Canfield Solitaire is a classic card game made popular in the 20th century in the United States by Richard A. Canfield, a casino owner. Nevertheless, this Solitaire game already enjoyed its fair degree of popularity worldwide prior to its boom in the US, and it is still commonly known by its original name: Demon Solitaire or Demon Patience.
This ominous name is self-explanatory once players have a go at a challenge. It is one of the hardest Solitaire games, with numbers pointing to only 71% of winnable deals on the three-card draw mode and an average of 35% wins by expert players, with this value dropping significantly for occasional players.
Canfield Solitaire rules and tableau
Canfield Solitaire uses a standard 52-card deck. The tableau is divided into four areas: the 4 foundations, the stock pile, the reserve pile, and the game area.
To form the reserve pile, 13 cards are dealt face down to form a column on the left of the player. Only the last card closer to the player is facing forward. The next card on the deck is placed at the foundations, face-forward.
As with the majority of Solitaire card games, the goal in this game is to build the foundations by suit, in ascending order. However, this card removed from the deck will be the one serving as the base for all. For example, if the card is a 7, then all the foundations must start with the 7 too and the next card would be an 8. The Kings are topped by aces and the sequence continues in ascending order.
Next, 4 cards are dealt face-forward below the spaces for the foundations to form the game area. The remaining cards are grouped into the stock pile, which must remain face-down.
How to play Canfield Solitaire
Only the cards in the game area are playable. Here, the players can shift them around to create descending sequences in alternating colors. A card can only be placed on top of a free one (with no cards covering it). As with Klondike Solitaire, it is also possible to move partial sequences. For example, a sequence of 7-6-5 can be moved to top an 8 in another column.
The card facing forward on the reserve pile cannot be played unless it is sent directly to the foundation or is moved to the game area. In this online Canfield Solitaire game, this card will be sent automatically to an empty slot in the game area. The players can also build sequences in this area to target the card in the reserve. For example, if the card is a 4 they can move it to the game area when a 5 is free.
Once the face-forward card is removed from the reserve, the next in line will be turned around. When the reserve ends, any card can be placed in an empty slot.
In the stock pile, the players can find useful cards to build the foundations or sequences in the game area. There are two game modes available. In the easier one, the stock turns one card at a time. In the harder, it turns three cards.
Tips and strategies to win at Canfield Solitaire
Create empty slots
Empty slots are the easiest way to move the cards from the reserve into the game area to make them playable, as you are not dependent on sequences nor on the cards available in the stock to build said sequences.
Best of all, once the reserve ends, any card can be moved into an empty slot which is a great advantage as it gives you the opportunity to move around the cards and create sequences with more ease.
Balance the foundations
It is important that you do not try to build the foundations one at a time, even if that is your first impulse.
The sequences in the game area must be built in alternating colors. If you complete a red foundation ahead of all the others, for instance, you may lack the necessary cards to move the blacks on the sequences and make it impossible to reach or unlock the ones you need to progress in the game.
Prioritize the reserve and not the stock
Regardless of the game mode you choose, there is no limit to the stock pile. Once it is finished, you can set it back and go through it again from the beginning.
The cards in the reserve, however, are harder to reach since they only become playable once they are in the game area and because they are facing down and can only be turned around one at a time.
Similar Games to Canfield Solitaire
Canfield Solitaire belongs to a wider family of classic patience games. Below is a quick comparison with other popular solitaire variants so you can see how they differ in difficulty, mechanics, and strategy.
| Game |
Similarity to Canfield |
Key Differences |
Difficulty |
| Klondike Solitaire |
High |
Always starts foundations with Aces and has more flexible gameplay |
Medium |
| Spider Solitaire |
Medium |
Uses two decks and requires building full suit sequences from King to Ace |
Hard |
| FreeCell Solitaire |
Medium |
Almost every game is solvable; relies heavily on strategy rather than luck |
Medium–Hard |
| Yukon Solitaire |
Medium |
Allows moving groups of cards even if not perfectly ordered |
Hard |
| Demon Patience |
Very High |
Original British version of Canfield Solitaire with the same rules |
Hard |
| TriPeaks Solitaire |
Low |
Uses a matching system (one higher/lower) instead of building sequences |
Easy |
Frequently Asked Questions about Canfield Solitaire
What Is Canfield Solitaire?
Canfield Solitaire is a classic card game popularized in the United States in the 20th century by Richard A. Canfield, a casino owner. Before that, it was already widely known worldwide by its original name: Demon Solitaire or Demon Patience.
What Is the Goal of Canfield Solitaire?
The goal is to build all four foundations by suit in ascending order, starting from a base card determined at the beginning of the game. If the base card is a 7, for example, all foundations must start with a 7. Kings are followed by Aces and the sequence continues upward.
