Canfield Solitaire: The High-Stakes Classic

Introduction: A Legend of the Casino

Canfield Solitaire is not your average patience game. Originally known as "Fascination" or "Demon," it gained its current name from Richard A. Canfield, a casino owner in Saratoga Springs during the late 19th century. In his establishment, players would buy a deck of cards for $50 and receive $5 back for every card they managed to play to the foundations. While it sounds lucrative, the game is notoriously difficult to win, making it a favorite for those who find the standard Klondike too simple.

Unlike FreeCell, where almost every deal is solvable, Canfield requires a mix of sharp strategy and a bit of luck. It is a fast-paced, engaging game that rewards players who can plan several moves ahead.

Setting Up the Game

To play Canfield, a standard 52-card deck is used. The setup is unique:

The Reserve: 13 cards are dealt face down into a pile, with only the top card turned face up.
The Foundations: One card is dealt to the first of four foundation piles. This card's rank becomes the "base" rank for all four foundations for that game. For example, if a 7 is dealt, all foundations must start with a 7 and build up to the 6 of the same suit.
The Tableau: Four cards are dealt face up to form the columns of the tableau.
The Stock and Waste: The remaining cards form the stock, which you will draw from during the game.

How to Play

The objective is to move all 52 cards to the four foundation piles, organized by suit and in ascending order, wrapping from King to Ace if necessary.

Building the Foundations: Foundations are built by suit. If your base card is an 8, you will follow with the 9, 10, Jack, and so on.
Building the Tableau: You can build columns down in alternating colors. For instance, a Red 9 can be placed on a Black 10. You can move entire sequences of cards between columns, similar to the mechanics found in Yukon or Scorpion.
The Reserve Pile: The top card of the reserve is always available for play to the foundations or the tableau. When a card is moved, the next card in the reserve is flipped.
Filling Vacancies: If a tableau column becomes empty, it must be filled immediately by the top card of the reserve. If the reserve is empty, you may fill the space with any card from the waste pile.
The Stock: Cards are typically dealt from the stock to the waste pile three at a time. You can go through the stock as many times as you like until no more moves are possible.

Strategies to Win

Winning at Canfield is a rare feat, but these tips will improve your odds:

Prioritize the Reserve: Your primary goal should be to exhaust the reserve pile. Since these cards are hidden, they often block the flow of the game.
Watch the Foundations: Because the starting rank changes every game, always double-check which card you need next. It is easy to forget that you need to wrap around from King to Ace.
Manage your Vacancies: Don't empty a tableau column unless you have a card in the reserve ready to fill it. If the reserve is empty, use empty spaces strategically to move long sequences, much like in Australian Patience.
Think Ahead with the Stock: Before making a move from the waste pile, check if it will uncover a card you need in the next pass through the deck.