How to play Canfield Solitaire

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How to play Canfield Solitaire

Canfield is the patience game casinos once sold by the deck — you 'bought' the deck for $52 and won $5 per card sent home. It's one of the hardest solitaires to win: a 13-card reserve, foundations that wrap around, and only four tableau columns.

The deal

One card starts the first foundation — its rank becomes the base rank for all four foundations. Thirteen cards form the reserve (face up), four single cards form the tableau, and the rest is the stock.

Foundations wrap around

Build each foundation up by suit from the base rank, wrapping from King back to Ace. If the base is a 7, the pile runs 7, 8, 9 … K, A, 2 … 6.

Tableau and reserve

Tableau columns build down in alternating colours, also wrapping (an Ace goes on a King). Whenever a column empties, the top reserve card fills it automatically — the reserve is always your first source.

Stock and winning

Tap the stock to draw three cards to the waste; the waste top is always playable. When the stock runs out, recycle the waste. Send all 52 cards home to win — most deals are lost, so every win counts.

Tips from the table

  • Play reserve cards before anything else — emptying the reserve is half the battle.
  • Remember the wrap: an Ace on a King in the tableau can unlock a whole column.
  • Before recycling the waste, check whether any waste card can go home or onto the tableau.