Lucas - Play Online Free
Lucas is a Forty Thieves variant that hands you a generous head start: all eight Aces begin already placed on the foundations before the first move. Paired with a wide tableau of thirteen columns of three face-up cards, this gives Lucas far more workspace and a much higher win rate than the notoriously tough Forty Thieves, while keeping its signature same-suit building. This free online Lucas Solitaire plays instantly in your browser — no download and no sign-up.
What Is Lucas Solitaire?
Lucas is a single-player card game played with two standard decks shuffled together — 104 cards in all. The eight Aces are pre-placed on the eight foundations at the start; of the remaining ninety-six cards, thirty-nine are dealt face-up into thirteen columns of three and fifty-seven form the stock. The goal is to build all eight foundations up from Ace to King by suit, clearing the whole deck.
The defining feature of the lucas game is its head start. With every Ace already up, you can begin playing Twos immediately, and the wide thirteen-column tableau gives you ample room and easy access to empty columns. These two advantages soften Forty Thieves' brutal difficulty considerably, lifting the win rate to around 25–35%. Same-suit building and single-card moves still demand careful play, so Lucas remains a strategic game — just a far more welcoming one, which makes it an excellent entry point to the Forty Thieves family.
How to Play Lucas
Setup and Deal
Use two standard decks (104 cards). All eight Aces are pre-placed on the eight foundations. Of the remaining ninety-six cards, thirty-nine are dealt face-up into thirteen columns of three, and the other fifty-seven form the stock pile, drawn one at a time with no redeals.
Objective
Move all 104 cards to the eight foundations, building each suit upward from the pre-placed Aces through King. You reach this by arranging the tableau into descending same-suit runs, drawing from the stock when needed, and using empty columns to free buried cards. Clear the whole deck to win.
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.
Lucas Strategy Tips
- With the Aces already placed, your immediate priority is finding and playing the Twos.
- The thirteen columns give you excellent workspace — open and use empty columns strategically.
- Build the foundations as fast as possible to keep the tableau clear.
- Same-suit building is still restrictive, so plan your sequences carefully and favor same-suit placements.
- Draw from the stock only after exhausting useful tableau moves, since there are no redeals.
- Keep an eye on all eight foundations so you steadily feed every suit upward.
Lucas vs. Forty Thieves
Lucas keeps the two-deck, same-suit, single-card-move core of Forty Thieves but eases it in two big ways: it pre-places all eight Aces and widens the tableau to thirteen columns of three. Forty Thieves makes you dig out the Aces and squeeze through ten columns of four, which is why only about 10% of its deals are winnable. Lucas' head start and extra workspace raise that to roughly 25–35%. The games share the same skills, so Lucas is the ideal training ground before tackling Forty Thieves at full difficulty.
Tips for Beginners
New to Lucas? Use your head start: with the Aces already up, hunt for Twos and Threes right away to get the foundations climbing. Lean on the thirteen columns and any empty columns as workspace, and build same-suit runs deliberately. Hold off on drawing from the stock until you have made every useful tableau move, since there are no redeals. Unlimited undo lets you experiment, making Lucas a forgiving way to learn Forty Thieves-style play.
Play Lucas Solitaire Free Online — No Download
You can play Lucas Solitaire free online right here, with no download and no sign-up. The game runs in your browser on desktop, tablet, and phone, so this approachable Forty Thieves variant is always within reach. With its pre-placed Aces and wide thirteen-column tableau, Lucas offers the strategy of Forty Thieves with a much friendlier win rate — perfect for newcomers to two-deck solitaire. Every deal is a satisfying, solvable puzzle.
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.
How many cards does Lucas use?
Lucas uses two full decks for a total of 104 cards. The eight Aces start on the foundations, thirty-nine cards are dealt to the thirteen tableau columns, and fifty-seven form the stock.
Can you move groups of cards in Lucas?
No. Like Forty Thieves, Lucas allows only single-card moves, so sequences must be relocated one card at a time, typically by using empty columns as temporary workspace.
Does Lucas have redeals?
No. You get a single pass through the stock with no redeals, so each stock card is a one-time opportunity. Even with the head start of pre-placed Aces, this keeps the game demanding.
Why does Lucas pre-place the Aces?
Starting all eight Aces on the foundations removes the hardest early task in Forty Thieves — digging the Aces out of a tight tableau. With the Aces already up, you can immediately hunt for Twos and build, which is the main reason Lucas is so much more winnable.
What is the best strategy for Lucas?
With the Aces placed, find and play the Twos and Threes right away, then keep all eight foundations climbing. Use the thirteen columns and empty columns as workspace, build same-suit runs, and draw from the stock only after exhausting tableau moves.
Is Lucas Solitaire free to play?
Yes. This Lucas is completely free — no download, no sign-up, and no fees. Just open the page and play in your browser on any device.