Forty and Eight Solitaire – Play Online for Free 🎮

Forty and Eight Solitaire is a fun and challenging two-deck card game that offers a clever twist on the classic Forty Thieves solitaire. In this engaging patience game, you’ll be working with 104 cards (two standard 52-card decks) and trying to move all the cards to foundation piles. The game is named for its layout of forty cards on the tableau and eight foundations, and it plays very similarly to Forty Thieves – just with a slightly different setup and a few rule tweaks. Fans of solitaire love Forty and Eight for its strategic depth and rewarding gameplay; it’s considered a difficult game to win consistently (roughly a 25% win rate), but that only makes your victories more satisfying 🏆. Whether you’re a seasoned Forty Thieves player or new to this style of solitaire, Forty and Eight provides a fresh, enjoyable solo card game experience that will put your skills to the test.

Illustration: Enjoying a game of Forty Thieves-style solitaire on a computer, much like Forty and Eight Solitaire can be played online.

Playing Forty and Eight Solitaire online is the best way to enjoy this game. On SolitaireX.io, you can play Forty and Eight for free right in your browser – with no downloads or sign-ups needed. This very page – Forty and Eight Solitaire on SolitaireX.io – is an interactive game board where you can deal and play Forty and Eight anytime. The casual, user-friendly interface lets you jump straight into the action, so you can start a game whenever you’re in the mood to unwind with some cards. Ready to learn how to play? 😃 Let’s break down the gameplay, rules, and some handy tips for mastering Forty and Eight Solitaire.

How to Play Forty and Eight Solitaire

If you’re wondering how to play Forty and Eight Solitaire, don’t worry – it follows familiar solitaire principles with a few unique twists. Here’s a step-by-step guide to get you started:

Deal and Layout: Shuffle two standard decks together (remove Jokers) to make 104 cards. To begin, deal 40 cards face-up into 8 tableau piles, with 5 cards in each pile (all cards visible). This forms the tableau (playing field). Above the tableau, leave space for 8 foundation piles (one for each suit, since we have two of each suit). The remaining 64 cards are set aside face-down as the stock pile.
Objective: The goal is to move all 104 cards onto the eight foundations, building each foundation up in ascending order from Ace to King in the same suit. Eventually, each suit will have two full sequences from Ace through King (since there are two decks). You win the game when all cards are on the foundations, arranged as eight complete Ace-to-King piles.
Tableau Gameplay: On the tableau (the eight columns of cards), you build cards in descending sequence by the same suit – just like in Forty Thieves. For example, you can place a 9♥ on a 10♥, or a Q♣ on a K♣. Only the top card of each tableau pile can be moved at any time, and you can only move one card at a time (no moving multi-card sequences in one go under standard rules). If you clear a tableau pile completely (i.e. remove all its cards), that empty space can be filled with any card from the waste or another pile – empty columns are very powerful for maneuvering cards during play.
Stock and Waste: When no further moves are available on the tableau, it’s time to use the stock. Flip one card at a time from the stock pile onto a waste pile (also called the discard pile). The top card of the waste is now available to play – you can move this card to a foundation if it fits (for example, move a waste Ace to an empty foundation, or play a 7♦ from waste onto an 8♦ in the tableau), or move it to a tableau column if it follows the descending-suit rule. Continue flipping cards one by one from the stock whenever you’re stuck, placing each into the waste and playing whatever you can from the waste to tableau or foundations.
Redeals (Passes Through the Stock): Classic Forty and Eight is typically a one-pass game – meaning you only get to go through the stock pile once (no redeal). This is the strict, hard version (mirroring classic Forty Thieves rules). However, many versions of Forty and Eight allow a redeal to make the game more forgiving. If a redeal is allowed, after you’ve exhausted the stock, you may gather the waste pile and flip it over to form a new stock, giving you a second chance to go through those cards. On SolitaireX, the rules permit one redeal (two passes through the stock in total), effectively giving you one extra lifeline. Use it wisely – once you shuffle the waste back into a new stock, there are no more second chances after that.
Building Foundations & Winning: As you play, always keep an eye out for Aces and low cards. Whenever an Ace becomes available (in tableau or waste), move it up to an empty foundation to start a new foundation pile. Then continue to build that foundation in order: after Ace comes 2 of the same suit, then 3, and so on up to King. You can add to foundations from the tableau or from the waste, whichever has the needed card. The game is won when all cards have been moved to the foundations in their suit sequences from Ace through King. If you reach a point where you run out of moves (and no stock cards remain, or you’ve used your redeal) but not all cards are on the foundation, then you’ve hit a dead end and lost that round – time to try again with a new deal.

