Lucas - Play Online Free
Lucas is a Forty Thieves variant that gives you a head start by placing all 8 Aces directly on the foundations before the game begins. With 13 columns of 3 face-up cards each, it offers more workspace and a higher win rate than standard Forty Thieves.
How to Play Lucas
Setup
Use 2 standard decks (104 cards). All 8 Aces are pre-placed on the 8 foundation piles. The remaining 96 cards: 39 are dealt face-up into 13 columns of 3 cards each, and 57 form the stock pile.
Rules
- All 8 Aces start pre-placed on foundations.
- Build tableau columns in descending rank with same-suit cards only.
- Only single cards can be moved.
- Any card can fill an empty column.
- Draw one card at a time from the stock with no redeals.
- Build foundations up by suit from the pre-placed Aces through King.
Strategy Tips
- With Aces already placed, focus immediately on finding and playing Twos.
- The 13 columns give you excellent workspace — use empty columns strategically.
- Build foundations as fast as possible to keep the tableau clear.
- Same-suit building is still restrictive — plan your sequences carefully.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is Lucas different from Forty Thieves?
Two key differences: (1) all 8 Aces start pre-placed on foundations, and (2) the tableau has 13 columns of 3 cards instead of 10 columns of 4. Both changes make Lucas significantly easier.
What is the win rate for Lucas?
About 25-35% of deals are solvable, considerably higher than Forty Thieves' 10% due to the pre-placed Aces and wider tableau.
Is Lucas a good introduction to Forty Thieves games?
Yes, Lucas is one of the best entry points to the Forty Thieves family. The pre-placed Aces and extra columns make it more forgiving while teaching the same-suit building mechanics.