What Cards Are Used and How Is the Tableau Set Up?
The game uses a standard 52-card deck. The layout consists of four foundations, a stock pile, a reserve pile containing 13 cards with only the top card visible, and a tableau with four face-up cards.
Does Canfield Solitaire Always Start with an Ace?
No. Unlike Klondike Solitaire, Canfield does not always begin with Aces. A randomly dealt base card determines the starting rank of all four foundations.
How Does the Game Area Work?
Cards in the tableau are built downward in alternating colors. Only exposed cards can be moved, and properly ordered sequences can be transferred together from one tableau pile to another.
Can You Move Entire Sequences in Canfield Solitaire?
Yes. Properly ordered descending sequences in alternating colors may be moved as a group, making it easier to reorganize the tableau and uncover important cards.
How Does the Reserve Pile Work?
Only the top reserve card is available for play. When it is moved to a foundation or tableau pile, the next reserve card is revealed. Managing the reserve efficiently is one of the game's biggest challenges.
Can Any Card Fill an Empty Tableau Column?
Not always. While cards remain in the reserve pile, empty tableau spaces are automatically filled from the reserve. Only after the reserve is exhausted can any available card or sequence be moved into an empty column.
Can You Move Cards Back from the Foundations to the Tableau?
Yes. Unlike some solitaire variants, Canfield allows cards to be moved from the foundations back to the tableau. This flexibility can help uncover blocked cards and create new opportunities.
What Happens When a Foundation Reaches a King?
When a foundation reaches a King, it wraps around to Ace and continues upward. For example, a foundation starting with a 7 would be built as 7-8-9-10-J-Q-K-A-2-3-4-5-6.
What Game Modes Are Available?
Canfield Solitaire is commonly played in one-card draw and three-card draw modes. In both versions, the stock can be recycled and redealt as many times as necessary after it is exhausted.
What Should Be Prioritized: the Reserve or the Stock?
The reserve pile should usually be your top priority. Stock cards can be revisited repeatedly, while reserve cards become available only one at a time and are often harder to access.
Why Is Creating Empty Slots a Good Strategy?
Empty tableau spaces help bring reserve cards into play more quickly. Once the reserve pile is exhausted, open spaces become even more valuable because any card may be moved into them.
Why Is It Important to Balance the Foundations?
Advancing one foundation too quickly can lock important cards away from the tableau. Keeping all foundations relatively balanced usually provides greater flexibility throughout the game.
What Is the Best Strategy for Winning Canfield Solitaire?
The best approach is generally to expose reserve cards as quickly as possible, create tableau spaces when available, avoid overbuilding foundations, and preserve flexibility for future moves.
Is Canfield Solitaire Based More on Luck or Skill?
Both factors matter. Luck affects the initial deal and reserve order, but skill plays a major role in timing moves, managing the tableau, and maximizing available options.
Is Canfield Solitaire a Difficult Game?
Yes. Canfield is widely regarded as one of the most challenging solitaire variants. Even experienced players often lose many games because of its restrictive layout and strategic complexity.
Can You Win Every Game of Canfield Solitaire?
No. While many deals are theoretically solvable, not every game can be won. Some deals create situations where critical cards remain inaccessible regardless of the decisions made.
What Is the Actual Win Rate of Canfield Solitaire?
Win rates vary depending on the source and playing conditions. Although many deals may be theoretically solvable, the game's complexity means that most players win only a minority of their games.
Is Canfield Solitaire Harder Than Klondike?
Yes. Most players consider Canfield significantly harder than Klondike because of its reserve pile, limited tableau space, and variable foundation starting card.
How Is Canfield Solitaire Different from Klondike Solitaire?
Unlike Klondike, Canfield uses a reserve pile, starts foundations with a randomly determined rank instead of Aces, and generally offers fewer opportunities to rearrange cards. These differences make Canfield considerably more challenging.
What Is the Difference Between Canfield Solitaire and Demon Solitaire?
There is no difference in gameplay. Demon Solitaire is the original British name, while Canfield Solitaire became the popular American name after Richard Canfield promoted the game.
Was Canfield Solitaire Originally a Casino Game?
According to historical accounts, Richard Canfield offered the game in his Saratoga Springs casino during the late 19th century. Players paid to receive a deck and earned money for cards successfully moved to the foundations.
What Is the Origin of the Name “Demon Solitaire”?
The name dates back to the 19th century and reflects the game's reputation for being frustratingly difficult. Many players felt victory could be snatched away at the last moment, giving the game a “demonic” reputation.
Why Is Canfield Solitaire Still Popular Today?
Canfield Solitaire remains popular because it offers a deeper challenge than many other solitaire games. Its combination of strategic decisions, difficult odds, and rewarding victories continues to attract dedicated players.
