Cannot drop, your card needs to be of an opposite suit colour
Cannot drop, your card needs to be one rank lower
Cannot move multiple cards to foundation
Card suit doesn't match foundation pile suit
Card can only be dropped on top of a card pile
Cannot deal cards when there are empty tableau piles
You can only move {0} card(s) at a time based on the current free cells and tableau
The cards don't add up to 13 and cannot be moved
The card is inaccessible and move cannot be performed
Cards must be in sequential order (one higher or lower)
La Belle Lucie Solitaire
La Belle Lucie Solitaire
🎉 Step into the charming world of La Belle Lucie Solitaire! This classic fan‑style patience game (also called Lovely Lucy 😍) deals all 52 cards face-up into 17 small fans (plus one leftover card). The goal is simple but deceptively tricky: build all cards onto four foundations (each Ace up to King by suit) while playing tableau cards in descending suit order. Players love La Belle Lucie for its pleasing, fan‑shaped layout and its “just one more game!” challenge. Each round is a fun brain‑teaser 🧠 – wins are rare (about 1 in 10 deals), so beating the odds feels extra rewarding 🎖️. Shuffle up and see if you can master this beautiful classic!
How to Play
- Deal the cards: Shuffle a standard deck and lay out 17 fans of 3 cards each, with the remaining card in an 18th fan. All cards are face-up and overlapping (so every card is visible).
- Start foundations: Immediately move any exposed Aces up to start the four foundation piles (one Ace of each suit). Foundations build up by suit (2♦ on A♦, 3♠ on 2♠, etc.).
- Play on the tableau: Move cards between fans down by suit – for example, place the 7♣ onto an 8♣. Only the top card of each fan can be moved (the cards underneath remain locked until exposed).
- Empty spaces stay empty: If a fan empties, leave it empty (you cannot refill it with any card).
- Reshuffle when stuck: When no more moves are possible, gather all tableau cards (off the foundations), shuffle them, and redeal into fans of three again. Do this up to two times during a game. After the second redeal, if you’re still blocked the game ends.
- Win the game: Keep moving cards to the foundations whenever possible. You win when all cards are built into the four foundations (each Ace through King in suit).
Rules of the Game
- Setup: Deal all 52 cards into the tableau as 17 fans of 3 cards (the 18th fan has just 1 card). All cards are face-up.
- Movable cards: Only the top card of each fan can be played. You can move it either to a foundation or onto another tableau fan.
- Tableau building: On the tableau, build cards down in suit – e.g. 7♣ can be placed on 8♣. You may only move one card at a time.
- Foundations: Foundations build up in suit, starting from each Ace (Ace→2→3…→King of the same suit).
- Empty spaces: Once a fan is emptied, it cannot be filled again (even with a King).
- Reshuffles: If no more moves are possible, you may collect and reshuffle the tableau cards and redeal into fans again. Up to two reshuffles are allowed.
- Goal: The game is won when all cards have been moved to the foundations.
History of the Game
La Belle Lucie is a classic 19th-century patience game. It originated in France (hence the French name “Beautiful Lucy”) and later spread to England. Its first printed rules appeared in Lady Adelaide Cadogan’s famous Illustrated Games of Patience (1870). Cadogan helped popularize many solitaire games in Victorian England, and La Belle Lucie quickly became a staple in her collection. Over the years the game picked up many nicknames – for example “Lovely Lucy” is simply an English version of the name – as well as variant titles like Clover Leaves, Alexander the Great, and Midnight Oil. Its elegant fan-shaped deal has kept it popular for over a century, making La Belle Lucie a beloved antique of the solitaire family.
Tips and Tricks
- Plan every move: Since all cards are face-up from the start, take a moment to study the layout before playing. Look for potential blockages (e.g. a lower card trapped under a higher one) and plan around them. “Look ahead” – don’t bury cards you need.
- Free the Aces fast: Whenever an Ace is exposed, play it to a foundation immediately. There’s rarely any benefit in holding back a playable card, especially Aces or any card that can go to a foundation.
- Build smartly on piles of one: If a fan has only one card, it’s safe to build on it. You won’t be blocking any other card by covering that single card. Likewise, if a fan has a small descending sequence (like 7♣ on 8♣), it’s generally safe to add to that pile too.
- Watch the Kings: Cards under a King are locked until the King moves to a foundation. So try to free Kings by playing Queens (and then Jacks, etc.) onto them. In early play (before redeals), Kings usually can’t move to the foundation, so it’s often okay to build on a King – just keep track of them for later.
- Avoid stuck sequences: Don’t create piles that can never be moved. For example, don’t place a 7♠ on an 8♠ if you have no place to move that 7♠ later. Always check if the card under your target can move first.
- Use reshuffles wisely: You only get two reshuffles, so don’t waste them until you’re really out of moves. After the second reshuffle, try one final play (in the Three-Shuffles variant you even get one “draw” for a blocked card).
- Stay positive: Remember that La Belle Lucie is famously difficult – only about 10% of games are winnable. Don’t be discouraged if you lose; each game is a puzzle. With practice and careful planning, you’ll improve your odds – and when you do win, it’s that much more satisfying!
