Comparison
Yukon vs Forty Thieves
| Yukon | Forty Thieves | |
|---|---|---|
| Decks | One deck | 2 decks |
| Suits | 4 | 4 |
| Typical length | 15 min | 25 min |
| Difficulty | Intermediate | Hard |
| How much skill matters | High | High |
| How much the shuffle matters | Medium | Low |
| Family | Yukon family | Standalone |
| Good for beginners | No | 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.
Yukon
No stock at all, and any face-up card moves together with everything piled on top of it, however disordered.
All 52 cards are dealt at the start into seven columns of uneven length, with the top five cards of each column face up. There is no stock and no waste — everything you will ever have is on the table from the first move.
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, Yukon or Forty Thieves?
- Yukon is generally rated intermediate difficulty, while Forty Thieves is rated hard — so most players find one noticeably harder than the other.