That’s all there is to it! 🎴 As you can see, the rules of Forty and Eight Solitaire are straightforward and very close to classic Forty Thieves. But winning the game is a real challenge that requires careful planning and a bit of luck with the cards. In the next section, we’ll summarize the key rules for quick reference, then dive into some strategy tips to improve your success rate.

Forty and Eight Solitaire Rules (Quick Summary)

For quick reference, here’s a concise summary of the Forty and Eight rules and key points to remember:

Decks & Cards: Uses two standard 52-card decks (104 cards total). All four suits are in play. You will have 8 foundation piles to fill (one for each suit twice over) by game’s end.
Initial Tableau Deal: 40 cards are dealt face-up to form the tableau, arranged in 8 piles of 5 cards each. All tableau cards are face-up from the start. Only the top card of each pile is available for play; cards beneath can’t be moved until the cards above them are cleared.
Foundations: There are 8 foundation piles (start empty). Foundations are built up by suit from Ace to King. Only an Ace can start a foundation (move Aces to an empty foundation as soon as they’re free), then you continue with 2, 3, 4... of the same suit, up to King. The goal is to get all cards onto these foundations in the correct order.
Tableau Builds: On the tableau, cards are built downward in rank and in the same suit (e.g. you can play a 7♠ onto an 8♠). Only one card at a time can be moved between tableau piles (no group moves allowed). If a tableau column becomes empty, you may fill that space with any single card from the waste or another tableau pile – this is often how you free up valuable cards and continue sequences.
Stock & Waste: After the initial deal, the remaining 64 cards form the stock. You may flip one card at a time from the stock onto the waste pile when you need new cards. The top card of the waste is always available to play (to a foundation or a valid tableau spot). You cannot directly play or access any card beneath the top of the waste.
Redeals: By standard Forty and Eight rules, no redeals are allowed (only one pass through the stock). However, many modern versions, including SolitaireX’s implementation, allow one redeal (one full recycle of the waste back into stock). This means you effectively get two passes through the deck in total. If a redeal is available, remember you only get to do it once – after the second pass through the stock, there are no more deals.
Winning: You win by moving all 104 cards onto the foundations in the correct Ace-to-King order by suit. Typically, winning requires freeing up Aces and low cards early, making smart use of empty tableau columns, and carefully managing the waste and tableau moves so that eventually every buried card becomes accessible. Not every deal is winnable, but skillful play can significantly improve your odds (Forty and Eight is estimated to be winnable about 1 in 4 games on average under one-redeal rules).

Keep these rules in mind as you play. Next, we’ll go over some tips and tricks for Forty and Eight Solitaire to help you think like a pro and increase your chances of success. 💡

Tips and Tricks for Winning Forty and Eight Solitaire

Forty and Eight Solitaire has a reputation as a difficult game, but it is winnable with patience and strategy. Here are some tips and tricks to boost your winning chances and make the game more enjoyable:

