Introduction to Canfield Solitaire Card Game
Canfield Solitaire, also known as Demon in the UK, is a challenging card game with a low chance of winning. It became popular in the U.S. after casino owner Richard Canfield promoted it as a gambling game, giving it his name.
Although similar to the well-known Klondike Solitaire, Canfield is harder to win. This is why it is a favorite among those who enjoy a tough challenge.
The game has several variations, including Chameleon and Rainbow, each with unique twists.
This guide will explain how to set up, play, and win Canfield Solitaire.
How To Play Canfield Solitaire?
Here’s how to play canfield solitaire.
Number of Players
Canfield game is played by a single player.
Card Deck
Solitaire canfield uses a standard 52-card deck. No jokers are included. Cards are shuffled before play begins, and certain cards are set aside to form the reserve pile and tableau.
The Objective Of The Game
The goal of Canfield Solitaire is to move all the cards to the foundation piles, organized by suit and in ascending order from Ace to King.
Canfield Solitaire Setup
You can start by shuffling the cards before building out the playing areas. There is no requirement to set up if you play on a PC or a smartphone, as the software automatically does it for you.
After you shuffle the cards, take thirteen cards from the top and put them in the upper left corner. This one pile acts as your reserve pile. It must be positioned face-up, exposing only the top card. The rest should remain hidden.
Pick a card and use it as the first foundation pile. Place it face-up. This card determines the other three foundation piles. Therefore, the other piles you begin foundations with during gameplay progression must be of different suits but the same rank. These become available as you keep playing.
Underneath the foundation is where youâll set up the tableau, which should ideally comprise four cards, all face up. The remaining cards youâre left with must be placed face down on the table. This constitutes your draw pile. If you follow the above instructions, your game will be set up and ready to go!
Read More: A Definitive Guide to Yukon Solitaire
Canfield Solitaire Gameplay
Take a deck of cards. Deal 13 cards face-down in a pile; turn the top one face-up. This is your reserve pile. Turn the next card from the deck face-up. This card starts one of your foundation piles. There are a total of four foundation piles. Deal four more cards face-up in a row creating tableau piles. The rest of the deck goes face-down in a stack. This is your stock.
Your goal is to move all the cards into four foundation piles. The first pile starts with the card you turned over, and the others follow in order, one for each suit (like hearts or spades).
In the tableau piles, you can stack cards in descending order (like 6 on 7) and they must alternate in color (red on black, black on red). You can move the top card from the reserve pile or any card from the tableau piles onto another tableau pile or onto a foundation if it fits the order. When you canât move any cards, turn over the top card from the stock. You can play that card to the tableau or foundation if it fits.
Creating the Foundations
Add available cards in ascending order to the foundations. If instance, if the foundations are 7s, you must add cards in this order: 8, 9, 10, J, Q, K, A, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. Cards added to a foundation should be of the same suit as all preceding cards on that foundation.
Creating the Tableau Piles
Add cards onto the tableau in alternating colors in descending order. For instance, if a tableau card is the 8 of clubs, the subsequent card can either be the 7 of hearts or the 7 of diamonds.
Read More: All About Scorpion Solitaire
Winning Canfield Solitaire
Essentially, there are two ways a game of Canfield can conclude. Simply put, you can either win or lose the game. To win the game, you must move all fifty cards to the foundation piles in ascending order, following suit. When there are no playable moves left, then you lose the game.
Hereâs an interesting fact about Canfield solitaire. Roughly, the winning percentage of Canfield solitaire stands at 3%. Quite a few games eventually come to a standstill. If you think youâve got what it takes to win, this is one game you can play to showcase your skills to everyone.
Since the reserve cards are hidden, and the three-at-a-time dealing of stock cards implies that cards played early on can significantly influence which ones become available much later, it is a pretty challenging game to win, even by usual playing standards.
Rules of Canfield Solitaire
Fill up the foundation piles by using the top card of the tableau or reserve piles. You can move cards between the tableau piles or from a reserve pile to a tableau pile in a descending sequence of alternating colors. Move either a single card or a group of cards. When there is an empty pile in the tableau, it gets filled almost immediately with a card from the reserve pile.
Start turning cards from the stock when all your initial moves are done. You can turn over three stock cards at a time. Using the rule above, transfer cards from the stockpile to the tableaus or foundations. The stockpile, usually in the upper left corner, can be flipped over as often as you like.
Tips on How to Win Canfield Solitaire
Here are a few tips to help you ace the Canfield card games.
Try To Create More Empty Spaces
Ensure that you deal with most stock cards to make the right winning moves in the game. Attempt to create empty spaces as much as possible at the start of the game.
Spread Foundation Piles Evenly
Spread the building of foundation piles evenly. For instance, if you play a black 6 before you can locate red 7s, you will face the problem of finding these cards as the game progresses. Also, do not allow foundations to run further ahead of others. This adds to the possibility of getting stuck in the gameâs later stages.
Use the Reserve Wisely
The reserve pile is a critical part of Canfield Solitaire. Try not to use cards from the reserve pile too early unless it helps create an empty space or advances a foundation pile. Preserve your reserve cards to unlock tricky situations later in the game.
Opt For Moves That Open New Options
Always opt for moves that open up more cards or provide additional options. For example, if you have a choice between moving a card to a foundation or uncovering a hidden card in a tableau, choose the latter to increase your chances of finding key cards.
Helpful Read: All About Pyramid Solitaire
FAQs
What’s the difference between solitaire Canfield and Klondike?
Canfield game is harder to win as it comes with lower win odds and uses a reserve pile, while Klondike is simpler and more popular. This is the main difference between the two.
What is the win rate for the Canfield game?
The win rate for Canfield Solitaire is very low, typically around 5%, making it one of the toughest solitaire games.
What is another name for solitaire canfield?
Solitaire Canfield is also known as “Demon Patience,” especially in the UK and other parts of the world.
