Streets & Alleys - Play Online Free
Streets & Alleys is an open, single-deck member of the Forty Thieves family that trades difficulty for clarity. All 52 cards are dealt face-up across thirteen columns, there is no stock pile, and you build down by any suit — giving you complete information and flexible placement. The result is a far more winnable, beginner-friendly game than the notoriously hard Forty Thieves. This free online Streets & Alleys plays instantly in your browser — no download and no sign-up.
What Is Streets & Alleys?
Streets & Alleys is a single-player card game played with one standard 52-card deck. Every card is dealt face-up into thirteen tableau columns, with no stock and no hidden cards, so the entire puzzle is visible from the first move. The goal is to build four foundations up from Ace to King by suit, clearing the whole tableau in the process.
What makes the streets and alleys game so approachable is its any-suit building rule. Unlike Forty Thieves, which demands strict same-suit stacking, here a card may rest on any card one rank higher regardless of suit, which dramatically widens your options. With no stock pile to manage and empty columns available as flexible workspace, around 65–75% of deals are solvable. It is widely regarded as one of the friendliest doorways into the Forty Thieves family, rewarding planning without the brutal restrictions of its parent game.
How to Play Streets & Alleys
Setup and Deal
Deal all 52 cards face-up into thirteen columns of four cards each. There is no stock pile — every card is visible from the start. Four foundations sit between the two banks of columns (the "streets" and "alleys"), waiting to be built from Ace to King by suit.
Objective
Move all 52 cards to the four foundations, building each suit upward from Ace to King. You reach this by reorganizing the tableau into descending runs of any suit, one card at a time, and using empty columns to free buried cards. Clear the whole board to win.
Rules
- All 52 cards are dealt face-up into 13 columns.
- Build tableau columns in descending rank with any suit.
- Only single cards can be moved.
- Any card can fill an empty column.
- Build 4 foundation piles from Ace to King by suit.
Streets & Alleys Strategy Tips
- With thirteen columns and complete visibility, plan your moves carefully before acting.
- Focus on freeing the Aces and getting the foundations climbing early.
- Empty columns are your primary workspace — open and use them strategically.
- Any-suit building gives maximum flexibility, but still think ahead about which cards you bury.
- Advance all four foundations fairly evenly to keep useful landing cards available.
- Because moves are single-card, plan multi-step relocations through empty columns deliberately.
Streets & Alleys vs. Forty Thieves
Streets & Alleys is essentially a gentler Forty Thieves. Forty Thieves uses two decks, same-suit building, and a stock pile, which combine for a punishing ~10% win rate. Streets & Alleys strips that down to one deck, any-suit building, and no stock, lifting the win rate to roughly 65–75%. Both share the open, all-cards-visible philosophy and single-card moves, so the planning skills transfer directly — Streets & Alleys is simply the welcoming version where good play is reliably rewarded.
Tips for Beginners
New to Streets & Alleys? Take advantage of the full visibility by studying the board before you move — find the Aces and plan how to free them. Use empty columns generously as workspace, since they are your main tool for reorganizing single cards. Build the foundations up steadily and avoid burying low cards you will soon need. With unlimited undo and a high win rate, it is a forgiving, satisfying place to practice open-tableau planning.
Play Streets & Alleys Free Online — No Download
You can play Streets & Alleys free online right here, with no download and no sign-up. The game runs in your browser on desktop, tablet, and phone, so this accessible Forty Thieves variant is always within reach. With its open layout, any-suit building, and no stock pile, Streets & Alleys offers a winnable, planning-rich experience — perfect for beginners and for anyone who finds Forty Thieves too harsh. Every deal is a fresh, solvable puzzle.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is Streets & Alleys different from Forty Thieves?
Streets & Alleys uses a single deck (52 cards) with any-suit building, while Forty Thieves uses 2 decks with same-suit building. Streets & Alleys is significantly easier.
What is the win rate for Streets & Alleys?
About 65-75% of deals are solvable. The any-suit building and complete visibility make most games winnable with careful play.
Is this a good game for beginners?
Yes, Streets & Alleys is one of the more accessible games in the Forty Thieves family, with relaxed building rules and full information.
Does Streets & Alleys have a stock pile?
No. All 52 cards are dealt face-up to the thirteen columns at the start, so there is no stock to draw from. Everything you need is visible, which is part of what makes the game so approachable.
Why is it called Streets & Alleys?
The name refers to the layout: the foundations sit in the middle with columns arranged on either side, evoking two rows of "streets" and "alleys." It is also known by the related name Beleaguered Castle in some collections.
Can you move groups of cards in Streets & Alleys?
No. Only single cards can be moved, so relocating a sequence means moving it one card at a time, usually by using empty columns as temporary workspace. This single-card rule is what keeps the game strategic despite its relaxed any-suit building.
What is the best opening move in Streets & Alleys?
Study the whole board first, then look for ways to free the Aces and start the foundations. Open at least one empty column early to give yourself workspace, and avoid burying low cards you will need soon.
Is Streets & Alleys a game of luck or skill?
Almost pure skill. Every card is dealt face-up and there is no stock pile, so there is no hidden information and no luck of the draw. With most deals solvable, careful planning decides the outcome.
Is Streets & Alleys free to play?
Yes. This Streets & Alleys is completely free — no download, no sign-up, and no fees. Just open the page and play in your browser on any device.