Eight by Eight Solitaire – Play Online for Free 🎴

Eight by Eight Solitaire is a fun two-deck card game that blends the challenge of Forty Thieves with a casual, player-friendly twist. Its name comes from the 8 x 8 layout – eight columns of eight cards each – which creates a unique and engaging solitaire experience. Best of all, you can play Eight by Eight Solitaire online for free right here at SolitaireX.io on our Eight by Eight Solitaire page! 😃 Whether you’re a solitaire veteran or just looking for a relaxing card game, this variant offers an enjoyable mix of strategy and luck. In this page, we’ll cover how to play, the rules, a bit of history (including who created the game), and some handy tips and tricks to boost your win rate. Let’s dive in! 🃏

How to Play Eight by Eight Solitaire 📝

Playing Eight by Eight Solitaire is easy once you know the setup and moves. Here’s a step-by-step guide to get you started:

Setup: The game uses two decks (104 cards) but with a special layout. Eight tableau piles of 8 cards each are dealt at the start (usually all face-up, giving you open information). This 8x8 tableau is where you will move cards around during play. The remaining cards (if any) form a stock pile set aside for later use.
Foundations: There are 8 foundation piles (since there are 8 starting Aces possible with two decks). Your goal is to move all cards to these foundations, building each up by suit from Ace to King. Whenever an Ace becomes available, you can transfer it to a foundation to start building that suit up.
Tableau Moves: On the tableau (the 8 columns), you can build cards downward in sequence. Uniquely, Eight by Eight lets you build down regardless of suit or color – any suited card one rank lower can be placed on a higher card. For example, any 9 can go on any 10, an 8 on a 9, and so on. This is more flexible than stricter games like classic Forty Thieves (which require matching suits). You can move single cards or even entire sequences of face-up cards between tableau columns, as long as they form a valid descending sequence. This ability to move whole stacks makes the game more forgiving and strategic, since you can rearrange large groups of cards in one move.
Empty Columns: If you clear a tableau column (i.e. move all its cards elsewhere), the empty space acts like a free slot. Any single card can be moved into an empty column to help you continue the sequence play (in some versions, you may even move a sequence into an empty space). Use empty columns wisely to park important cards or to free up other sequences.
Using the Stock: If you run out of moves on the tableau, you can tap the stock pile to deal additional cards (if your version of Eight by Eight includes a stock). Typically, 3 cards are dealt at a time to a waste pile when you use the stock. You can then play the top waste card to the tableau or foundations if it fits. This game usually allows multiple passes through the stock: after the first pass, you can redeal the waste back into stock for a second and third pass. Notably, on the second deal, cards come out 2 at a time, and on the third deal, 1 at a time. After the third pass, there are no more redeals, so plan your moves carefully!
Winning the Game: Continue building down on the tableau and moving Aces and sequences to the foundations whenever possible. You win when all 8 foundation piles are completed from Ace up to King, using all cards in the two decks. 🎉 If you manage to do this, congratulations – you’ve beaten Eight by Eight Solitaire!

(Keep in mind that some rule variations exist. For example, certain implementations use all 64 cards in the tableau with no stock or redeals. However, the most common online version (including ours on SolitaireX) uses the stock and waste with the 3-pass redeal system described above.)

Rules of the Game 📜

To summarize, here are the key rules and mechanics of Eight by Eight Solitaire:

Cards & Decks: Uses two decks of cards (often a stripped deck where some low-ranking cards like 2–6 are removed, resulting in 64 or 80 total cards, depending on the version). All tableau cards are usually dealt face-up, giving you visibility of the playing field.
Foundation Rules: There are 8 foundation piles. Each foundation is built in ascending order by suit, starting with Ace and progressing to King. (In a stripped deck version, after Ace you would continue with the next available rank – e.g. 7 or 5 if 2–6 are missing – ultimately building to King.)
Tableau Rules: The tableau consists of 8 columns of cards. Building on the tableau is done in descending sequence (K→Q→J→10, etc.) without regard to suit or color. This means you can place any card that is one rank lower on another, making it easier to create long sequences. You are allowed to move one card at a time or a whole sequence of properly ordered cards as a unit from one column to another. This freedom to move sequences is a major difference from harder games like Forty Thieves.
Empty Spaces: If a tableau column becomes empty, you may fill the space with any card (or sequence of cards) you choose. (Some variations might limit this to a King or a single card, but most online versions – like ours – let you play any card into an empty column for flexibility.)
Stock & Waste: After the initial deal, any leftover cards form the stock pile. You can click the stock to deal cards onto a waste pile, usually 3 cards at a time. Only the top waste card is available to play at any given time. You typically get two redeals: when the stock runs out, you can recycle the waste back into a new stock (usually two more times) but note that the deal size changes – on the second cycle the stock might deal 2 cards at a time, and on the final cycle 1 card at a time. After the last redeal, the game gives no further stock cards.
Goal: The ultimate goal is to move all cards to the foundations. If you manage to build all eight foundations up to Kings, you win the game! If you run out of moves before that (and no stock cards remain), then the game is lost – but don’t worry, you can always retry with a new deal. 😄

