Play Eight Thieves Solitaire Online for Free

Eighty Thieves Solitaire is a variation of Forty Thieves is a Solitaire, with twice the cards, or 208 cards (4 decks). 

How to Play

Objective

The goal is to move all cards from the stock pile and tableau into 16 foundation piles by suit in ascending order.

The Setup and Play Area

There are three main areas in the game:

Tableau piles: This is the area where cards are placed face-up in 10 columns of 8 cards each, totaling 80 cards.

Stock pile: The remaining cards, or a total of 128 cards, are face-down in the stock pile.

Waste pile: Cards drawn from the stock pile that cannot be placed in the tableau go to the waste pile.

Foundation piles: These are the 16 piles at the top of the game where cards are placed by suit in ascending order from Ace to King.

Eighty Thieves Solitaire setup

Available moves

  • Only Aces can start in the foundation, and subsequent cards must be in ascending order by suit. For example, only a 2 of Clubs can be played on an Ace of Clubs in the foundation.
  • Only the last card in the tableau column is playable, and it can either be moved to the foundation or on top of another card of the same suit one rank higher. A 4 of Hearts, for example, can be moved on top of a 5 of Hearts. 
  • Unlike Klondike, you cannot move a group of sequenced cards in the tableau.
  • The top card of the waste pile is playable into the foundation or tableau.
  • If a tableau column is empty, any legally playable card can be placed there.
  • You are allowed a single pass through the stock pile.
  • You win when all cards are placed in the 8 foundations.

Strategy

To win, follow these tips:

  • Create empty columns to move cards and unblock others.
  • If you have an empty column, try to place cards of higher ranks to help you create longer sequences in that column. Also, late in the game, consider moving cards from the stockpile into empty columns to get them in the tableau.
  • Immediately move Aces to the foundation, and any card when you have the chance. Because you can't sequence cards by alternating colors, it's not advantageous to keep cards in the tableau when they can be moved to the foundation.
  • Avoid building lengthy sequence as that as this may block cards you need.
  • Because foundations are built from Ace to King, try to make low cards available so you can move them out of the tableau into the foundation.
  • The first visible sequence may not always be the best one. Plan out your moves to remove as many cards as possible from the tableau.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are similar games?

  • Forty Thieves is the same game with half theh cards
  • Forty and Eight is an easier variation of Forty Thieves with 2 more tableau columns and 2 passes through the stockpile.
  • Josephine Solitaire is similar to Forty Thieves, except you can move sequenced cards as a group, making the game easier.

What is the probability of winning Forty Thieves?

This is a very challenging game. If you win, you're an elite solitaire player!

What are other popular Solitaire games to try?

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