Empty a Tableau Pile Early: Focus on clearing out at least one tableau column as soon as possible. An empty pile is incredibly useful because you can move any card into an empty space. This gives you more flexibility to maneuver cards around. Often your first few moves should aim at completely freeing one pile – even if it means temporarily holding off other moves. Once you have an empty column, use it to park cards that are in the way or to help move sequences around one card at a time. Creating an empty space early greatly increases your maneuverability.
Uncover Aces and Low Cards Quickly: Since your goal is to build up those foundations, try to uncover low-ranked cards (especially Aces, 2s, 3s) that are buried under higher cards as soon as possible. For example, if you see an Ace or 2 trapped beneath a King or Queen in a tableau pile, prioritize moves that will free that low card. Once freed, move Aces to the foundation immediately – there’s no benefit to leaving an Ace in the tableau, as it can only block moves. Getting low cards out early opens up space and creates more opportunities to play other cards onto them.
Deal with Kings Strategically: Kings are the highest cards and can act as roadblocks on the tableau. Because you cannot place any card on top of a King in a build sequence, a King sitting on a tableau pile will freeze that entire column until the King is moved. Whenever possible, move Kings out of the way to an empty column. Often, you’ll free up a King by clearing another pile and then immediately shifting the King into that space. If a King becomes playable to a foundation (say, the Queen of that suit is already on the foundation), do it. By relocating Kings, you’ll gain access to the cards that were beneath them, which is crucial for progress.
Use Empty Columns as Spare Slots: Remember, you can only move one card at a time in Forty and Eight. However, you can effectively move a whole sequence by using empty columns as intermediate holding spots. For instance, suppose you have a sequence 9♦-8♦-7♦ in one pile and you want to move it onto a 10♦ in another pile. You can do it by moving the 7♦ to an empty column, then moving the 8♦ onto the 9♦, then move the 7♦ onto the 8♦, and finally move the entire rebuilt sequence onto the 10♦. This kind of leapfrog maneuver is a bit of a juggling act, but it’s often necessary. Using empty piles as temporary parking for cards lets you rearrange and move sequences that would otherwise be stuck. Mastering this technique (similar to using free cells in FreeCell) is essential for tough endgame situations.
Think Several Moves Ahead: Forty and Eight rewards careful planning. Before making a move, consider how it will affect your ability to access other cards. Try to visualize a few moves into the future – if you play that 5♣ onto the 6♣, will it free a needed card or just block something else? Avoid moves that lead to dead ends. Sometimes it’s better to hold off and explore a different sequence of moves. With practice, you’ll get better at spotting which moves open up the game and which ones might inadvertently trap important cards. Patience and foresight go a long way in improving your win rate.
Manage the Waste Pile Wisely: The waste pile (where stock cards are flipped) should be used carefully. Always play waste cards to the tableau or foundation if they immediately help your position. However, avoid cluttering the tableau with a waste card that doesn’t help. For example, if the top of a tableau is a 5♣ and your waste pile shows another 5♣, playing that second 5♣ onto some other 6♣ doesn’t really help you – it just creates a duplicate card and doesn’t free the original 5♣. In such cases, it might be better not to play the waste card and instead continue flipping (essentially skipping it). In short, don’t play cards from the waste just because you can – play them when they actually improve your situation. Also, if you have a redeal, try not to waste it on a trivial improvement; save that redeal for when you’ve exhausted all other options.
Use Undo and Hints (in Online Play): If you’re playing Forty and Eight Solitaire online here on SolitaireX.io, take advantage of the helpful tools available. The Undo button is your friend – feel free to undo moves if you realize a sequence of moves has boxed you in. Retracing your steps can allow you to try a different approach without starting over completely. Similarly, the Hint feature can suggest a possible move if you’re stuck. Hints won’t always show the best move (sometimes the best move is to flip from the stock or do a less obvious transfer), but they can nudge you in the right direction. Using undo and hints can help you learn from mistakes and discover new strategies without the frustration of being completely stuck.

By applying these strategies and tips, you’ll find you can win more often and enjoy the game even when you don’t win. Forty and Eight Solitaire rewards careful thinking and adaptability. Every deal is a new puzzle to solve, so stay patient, plan ahead, and celebrate the small wins (like finally freeing that buried Ace 🎉) that bring you closer to victory!

History of Forty and Eight Solitaire

Every card game has a story, and Forty and Eight Solitaire is no exception. This game is a member of the Forty Thieves solitaire family, which dates back to at least the 19th century. The original Forty Thieves Solitaire is famously known by other names such as Napoleon at St. Helena, inspired by the legend that French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte played this solitaire game during his exile in 1815. (There’s no hard proof Napoleon actually played Forty Thieves, but the tale has become part of solitaire folklore.) The name "Forty Thieves" itself alludes to the 40 cards in the initial tableau and references the story Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves – symbolizing the challenge of overcoming those 40 “obstacles” to win the game. By the early 20th century, the game had become popular enough to appear in many card game collections, and it spawned a number of variations as players tweaked the rules to adjust the difficulty.

Forty and Eight emerged as one of these Forty Thieves variants. Instead of the 10 tableau columns of 4 cards each used in classic Forty Thieves (10x4 = 40 cards), Forty and Eight was designed with an 8-column tableau of 5 cards each (8x5 = 40 cards). The rules remained mostly the same, but typically a redeal was introduced as well – allowing players to go through the stock twice instead of just once. The name "Forty and Eight" simply highlights the 40 cards on the tableau and the 8 foundation piles you need to fill to win, essentially describing the setup and objective of the game.

