Canfield Solitaire
Added 02/2026
Canfield Solitaire is a classic single-deck card game with a rich history rooted in 19th-century American gambling culture. Named after Richard A. Canfield, a notorious casino owner who popularized it as a betting game, Canfield strikes a satisfying balance between skill and chance. With a 50% win rate and an average game lasting just 15 minutes, it offers a quick yet mentally engaging challenge that keeps players coming back for more.
Played with a standard 52-card deck, Canfield is considered a medium-difficulty solitaire variant that rewards careful planning and strategic thinking. While luck plays a significant role — accounting for roughly 50% of outcomes — the 35% skill component means that experienced players can meaningfully improve their odds through smart sequencing and thoughtful card management. Expect to make around 101 moves per game, giving you plenty of opportunity to influence the result.
Whether you are a seasoned solitaire enthusiast looking for a fresh challenge or a newcomer eager to explore beyond Klondike, Canfield Solitaire delivers an entertaining and historically rich experience. Its blend of accessible rules and genuine strategic depth makes it one of the most enduring patience games in the solitaire family.
How to Play
Objective
The goal of Canfield Solitaire is to move all 52 cards to the four foundation piles, building each suit up in sequence from the starter card through to the card that completes the loop (wrapping around from King back to Ace if necessary).
Setup
- The Reserve: Deal 13 cards face-down into a pile, then flip the top card face-up. This is your reserve pile, and only the top card is available for play at any time.
- The Foundations: Deal one card face-up to start the first foundation. This card's rank becomes the base rank for all four foundations. As the other three cards of the same rank become available, place them on the remaining foundation slots.
- The Tableau: Deal four cards face-up in a row to form the four tableau columns.
- The Stock and Waste: The remaining 34 cards form the stock pile, placed face-down. Cards are flipped from the stock to the waste pile during play.
Gameplay
On your turn, you may perform any of the following actions:
- Build on Foundations: Move cards onto foundation piles in ascending order by suit, wrapping from King to Ace if the base rank requires it.
- Build on Tableau: Place cards on tableau columns in descending order, alternating colors (e.g., a red 7 on a black 8). Sequences of cards can be moved together as a unit.
- Use the Reserve: The top card of the reserve pile can be played to a foundation or tableau column at any time. Once it is moved, the next reserve card is flipped face-up.
- Fill Empty Tableau Columns: When a tableau column becomes empty, it must be filled with the top card of the reserve pile (if available). Only after the reserve is exhausted can empty columns be filled from the waste pile.
- Draw from the Stock: Flip cards from the stock pile onto the waste pile in groups of three. Only the top card of the waste pile is available for play.
- Redeal: When the stock is exhausted, you may turn the waste pile over to form a new stock. There is no limit to the number of redeals in standard Canfield.
Winning
You win the game when all 52 cards have been successfully moved to the four foundation piles, each built up by suit from the base rank through a complete sequence. Given the 50% win rate, victory is achievable but never guaranteed — strategic play, prioritizing foundation moves, and carefully managing your tableau columns will give you the best chance of success.
Strategy Tips
- Always prioritize moving cards to the foundations whenever possible to free up tableau space.
- Keep a close eye on the reserve pile — those 13 cards are your most valuable resource early in the game.
- Avoid filling empty tableau columns carelessly; wait for a card that opens up the most useful plays.
- Plan your tableau builds to expose buried cards that you need for foundations.
- When drawing from the stock, think ahead about which waste cards you will need and try to cycle through efficiently.