Napoleon at St. Helena

How to Play Napoleon at St. Helena Solitaire and Win the Exile

Ready to dive into Napoleon at St. Helena Solitaire, also known as Forty Thieves? This solo card game uses two standard decks, 104 cards total, and sets you up for a strategic challenge worthy of an emperor. You start by dealing 40 cards face-up into ten tableau piles, four cards each, all laid out for you to see. The remaining 64 cards become your stock pile, drawn one at a time to a waste pile. Your goal is to build eight foundation piles, one for each suit, stacking them from Ace to King.

Napoleon at St. Helena Rules, Tips, and Strategies

Here’s how you play: only the top card of each tableau pile is free to move. You can stack it on another tableau card if it’s one rank lower and the same suit, like a 7 of Diamonds on an 8 of Diamonds, or move it to a foundation if it fits the sequence. Flip stock cards one by one, using what you can, but there’s no second pass through the deck, so choose wisely. If you clear a tableau pile, any card can fill the empty spot, giving you room to maneuver. It’s a deep, thoughtful game that mixes luck and planning, perfect for a solo session. Can you escape St. Helena’s challenge and complete all eight stacks?