How to Play Napoleon at St Helena
Napoleon at St Helena is a quiet, thoughtful patience game for one player. If you want a clear, step-by-step start, this guide is for you — and you can always visit Playmore for more beginner content. Because rules change by source, check the game's authoritative or regional rules for the exact version you want to play.
Quick facts
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Game name | Napoleon at St Helena |
| Family | European patience |
| Players | 1 |
| Deck | 2 standard 52-card French-suited decks shuffled together |
| Setup | Tableau, limited reserve, stock, and foundations (exact layout varies) |
| Skill | Planning, careful sequencing |
What you are trying to do
The goal is simple: move every card onto the foundations. Foundations hold cards in a set sequence and by suit. The exact building direction and any special foundation starts depend on the version you choose, so check the rules for that detail. The challenge comes from a limited reserve and a tightly packed tableau.
What you need and how to set up
You need two normal 52-card decks. No special cards are required. Shuffle both decks together and deal the layout required by your chosen rule set. Most versions give you a set of tableau piles, a small reserve of face-up cards to help you, and a stock or waste pile to draw from. If you are unsure which layout to use, play a practice round with a small reserve and four or more tableau piles, then switch to the exact official layout when you’re ready.
How to play
- Reveal any designated reserve and the top cards of each tableau pile. These are your initial moves.
- Whenever a card fits onto a foundation, move it there. Clearing cards to foundations frees space and is usually good.
- Within the tableau you can move cards according to the local building rule. That rule may restrict builds by suit or rank sequence. Follow the version you chose.
- Use reserve cards to help build on the tableau or to place on foundations when allowed. The reserve is limited, so treat it as a valuable resource.
- If your version has a stock or waste, draw according to the rule to get new playable cards. How and how often you draw varies by rule set.
- Keep repeating moves from tableau, reserve, and stock until no legal moves remain or you have moved every card to the foundations.
How a round or game ends
You win when all cards are on the foundations in the required sequence and by suit. You lose when no legal moves remain and cards are still in the tableau, reserve, or stock. Some rule sets allow redeals or different draw counts; those are version-dependent. Check the authoritative rules for scoring or special end conditions.
Beginner tips
- Free the reserve early. Those cards are your most flexible helpers.
- Expose buried tableau cards. More face-up cards means more options.
- Prefer moves that unblock other cards over moves that only look good now.
- Be careful filling empty tableau spaces. Different versions treat empty piles differently, so check the rule before you commit a card there.
- Play slowly and plan two or three moves ahead. Undo is your friend if you play on a device.
FAQ
Is this played with one deck or two?
Napoleon at St Helena uses two standard 52-card decks shuffled together. No special deck is needed.
Can I move stacks of cards in the tableau?
That depends on the rule version. Some versions allow moving sequences; others restrict moves to single cards. Check the exact rules you’re following.
Where can I find the exact official layout and building rules?
There are authoritative and regional rule sources that list the precise layout, building direction, and any redeal rules. Check those official or regional rules to learn the exact version you want to play.