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Emperor Solitaire is a two-deck Napoleon family game that adds one crucial rule on top of Rank and File: you may move the top card of any foundation pile back to the tableau when needed. This "worry back" option gives you a genuine safety net and pushes the win rate to around 60%, making Emperor one of the most satisfying games in the Forty Thieves family.
What is Emperor Solitaire?
Emperor Solitaire uses two standard 52-card decks for 104 cards. Ten tableau columns each receive four cards: the bottom three rows are dealt face-down and only the top card starts face-up. The remaining 64 cards become the stock. Eight foundations are built from Ace up to King in suit. Tableau columns build down in alternating colours and any built alternating- colour sequence may be moved as a unit. Uniquely, the top card of any foundation pile may be moved back to the tableau at any time if it fits. Draw one card at a time from the stock; no redeals.
What does "worry back" mean in Emperor Solitaire?
The worry-back rule allows you to retrieve the most recently placed card from any foundation pile and return it to the tableau. This is particularly valuable when a foundation card is blocking a suit progression or when you need it to complete an alternating-colour sequence in the tableau. The rule effectively turns foundation piles from permanent sinks into reversible staging areas.
How to play Emperor Solitaire
Emperor Solitaire rules and objective
Move all 104 cards to the eight foundation piles, each built up from Ace to King in a single suit. A card or sequence may be placed on a tableau column if the bottom card of the moving piece is one rank lower and opposite in colour to the column's current top card. Face-down cards flip automatically when exposed. Empty columns accept any card or sequence. The top card of any foundation pile may be moved back to a tableau column if it fits the build rule there. Draw one card at a time from the stock to the waste; the top waste card is always playable. No redeals.
Game setup
- Shuffle two standard 52-card decks together (104 cards).
- Deal four rows of ten. Rows one, two, and three go face-down; row four goes face-up.
- Reserve space above the tableau for eight foundation slots.
- Place the remaining 64 cards face-down as the stock.
Strategies to win Emperor Solitaire
- Use worry-back sparingly and purposefully. Retrieving a foundation card is powerful but removes a card from the win condition. Only do it when it unlocks a sequence of several productive moves.
- Flip face-down cards first. Three hidden rows mean a large number of useful cards are buried early. Revealing them expands your options faster than drawing from stock.
- Build long sequences before moving them. A full alternating-colour run from King to Ace can be slid onto an empty column, clearing a full column for new deals.
- Maintain empty columns as working space. Emperor's worry-back rule gives you more flexibility to create empties because you can undo a premature foundation move.
- Draw from stock only after exhausting all productive tableau moves. Stock cards are finite, so each draw should advance your position, not fill time.
Emperor vs similar games
| Game | Face-down rows | Sequences move | Worry back | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forty Thieves | 0 | No | No | ~10% |
| Deauville | 3 | No | No | ~15% |
| Number Ten | 2 | Yes | No | ~40% |
| Rank and File | 3 | Yes | No | ~50% |
| Emperor | 3 | Yes | Yes | ~60% |
Emperor Solitaire FAQ
What makes Emperor Solitaire different from Rank and File?
The layout, deck count, build rule, and sequence movement are identical. The sole difference is the worry-back rule: Emperor allows you to take the top card of any foundation pile back to the tableau. Rank and File does not. That one option raises the win rate by around 10 percentage points and meaningfully changes late-game strategy.
Can you move a card from the foundation to an empty column in Emperor?
Yes. The worry-back rule applies to any valid tableau placement, including empty columns. Moving a foundation card to an empty column is legal and can be particularly useful when you need to free up a suit sequence for reorganisation.
What is the win rate for Emperor Solitaire?
Emperor Solitaire has a win rate of approximately 60% with good play. The combination of sequence movement and worry-back gives significantly more recovery options than other Napoleon family variants, making it the most forgiving two-deck game in the group after Josephine.
Is Emperor Solitaire a good game for beginners to the Forty Thieves family?
Emperor is an excellent entry point for the Napoleon family if you find Forty Thieves or Rank and File too punishing. The worry-back rule removes the most frustrating situation in strict variants, where a premature foundation move locks you into an unwinnable position. Start with Emperor to learn the sequence and layout, then try Rank and File for a stricter challenge.