Canfield Solitaire

Canfield Solitaire has a sharper history than most patience games. The name is linked to casino owner Richard A. Canfield, who offered payouts for cards moved to the foundations. That gambling origin explains the pressure: a large reserve blocks your view, and the foundation starts from a random base rank instead of Ace. The puzzle trains planning under scarcity. Each move must open the reserve, protect tableau spaces, and keep foundation progress alive. Start a deal and test the reserve.

1. Deal one card to start the first foundation. All foundations must begin from that same rank.
2. Place thirteen cards in the reserve pile, with only the top reserve card available.
3. Deal four tableau cards. Build them downward by alternating color, wrapping King to Ace when needed.
4. Move cards to foundations upward by suit, wrapping from King to Ace until each pile has thirteen cards.
5. Draw from the stock to the waste when no tableau or reserve move helps.
6. Win by moving all 52 cards to the foundations.

• Canfield uses one standard 52-card deck.
• Foundation building starts from a random base card, not always Ace.
• Tableau piles build downward in alternating colors.
• Empty tableau spaces are usually filled automatically from the reserve, then from the waste if the reserve is empty.
• Only the top card of the reserve, waste, or tableau pile can move.
• The game ends when all foundations fill or no useful move remains.

• Attack the reserve first. Every reserve card you remove reveals the next locked card and reduces the main bottleneck.
• Keep at least one tableau space flexible. Empty columns help you cycle reserve cards and set up foundation moves.
• Track the base rank. If foundations start on 8, then 7s are late-game cards, while 9s become immediate targets.
• Avoid burying low foundation cards under long tableau builds. A card that can move up soon should stay easy to reach.
• Use the waste pile as a planning tool. Draw only after checking whether the reserve top can move.

• Klondike Solitaire: Uses seven tableau columns and Ace-start foundations, making it more familiar for new players.
• FreeCell: Replaces the reserve with four open storage cells and full information.
• Demon: The British name for Canfield, usually played with the same reserve and base-rank foundation idea.

• The reserve pile creates real tension from the first move.
• A random foundation base makes each deal feel different.
• Short games carry more risk than Klondike, which suits players who like hard patience games.
• Good tableau timing can rescue deals that look lost.

Play Canfield Solitaire free in your browser. The page gives you the rules, examples, and strategy notes while keeping the game quick to restart. Work through the reserve, build around the base card, and see how far you can push a hard deal.

Canfield Solitaire turns a small layout into a demanding card puzzle. Manage the reserve, respect the base rank, and use empty tableau spaces with care. Start playing and see whether you can beat the odds.

• Canfield Solitaire - Rules Overview
• Official Rules of Card Games - United States Playing Card Company