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Build down in any suit except the card's own: that one twist makes this two-deck Forty Thieves cousin friendlier, with about a 50% win rate.

Indian Solitaire is a two-deck patience from the Forty Thieves family that has been passing through solitaire collections for well over a century. It deals a shorter tableau than its famous parent — ten piles of three cards instead of ten piles of four — and hides the bottom card of every pile, so each column holds one small surprise.

Its signature rule is what gives the game a character of its own: cards on the tableau are built down in any suit except their own. A 9 of hearts may be placed on any black 10 or on the 10 of diamonds, but never on the 10 of hearts. That one twist makes Indian noticeably friendlier than Forty Thieves, since three of the four suits are always available — yet single-card moves and a single pass through the stock keep the pressure on.

The game is moderately difficult, with roughly a 50% chance of winning, and skill matters far more than luck once you get used to dodging your own suit.

Forty Thieves Solitaire is the parent game this one bends the rules of, and Josephine Solitaire is another close relative worth trying if you like this family.

If you run into anything odd or have an idea that would make the game better, please contact me.

Enjoy playing!

How to play Indian Solitaire

Layout:

8 foundation piles: Build up in suit from Ace to King.

10 tableau piles: Build down in any suit except the card's own. Only the top card of each pile may be moved, and any card may fill an empty pile. Each pile is dealt three cards at the start of the game, the bottom one face down.

Stock: Click to flip over cards one at a time to the waste. There are no redeals.

Waste: The top card is playable.

Foundation:

There are eight foundation piles.

Each pile starts with an ace. A card can be added to a foundation pile only if it's one rank higher and the same suit as the pile's current top card, so the only card that fits on an 8 of spades is a 9 of spades. There can be no more than 13 cards in a pile.

The top card of each foundation can be moved back into play if another pile will accept it.

Tableau:

Ten tableau piles of three cards each. The bottom card of each pile is dealt face down and is turned over once it is uncovered.

A card can be added to a tableau pile only if it's one rank lower than the pile's current top card and of any suit other than its own, so a 7 of clubs fits on the 8 of spades, hearts, or diamonds, but not on the 8 of clubs.

Cards on the tableau that are not covered by another card are free to be played onto the foundation or any other tableau pile.

Any card may be placed in an empty tableau spot.

Only one card may be moved at a time; sequences are not permitted.

Stock and waste:

There is one waste pile and the remaining cards comprise the stock.

When you click on the stock, one card from the stock is dealt to the waste. There is only one pass through the stock.

The top card of the waste can be played to the tableau or foundation.