Where to Play
Ready to deal? You can play La Belle Lucie Solitaire for free right now on SolitaireX. Just visit solitairex.io/la-belle-lucie-solitaire on your computer or mobile device to start a game immediately – no download required! 😉
More Games
Love Solitaire? Check out SolitaireX’s huge collection of free games! Try classic favorites like Klondike (Classic Solitaire), Spider, FreeCell, TriPeaks, and many others. 🎲 All these and more are waiting for you on our Other Free Games page – challenge yourself with a new game today!
Sources: Authoritative solitaire guides and histories.
Case Studies
All figures below come directly from our database. Using first-party data ensures every insight is evidence-based, up-to-date, and privacy-respectful.
| Game Tier | Stand-out Titles | Win Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Quick Wins | Spider (1 Suit), Hole-in-One, TriPeaks | 70–84% |
| Fair Challenges | Solitaire (Draw 1) – 913 k plays FreeCell, Golf |
45–63% |
| Expert-Level | Spider (4 Suits), Forty Thieves, Double Scorpion | ≤11% |
Curious which moves turn the odds in your favor? Explore all the data & strategies →
What people say about us
Interview with Beverley Walker-Daury
At 87, Beverley Walker-Daury shares how SolitaireX brings joy, companionship, and purpose to her days in a retirement home.
Player Interview: Poul Andersen
Poul Andersen shares how playing SolitaireX helps him keep his brain sharp and active.
Player Interview: Peter Gross
Peter Gross, 81, shares how SolitaireX became his go-to place for relaxing Freecell games and friendly competition.
Player Spotlight: St0Sh0’s Record-Breaking Runs on SolitaireX
We sit down with speed-solitaire sensation St0Sh0 to talk record times, favorite variants, and why SolitaireX is his go-to card-game hub.
Fresh from the SolitaireX Blog
Track Your Spider Solitaire Progress: Build Your Own Win-Rate System
This article is the final part of a Spider Solitaire mastery series, focusing on how to track your games and build a personal win-rate system. By logging key metrics, spotting patterns, and reflecting on notes, it shows how players can turn simple records into powerful insights that boost skill, confidence, and long-term enjoyment.
Spider Solitaire Strategy Deep Dive: From Mixed Runs to Clean Wins
This article is a deep-dive strategy guide for Spider Solitaire (Part 2) aimed at intermediate and advanced players. It builds on the basics from Part 1 and focuses on how to turn messy mid-game layouts into structured, winnable positions.
Solitaire Variations Glossary: Essential Terms by Gameplay Category
Explore the ultimate glossary of solitaire terms and concepts, explained in clear and simple language. From tableau, foundations, and free cells to popular solitaire variations like Klondike, Spider, FreeCell, Pyramid, and TriPeaks, this guide helps beginners and enthusiasts understand the rules, moves, and key strategies of solitaire.
Mastering Solitaire: A Data‑Driven Journey from Frustration to Triumph
An in-depth, data-rich guide analyzing over 366,000 Classic Solitaire games. Explore win rates, time and move efficiency, and actionable tips—bringing sabermetrics-style solitaire research to your strategy.
Latest guides crafted by Stoyan Shopov and Kalin Nikolov
Golf Solitaire Mastery: Strategy, Stats & Flow
Deal 7 columns of 5 face‑up cards (35 total). The remaining 17 cards*form the stock; flip the first stock card to start the waste. You may move only exposed tableau cards, and only if the rank is exactly one higher or lower than the waste top. Suits don’t matter. When no move exists, flip a new waste card. Clear all tableau cards to win.
TriPeaks Solitaire Mastery: Strategy & Analytics
Two peaks are dust; one stubborn ridge remains. Your waste shows a 9. The tableau flashes 10‑J‑10‑9‑8 like a heartbeat. You nudge the 10, feel the cadence lock in, and—without overthinking—trace a neat descent that crumbles the last peak. That tiny spark of *flow* is why TriPeaks hooks serious players: rhythm, restraint, and the rush of a run that arrives exactly on time.
Pyramid Solitaire Mastery: Strategy, Stats & Joy
Picture the pyramid down to its last stubborn tier: a Queen pinned beneath a ridge, a lone Ace on the waste, and a King begging to be burned for tempo. Heartbeat, breath, click—then the whole structure yields in a rush. If you’ve hit that razor‑edge finale, you already know Pyramid’s secret: small decisions, made in the right order, change everything.
FreeCell Solitaire Mastery: Strategy & Analytics Guide
I have a 15 years personal, lived experience—picture a scene built from thousands of session logs and notes from serious players: It’s late, and the board looks jammed. You clear a single column, free one cell, and suddenly a 9♣‑8♦‑7♣‑6♦ chain glides into place, untying the knot you stared at for ten minutes. The rush isn’t luck—it’s the quiet pleasure of a plan snapping into focus. When did FreeCell last feel less like “killing time” and more like practicing a craft you can actually master?
Media About Us
Browser Based Online Game Directory
SolitaireX.io has been featured on bbogd.com, where players worldwide find Browser Based Online Games
itch.io
SolitaireX.io has been featured on itch.io, where players worldwide enjoy our collection of classic and modern solitaire games.
IndieDB
IndieDB featured SolitaireX as a unique browser-based platform with 70+ free solitaire online variations, highlighting our place in the global indie gaming community.
MSN News
Players are drawn back to solitaire in 2025 for many reasons, from unwinding and improving mental acuity. Its online accessibility is exceptional.
0