Comparison
Klondike vs Forty Thieves
| Klondike | Forty Thieves | |
|---|---|---|
| Decks | One deck | 2 decks |
| Suits | 4 | 4 |
| Typical length | 10 min | 25 min |
| Difficulty | Beginner | Hard |
| How much skill matters | Medium | High |
| How much the shuffle matters | Medium | Low |
| Family | Klondike family | Standalone |
| Good for beginners | Yes | No |
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.
Klondike
The best-known solitaire game: build tableau columns down in alternating colors and move cards up to four suit foundations.
Deal seven columns, the first holding one card and the seventh holding seven, with only the top card of each face up. Build the columns downward in alternating colours — a red six onto a black seven — and move cards up to four foundation piles that each build a suit from Ace to King.
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.
Frequently asked questions
- Which is harder, Klondike or Forty Thieves?
- Klondike is generally rated beginner difficulty, while Forty Thieves is rated hard — so most players find one noticeably harder than the other.