Comparison
Forty Thieves vs Aces Up
| Forty Thieves | Aces Up | |
|---|---|---|
| Decks | 2 decks | One deck |
| Suits | 4 | 4 |
| Typical length | 25 min | 5 min |
| Difficulty | Hard | Easy |
| How much skill matters | High | Low |
| How much the shuffle matters | Low | High |
| Family | Standalone | Standalone |
| Good for beginners | No | Yes |
We have not written a verdict for this pairing. The comparison above is drawn from each game's own recorded facts — follow either link for its full rules and strategy.
Forty Thieves
Build strict same-suit sequences across ten columns dealt from two decks — one of the toughest classic patience games.
Two decks are dealt face up into ten columns of four, so the whole tableau is visible from the start. Columns build downward strictly by suit — a seven of hearts takes only the six of hearts — and eight foundations build each suit up from Ace to King.
Aces Up
Discard cards that rank below another card of the same suit across four piles, aiming to end with only the four Aces left.
Four cards are dealt face up, one to each of four piles. Whenever two or more visible cards share a suit, all but the highest-ranked of them are discarded — and Aces count high, so an Ace beats a King.
Frequently asked questions
- Which is harder, Forty Thieves or Aces Up?
- Forty Thieves is generally rated hard difficulty, while Aces Up is rated easy — so most players find one noticeably harder than the other.