These rules make Eight by Eight a very forgiving solitaire variant. The ability to build down regardless of suit and move whole sequences means you have many options to organize the tableau. Additionally, the multiple redeals from the stock give you several passes to find the moves you need. This often results in most deals being winnable with good strategy, as we’ll discuss in the tips section.

History of Eight by Eight Solitaire 🕰️

Eight by Eight Solitaire may feel like a classic, but it’s actually a modern invention in the solitaire world. Unlike century-old games such as Klondike or FreeCell, Eight by Eight doesn’t appear in the old 19th-century card game books. Instead, it emerged in the digital era, likely created by solitaire enthusiasts looking for a new twist on Forty Thieves-style gameplay. 🎲

Who created Eight by Eight? The exact origin isn’t widely documented, but it’s believed that Thomas Warfield, the creator of the popular Pretty Good Solitaire software, introduced Eight by Eight as one of his original games in the 2010s. In fact, Eight by Eight was added to multiple software collections around 2015, suggesting that’s when it was invented or popularized. For example, SolSuite (a well-known solitaire collection) added Eight by Eight in its 2015 edition, and the BVS Solitaire Collection included it as a new game in an update around the same time. This points to Eight by Eight being a relatively young solitaire variant that quickly gained traction among digital card game fans.

The idea behind Eight by Eight was to create an easier, more approachable version of Forty Thieves. Classic Forty Thieves uses two decks and ten columns, but it restricts moves (only one card at a time, building down by suit) and is notoriously difficult to win. Eight by Eight simplifies these rules – reducing the tableau to 8 columns and allowing more flexible moves – to give players a higher chance of success and more fun. 🏆 The game likely evolved through experimentation by designers like Warfield (and possibly others like Gregg Seelhoff, a collaborator who has designed solitaire games) during the 2010s. It’s a great example of how modern solitaire variants are often created by tweaking older games to strike a new balance of challenge and win-ability.

Today, Eight by Eight Solitaire is featured in many solitaire apps and websites, and has a small but dedicated fan base. Its inclusion in big collections and sites (like SolitaireX! 🙌) shows that it has earned a spot as a popular online solitaire game for players seeking a casual challenge. If you enjoy Forty Thieves-type games but don’t want every deal to feel impossible, Eight by Eight is a perfect piece of solitaire history to explore!

Tips and Tricks for Winning 🏅

Although Eight by Eight Solitaire is easier than some classic games, you’ll still need a bit of strategy to win consistently. Here are some tips and tricks to help you improve your odds and make the best moves (with a dash of emoji motivation 😉):

