cards moved must be placed in descending order and suits must match. Empty columns may be started with any card. You may only look through the waste pile once and only use the top card of the pile.

Winning

• Plan your moves carefully.
• Play cards that have been dealt first before going into the waste pile.
• Move cards of lower rank first.
• Aces and twos should be moved to the foundation piles immediately.

REFERENCES:

http://www.solitaireparadise.com/info/how-to-play-forty-thieves.html