Canfield

Canfield Solitaire Objective

Like most Solitaire variations, the goal of Canfield Solitaire is to order the cards into four separate foundation piles, organized in ascending order (ace to king) and divided by suit.

While Canfield follows many of the same rules as the classic Klondike Solitaire, it’s a more difficult version because it has limitations built into the game: fewer columns in the tableau, differing foundation pile base cards for each deal, and the requirement to use the reserve to replenish empty tableau columns.

Canfield Solitaire Setup

Canfield’s gameplay area is similar to how you set up Solitaire, but it has an extra element that gives the game a twist of complexity:

• Reserve: The reserve is the first pile dealt in this game and offers a unique element compared to other variations. The reserve consists of 13 facedown cards dealt next to the tableau area. Only the last card is flipped face up. You can play the face-up reserve card in the tableau or foundation piles, and if a column is emptied on the tableau, you must use a reserve card to fill it. If the reserve has been depleted, you can use any card to fill the empty column. Once the face-up card is used, a new card will be flipped up for use in the reserve until that pile is gone.
• Tableau: You arrange cards in the tableau in descending order, alternating in color (red/black), just like regular Solitaire. However, the tableau is much simpler, consisting of just four columns with one face-up card each. You have no hidden cards in the tableau.
• Foundation piles: The four foundation piles run across the top of the tableau, and one base card is dealt face up to the first pile. That card determines the starting rank for all the foundation piles. So if a 10♥ is dealt into the first foundation pile, then all the piles must begin with the rank of 10. You can move cards to the foundation piles from the tableau, reserve, and waste pile, but you must build foundation piles in ascending order and separated by suit. Because the base card rank varies with each game, you wrap ranks. So if the base card is 10, once you reach the king, you add an ace to the pile and continue building until you end each pile with a 9.
• Stockpile: The stockpile works just like the Solitaire Turn 3 stockpile. You turn over three cards at a time into the waste pile, but you can only play the top card of the waste pile. You can cycle through the stockpile as many times as you need to. Use the stockpile to flip over fresh cards when you get stuck with movements on the tableau.
• Waste pile: The cards you flip from the stockpile end up in the waste pile, and you can play the topmost card from this pile on the tableau or foundation piles. If you play the top card of the waste pile, you can then play the next card you just revealed.

How to Play Canfield

Canfield is a difficult Solitaire variation, and to win, you must arrange all of the cards into foundation piles that are divided by suit and ascending in order, according to these rules:

• Arrange cards in the tableau by descending order and alternating by color. Use the four columns of the tableau to arrange cards in a descending sequence that alternates in color (red/black). For example, a 5♣ can be placed on a 6♥, or a J♠ can be placed on a Q♦.
• Foundation piles are divided by suit and ascend in order by rank. Foundation piles begin with a random rank (the base card) and must be built in ascending order by suit. So if the base card is four, then piles ascend in order, wrapping ranks at the king, and ending with a three.
• You can move groups of cards that are properly sequenced. If you have a descending sequence of cards that alternate in color, you can move those to another column as long as the top card in the sequence is one rank lower and the opposite color of the card you’re placing the sequence on. For example, the sequence 9♣-8♦-7♠ can be placed on top of the 10♦ because the 9♣, the first card in the sequence, is one rank lower than the 10♦ and the opposite color.
• You can wrap ranks. Because the foundation pile base cards change with each deal, you won’t always be sequencing foundation piles from ace to king or tableau columns from king to ace. So you have to wrap ranks when building sequences in the tableau as well as in foundation piles. For example, if the foundation piles all begin with the rank of nine, you have to build the piles up to king and continue with the ace, two, three, and so on until you end each pile with an eight. In the tableau, the same rule applies. If you have a 2♦ in the tableau, you can move an A♣ or A♠ on top of it and then a K♥ or K♦ on top of the black ace and continue the sequence in descending order and alternating in color.
• Fill empty columns with a card from the reserve. If a column is emptied, you must use a card from the reserve to fill it. If you have run out of reserve cards you can use any face-up card (from the waste pile or tableau) to fill the empty column.
• You can only play the top card of the waste pile. When you flip cards into the waste pile from the stockpile, you can only use the topmost card, but if you play that card, another one is revealed. So you can continue playing the top card until you run out of moves from the waste pile.

Canfield Solitaire Strategy

Because of the many limitations to this version, using these strategies can help you avoid getting stuck and give you a better chance at winning.

• Cycle through the stockpile. Because you’ll have cards hidden in the reserve, cycling through the stockpile not only helps you narrow down which cards might remain hidden, but it also allows you to grab any base cards that are readily available in that first cycle.
• Prioritize the reserve pile. Because you have a deep column of hidden cards in the reserve pile, use the top card in gameplay whenever possible. So if you can move a red four onto a 5♣, prioritize a 4♥ from the reserve before using a 4♦ from the waste pile to uncover a new card in the reserve.
• Build long sequences in the tableau. After you’ve begun your foundation piles, work on building sequences instead of adding cards to the foundations. You have fewer columns to work with, so the more cards you can keep into play in the tableau, the more chances you have to keep sequencing cards and revealing hidden cards. Plus, after building long sequences, you can easily add cards to foundation piles.
• Move base cards to foundation piles immediately. Get base cards onto their foundation piles right away, but hold off building the foundation piles further until you start getting more cards into play. If you take cards out of circulation, you limit your ability to move cards around a tableau that is already limited to four columns.
• Clear columns as often as you can. Emptying columns means the reserve card fills them. So empty columns often by moving cards and sequences throughout the tableau. The more you can empty columns, the more cards you pull from the reserve pile. Plus clearing the reserve pile means you can use any card to move into an empty column, and that will help you get to even more cards you need to build your foundations.

Canfield uses a few limitations to create a difficult game, but if you find it hard to stay disciplined building sequences, try a slightly easier version, such as Solitaire Turn 3, to practice focusing on sequences. If you enjoy the challenge and want more difficult variations, try Yukon Solitaire or even more difficult, Forty Thieves. No matter what level of challenge you enjoy, go to Solitaire Bliss to play these and other Solitaire games for free!