It’s not well documented exactly who first created or popularized the Forty and Eight variant – unlike some solitaire games which have known inventors or specific publication dates, this one likely evolved organically among solitaire enthusiasts. By the mid-20th century and certainly with the rise of computer solitaire collections in the late 20th/early 21st century, Forty and Eight became a staple inclusion in solitaire game suites and books. It’s one of the “classic variants” often found alongside other Forty Thieves offshoots like Josephine, Congress, or Red and Black. These variants all put their own spin on the Forty Thieves formula (for example, Josephine allows moving groups of cards, Congress uses alternate-color building, etc.), and Forty and Eight’s particular twist was reducing the number of columns and permitting a redeal to make the game a bit more approachable.

Today, Forty and Eight Solitaire remains popular among avid solitaire players who appreciate its balance of difficulty and solvability. It offers a slightly higher chance of winning compared to unmodified Forty Thieves, while still retaining the core challenge that makes that family of games so satisfying. When you play Forty and Eight, you’re participating in a long tradition of solitaire – one that has been passed down through generations and continues to evolve in the digital age. 📜

Who Created Forty and Eight Solitaire?

Because Forty and Eight is essentially a variant of an older classic, there isn’t a single famous inventor or date we can point to for its creation. The game’s origin is a bit of a mystery, wrapped up in the general evolution of solitaire games. Forty Thieves itself likely originated in 19th-century Europe (often attributed to France), but for Forty and Eight, the best we can say is that it emerged through adaptation. Enthusiastic players and game designers tweaked the Forty Thieves rules to create an easier (or at least different) experience, and at some point those changes coalesced into the variant now known as Forty and Eight. The name and concept might have appeared in multiple sources; for example, the variant is listed in Pretty Good Solitaire, a well-known solitaire software by Thomas Warfield, and other collections, indicating it has been around in published form at least since the late 20th century.

In short, no single person is officially credited with inventing Forty and Eight Solitaire. It’s a product of the solitaire community’s creativity. Over decades, as solitaire games were shared in books and digital collections, Forty and Eight became a recognized standard variant. The version you play today on SolitaireX.io is a modern digital implementation of this classic variant – one that likely evolved from many contributions and tweaks by different solitaire aficionados rather than one lone creator. 🤔

(If we consider the software perspective, many have implemented Forty and Eight in their own way – for instance, developer Jan Wolter created a popular early online version in JavaScript in the 2000s, and many apps and websites have included the game since. But the idea of Forty and Eight wasn’t invented by any one programmer; it was an established rule-set by the time digital solitaire took off.)

Play Forty and Eight Solitaire Online on SolitaireX.io 🎴

Now that you know how to play and win, it’s time to try Forty and Eight Solitaire for yourself! The great news is you can play this game right here, right now – no need to fetch a deck of cards or install anything. Simply head to the top of this page (or click “New Game”) to start a fresh game of Forty and Eight Solitaire on SolitaireX.io. This website provides a smooth, free online platform where you can enjoy Forty and Eight and many other solitaire games right in your browser.

Why play on SolitaireX.io? Online play gives you some awesome benefits: you get automatic shuffling and dealing (instant setup), the game enforces the rules for you (no accidental wrong moves), and you have helpful features like Undo and Hint at your fingertips. Plus, SolitaireX.io keeps track of your statistics and even offers leaderboards, so you can see how often you win and challenge yourself to improve over time. It’s solitaire on-demand, anytime and anywhere, whether you’re on a PC or playing on your phone during a break.

And if you’re curious about other games, we’ve got you covered: SolitaireX.io isn’t just about Forty and Eight. In fact, you can find dozens of solitaire games here – from classics like Klondike, Spider, FreeCell to other Forty Thieves variants and unique modern solitaire puzzles. Feel free to explore our All Solitaire Games collection to discover more fun card games. Each game page includes instructions and tips, so you can learn and enjoy new solitaire variations at your own pace.

Ready to put your skills to the test? Forty and Eight Solitaire is waiting for you – give it a go and see if you can beat the odds! Good luck, and most importantly, have fun 😊. Happy card playing!

Play Forty and Eight Solitaire online for free on SolitaireX.io and explore many more solitaire games on our site. Enjoy! 🎉

Sources:

Jan Wolter, Forty and Eight – Game Rules and Help
SolitaireX Blog, Forty Thieves Solitaire: History, Rules, and How to Play