Canfield Solitaire
Introduction
Canfield Solitaire is a unique and difficult variation of Solitaire also known as Demon Patience The game originated in the late 19th century and was named after Richard Canfield a famous American casino owner who turned it into a gambling challenge With rules distinct from Klondike Solitaire Canfield requires strong strategic thinking and careful planning to win
Game Objective
The goal of Canfield Solitaire is to move all cards from the reserve tableau and stockpile to the four foundation piles arranged in ascending order by suit starting from a randomly chosen base card
Game Setup
Reserve Pile
13 cards are drawn and placed face down in a reserve pile The bottommost card is flipped face up and is available for play
Foundation Piles
One random card from the deck is placed to start the foundation piles This card determines the starting rank for all four foundations For example if the base card is a 7 of Hearts then all foundations will begin with 7 and must be built up in sequence wrapping from King to Ace if necessary
Tableau Piles
Four cards are drawn and placed face up in a row beneath the foundation piles forming the tableau
Stock and Waste Pile
The remaining 34 cards form the stockpile which can be drawn three at a time The top card from the waste pile can be played onto the tableau or foundation piles
Rules and How to Play
Building the Foundation
- Cards must be placed in ascending order and by suit
- The sequence wraps around meaning that after a King an Ace can be placed followed by a 2
Arranging the Tableau
- Cards in the tableau must be arranged in descending order alternating colors
- A column of properly ordered cards can be moved together
- If a tableau column becomes empty it must be filled with a card from the reserve pile If the reserve is empty any valid card can be placed in the empty space
Using the Reserve Pile
- The top card of the reserve pile is always available for play
- Once the reserve pile is depleted any card can be placed in empty tableau columns
Using the Stock and Waste Pile
- Three cards are drawn at a time from the stockpile into the waste pile
- Only the top card of the waste pile is playable
- Players can go through the stockpile multiple times
Winning the Game
- You win when all four foundation piles are completed following the starting base card’s sequence
Effective Strategies
- Observe the stockpile before making moves so you can plan ahead
- Use the reserve pile wisely since it cannot be replenished
- Do not rush to move cards to the foundation sometimes keeping cards in the tableau allows for more flexibility
- Adapt your strategy based on available moves rather than sticking to one rigid approach
Difficulty Level
Canfield Solitaire is one of the most difficult Solitaire variations
The average win rate is only 8.94% much lower than Klondike Solitaire which has a win rate of approximately 32.91%
Popular Variations
- Double Canfield: Uses two decks making the game slightly easier
- Chameleon Solitaire: Allows tableau stacking without color restrictions increasing flexibility
- Rainbow Solitaire: Similar to Canfield but draws only one card from the stockpile at a time
- Selective Canfield: Lets players choose a starting foundation card from a set of five
Try Canfield Solitaire on Solitaired and push your strategic skills to the limit!
Conclusion
Canfield Solitaire is a mentally stimulating and strategic card game requiring patience and adaptability If you are looking for a more challenging Solitaire experience this is the perfect game for you
