Canfield Solitaire

Play Canfield Solitaire online. A challenging game with a reserve pile.

Canfield Solitaire

Game info

  • Decks: 1 (52 cards)
  • Difficulty: Hard
  • Game time: Medium
  • Win rate: ~3%
  • Type: Skill/Luck

Objective

Transfer all 52 cards to the four foundation piles.

The game

Foundations
  • 4 piles that build up by suit
  • Starting rank is determined by the first card dealt - all foundations begin at this rank
  • Wrapping allowed (King continues to Ace)
Reserve
  • 13 cards stacked with only the top playable
  • Automatically fills empty tableau columns
Tableau
  • 4 columns
  • Build down in alternating colors, wrapping allowed
  • Move single cards or complete sequences
  • Empty columns fill from reserve (or any card when reserve is empty)
Stock & Waste
  • Draw 1 or 3 cards depending on variant
  • Unlimited passes through the deck

Variants

  • Turn 1: Draw one card at a time (easier)
  • Turn 3: Draw three, play only the top (harder)

Background

Named after Richard Canfield, a 19th-century casino owner who offered gamblers odds against completing the game. The low win rate made it profitable for the house.