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)
Josephine Solitaire
Josephine Solitaire
📊 Global Player Statistics
Is Josephine Solitaire hard to win? Based on our internal data from over 52,000 games played, here are the current platform benchmarks:
| Metric | Platform Average |
|---|---|
| Average Moves | 255 |
| Completion Time | 09:17 |
| Win Ratio | 46.00% |
*Stats calculated across 52,000+ sessions to provide the most accurate difficulty rating.
Introduction
Ready to steal some fun? Josephine Solitaire is a classic two-deck patience game with a playful twist 😃. It’s a beloved variation of the notorious Forty Thieves solitaire, but a bit more forgiving for the player. Named after Napoleon Bonaparte’s wife, this game lets you move entire sequences of cards at once, opening up clever new moves and boosting your chances to win. If Forty Thieves feels too tough, Josephine is your perfect match! ♠️♥️
Playing Josephine Solitaire online at solitairex.io/josephine-solitaire is easy and free 🎉. Our browser-based version requires no downloads, so you can jump straight into the action. Whether you’re a pro or a beginner, you’ll enjoy the mix of strategy and luck this classic Forty Thieves variation offers.
How to Play Josephine Solitaire
Setup: 10 columns of 4 cards form the tableau, with 8 foundation piles above (using two decks).
Goal: Move all 104 cards to the 8 foundation piles, building each suit up from Ace to King. Unlike other variants, Josephine gives you a tactical advantage through sequence movement.
Tableau Rules: Build cards downward by suit (e.g., a 5♣ onto a 6♣). The Josephine Rule: You can move an entire sequence of cards if they are in descending suit order! This allows you to reorganize the tableau quickly, uncover hidden cards, and fill empty columns (which can hold any card or sequence) to manage the 104-card deck effectively.
Stock & Waste: Draw one card at a time from the stock into the waste pile. Plan carefully—there are no redeals. Once the stock is gone, your remaining moves on the tableau are your last chance to win!
History & Trivia
Josephine Solitaire is an offshoot of Forty Thieves (also known as “Napoleon at St. Helena”). It first appeared in print in the late 1930s. Legend says Napoleon played solitaire during his exile, and Josephine was named after his first wife, Josephine de Beauharnais, serving as a "gentler" companion to the original game.
While the original game is famously difficult, our data shows a healthy 46.00% win rate for Josephine, making it the ideal choice for players who want a strategic challenge without the frustration.
Explore More Forty Thieves Variants
If you enjoy the strategic depth of Josephine, you’ll love other members of the family like Diplomat. Check out our full collection of Forty Thieves solitaire games on solitairex.io to find your next favorite challenge. ✨
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 →
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