Prioritize freeing Aces and Twos: Since you can’t start building foundations without Aces, focus on uncovering and moving Aces to the foundation early. Similarly, low cards (like 2, 3, etc., if present) should follow to get the foundation piles going. Every card you move to foundation frees up space and helps in the long run.
Make use of empty columns: An empty tableau pile is extremely powerful in Eight by Eight. Try to create an empty column as soon as it’s practical – for instance, by moving all cards from a column to other sequences or to the foundations. Once you have an empty space, fill it wisely. You can move a long sequence to an empty column or reposition a troublesome card there. This flexibility lets you rearrange the tableau in ways that would be impossible in stricter games. If your rules allow any card into an empty space (not just Kings), use that to park high cards out of the way or to organize sequences.
Build balanced sequences: Because you can build down regardless of suit, it’s easy to stack cards without thinking ahead. Try to keep tableau stacks balanced and avoid burying needed cards under long sequences of unrelated suits. For example, if one column has a long descending run but none of those cards can move to foundation yet, consider breaking it up across empties or other piles so you don’t trap important low cards behind high ones.
Use the stock strategically: If your game has a stock and waste, remember you have a limited number of passes. Don’t rush to flip cards from the stock if you still have tableau moves – sometimes it’s better to save stock cards for when you’re truly stuck. When you do deal from the stock, scan the waste cards for anything immediately useful. Since the stock deals 3 at a time (then 2, then 1 on later passes), you might need to cycle through to get the card you want on top. Plan around the redeals: on your final pass (dealing one by one), be very careful to play every possible card, because there’s no second chance after that.
Always move sequences to foundation when possible: Because Eight by Eight is often winnable, a good practice is to constantly promote cards to the foundation whenever they fit. This usually won’t block you (thanks to the flexible tableau rules), and it helps by removing cards from play, opening up columns, and inching you toward victory. Every card safely on the foundation is one less to worry about in the tableau.
Think ahead and be patient: Even with a high win rate, some deals will require careful planning. Before making a move, especially a move that involves a long sequence or using an empty column, think about the consequences. Are you opening up a face-down card (in versions that have face-downs) or revealing a helpful card? Are you accidentally burying a card you’ll need soon? Take advantage of the fact that most deals (around 95% or more) are winnable with good play – this means if you don’t see a win yet, don’t give up! There’s likely a solution, and part of the fun is figuring it out. Use the Undo feature if playing digitally, to try different approaches without penalty.
Practice and enjoy! The more you play Eight by Eight Solitaire, the more familiar you’ll become with typical patterns and effective strategies. Since the game is so winnable and satisfying (many players can win nearly every game with skill), it’s great for practicing your planning and foresight. Over time, you’ll start winning faster and with more creative moves. 🎉

By following these tips – freeing up Aces, leveraging empty piles, wisely using the stock, and so on – you’ll find yourself winning Eight by Eight Solitaire almost every time. It’s a game that rewards thoughtful play, but also lets you relax because you know a win is usually within reach. Good luck, and have fun improving your strategy! 💡

Play Eight by Eight Solitaire Online on SolitaireX 🎮

Ready to test your skills? You can play Eight by Eight Solitaire right now on SolitaireX.io – no downloads or sign-ups needed! Just head over to our Eight by Eight Solitaire game page to start a new game instantly. Our online version is optimized for both desktop and mobile, so you can enjoy a quick game on the go or settle in for a longer session at home. The interface is simple: drag and drop cards, use the undo button if you make a mistake, and watch the foundations build up as you progress. We even keep track of your stats like win streaks and time, so you can challenge yourself to improve.

Why play on SolitaireX? 😊 We’re passionate about solitaire and have created a platform with hundreds of solitaire games, from classics to modern favorites. Eight by Eight is just one of the many options available. On SolitaireX, you’ll get smooth gameplay, helpful features like hints, and the assurance that every deal is winnable (if you choose “winnable deals” mode for a relaxed experience). Plus, our site is free and supported on any browser, so you can indulge your solitaire hobby whenever you want.

Give Eight by Eight Solitaire a try here, and see if you can win this 8x8 challenge. Once you conquer it, we’ve got plenty more games to explore, too!

Discover More Solitaire Games on SolitaireX 🔗

If you love solitaire, SolitaireX.io is your one-stop destination for endless card game entertainment. In addition to Eight by Eight, we offer a vast collection of other solitaire games and variations. Looking for another two-deck challenge? Try Forty Thieves or its popular cousin Thieves of Egypt. In the mood for something classic? We have Klondike, Spider, FreeCell, and many more. You can find pair-matching games like Pyramid, sequence-building games like Yukon or Scorpion, and even quirky variants you might not have heard of yet!

Head over to our homepage to browse more solitaire games and categories. Whether you’re a casual player or a solitaire master, you’ll find new games to love. Each game page (like this one) provides instructions, rules, history, and tips – so you can learn and play at the same time. We’re constantly updating our library and blog with fun content, so check back often. 🎮🃏

Enjoy your solitaire journey on SolitaireX.io, and happy gaming! We hope Eight by Eight Solitaire becomes one of your favorites. Thanks for playing, and may all your foundations fill up smoothly! 😄

Sources: Eight by Eight rules and gameplay details; historical context; strategy insights and win rate info.