This article contains everything you need to know about Arkadium's Canfield Solitaire game.
Use the list below to navigate specific topics about Canfield Solitaire.
How to play
Canfield Solitaire is a game famed for its low win probability. Originally invented by Richard Canfield for casinos, it's called Demon Solitaire outside of the United States. It's closely related to the Klondike Solitaire variation.
The goal is to move all 52 cards of the deck into the four upper right piles, called foundations. Each foundation can only accept cards of a single suit, in ascending order (A,2,3,4 ... J,Q,K,A).
Foundations. The first foundation will be given a random card of any value, and all other foundations must start with that value too.
EXAMPLE: if the first Foundation was dealt Six of Clubs, then you need to play Sixes of Hearts, Diamons and Spades into the other three, and build the piles from that value
Card order. In Canfield, all piles are cyclic, as long as the suit allows it. In ascending order piles, an Ace can be played on top of a King, followed by Two, and so on. In descending order piles, a King can be played on Ace, followed by Queen, and so on. There is no limit on how long a single pile can be.
Tableau 1. Beneath the Foundations, there are tableau piles, a total of four, at first, each having a random card of any value. These piles are built in descending order (K,Q,J ... 3,2,A,K).
NOTE: only a Red card can be played on top of a Black ard, and vice versa
Tableau 2. At any moment, a top card can be taken from Tableau and played to a suitable Foundation or another Tableau. You can also move the entire Tableau pile and merge it with another Tableau if the cards are in the correct order. If a Tableau is ever empty, a Reserve card (see next page) will be played to it at once.
NOTE: tableau piles cannot be split once built, so be careful
Reserve. The reserve is a lower-left pile of 13 cards, and all except the top card are hidden from you. If any Tableau is ever empty, a Reserve card will be played to it automatically. These cards can also be played to Foundations and Tableau at will if value and suit allow it.
NOTE: you cannot place cards back to Reserve
Stock and Waste. The stock is in a pile in the upper left corner. From it, you can draw one (EASY mode) or three (HARD mode) cards at once, to be used as you see fit.
NOTE: if you draw three cards, only the top card in the waste will be playable
The Stock can be dealt over and over again as many times as you wish: if empty, the next click will just return all Waste cards back into the Stock.
Undo and hint. Undo is a special move that returns you one step backward. You can Undo any number of steps, but each Undo will count as a move!
Hint, once clicked, it will highlight one possible move. If clicked again, it will highlight another, if possible. Use it often to make sure you never miss an opportunity.
Your played moves and score will be displayed on the top right.
The menu can be accessed on the top right corner.
You can choose to check a quick help menu, restart the game, turn the sound on or off, or quit the game in the menu.
Tips
Canfield Solitaire is a challenging and entertaining solitaire card game that requires strategic thinking and planning. Playing the game online allows you to practice and improve your skills at your own pace. The following tips will help you enhance your Canfield Solitaire game and increase your chances of winning.
1. Analyze the tableau before making a move:
Before making any moves, take the time to study the tableau and identify potential card sequences. Look for cards that can be removed quickly, as well as those that are blocking multiple cards in the tableau.
2. Prioritize uncovering and moving reserve cards:
Focus on uncovering and moving the cards in the reserve pile whenever possible. These cards can be limiting if left untouched for too long. Uncovering them will create more space and provide additional options for moves.
3. Build sequences on the tableau:
As you organize cards in the tableau, build sequences by arranging cards in descending order and alternating colors. This will make it easier to move cards between columns and eventually transfer them to the foundation piles.
4. Move cards to the foundation piles strategically:
While it's important to build the foundation piles, don't rush to move cards to the foundation unless it's necessary or beneficial to your overall strategy. Sometimes, it's better to keep certain cards in the tableau to help you move other cards more easily.
5. Use the stockpile and waste pile wisely:
When drawing cards from the stockpile, consider how each card can be used in the tableau. Try to save cards in the waste pile that can create multiple moves or uncover multiple cards when played. Be mindful of the fact that the stockpile can only be cycled through once in Canfield Solitaire.
6. Plan your moves carefully:
As you play Canfield Solitaire, think about the possible consequences of each move and how it will impact the overall game. Try to foresee the cards that may become available after making a move and plan accordingly.
7. Be cautious with Kings:
Since Kings can only be placed in empty tableau columns, be cautious when moving them. Make sure moving a King won't block other cards or limit your options for future moves.
8. Use the "undo" feature when needed:
Our Canfield Solitaire offers an "undo" feature that allows you to take back previous moves. Use this feature when you realize you've made a mistake or want to explore different strategies.
9. Don't hesitate to restart a game:
If you find yourself in a situation where you can't make any more moves or you believe you've made too many mistakes, don't hesitate to restart the game. Learning from your mistakes and trying again will help you improve your skills and develop better strategies.
10. Practice, practice, practice:
The more you play Canfield Solitaire, the better you'll become at recognizing patterns, planning moves, and devising winning strategies. Regular practice will help you develop a deeper understanding of the game and improve your overall performance.
By following these tips and consistently practicing your Canfield Solitaire skills, you'll be well on your way to mastering this engaging and challenging solitaire card game. Happy playing!
Scoring
Each collected card is worth 5 points.
General scoring:
Final Score = (the number of cards collected) * 5 + Win Bonus + Moves Bonus + Time Bonus
Win Bonus on Easy level = 100 points.
Win Bonus on Hard level = 500 points.
Moves Bonus = 5 points for each unused move = (300 - the number of moves made) * 5, where
300 equals the total number of moves.
Time Bonus on Easy level = 600 minus the number of seconds spent.
Time Bonus on Hard level = 900 minus the number of seconds spent.
A bonus is awarded when all cards are collected in 4 piles.
Calculation: