Play free Canfield Solitaire online, the old gambling-house game with the pile of thirteen cards you have to dig your way through. The cards are big and easy to read, there’s no sign-up, and your game saves itself. Tap a card and it moves to the best place for you, or drag it if you prefer. Tap the deck to turn over new cards. Canfield is quick to play and hard to win, which is exactly why a win feels so good.
Quick Rules
- The goal. Move all 52 cards onto the four foundation piles at the top, one pile per suit.
- The starting rank. One card is dealt to a foundation at the start. Its rank is where all four piles begin. If it’s a 9, every pile starts with a 9 and goes 10, Jack, Queen, King, Ace, 2 and so on up to 8.
- The reserve. Thirteen cards sit in a pile on the left with only the top card face up. You can play that top card; the next one then turns up.
- The columns. Four columns start with one card each. Place a card on one that is one rank higher and the opposite color, such as a red 6 on a black 7. A King may go on an Ace.
- Whole columns move together. To move a column onto another, tap its first card and all of it goes.
- Empty columns. An empty column is filled right away with the top card of the reserve. Once the reserve is gone, you may fill it with the top turned-up card from the deck, or leave it open.
- The deck. Tap it to turn over three cards. The top one can be played. Go through the deck as many times as you like.
Canfield With Big Cards, Made to Be Easy on the Eyes
- Undo as often as you like with the big Undo button, all the way back to the first move.
- Hint highlights a useful move and tells you why in a few words.
- The starting rank is always shown. The empty foundation spaces show the card they are waiting for, and the message box reminds you.
- Deal numbers. Every deal has a number, so you can replay one or share it with a friend.
- Your pace. The timer is hidden unless you turn it on. Statistics keep track of games played, games won and your best streak.
- Settings for Draw 3 or Draw 1, moving part of a column, four-color cards and less motion.
Tips for Winning
- Play from the reserve first. If the reserve card and another card could both make the same move, use the reserve card. Those thirteen cards are what usually beats you.
- Move whole columns to make room. Putting one column on top of another empties a space, and the next reserve card drops into it.
- Look before you take a deck card. In Draw 3, taking a card changes which cards come up on the next pass. Sometimes that’s just what you need.
- Remember the wrap. A King can go on an Ace in the columns, and an Ace follows a King on the foundations.
- Don’t count on winning. Getting a dozen or more cards up top is a respectable game of Canfield.
More Canfield strategy tips. Want a game you can win more often? Try Klondike Solitaire, the classic with seven columns, or FreeCell, where nearly every deal can be solved.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this game free?
Yes. You can play as many games of Canfield Solitaire as you like for free. There is nothing to download, no account to make and no popup ads.
Can every deal be won?
No, and it isn’t close. Most Canfield deals are not won, even by careful players. The thirteen reserve cards are dealt face down, and when the cards you need are buried deep in that pile, there is often no way to reach them. With the traditional rules, expect to win only a small share of your games. We don’t filter the deals, so what you get is an honest shuffle. If you’d like better odds, turn on Draw 1 or Move part of a column in Settings. Both make the game noticeably easier, though still far from a sure thing.
Why don’t the foundations start with an Ace?
In Canfield, the first card dealt to the foundations decides where all four piles start. If that card is a Jack, each pile starts with the Jack of its suit and builds up through Queen, King, Ace, 2 and on to 10. The empty foundation spaces show the card they are waiting for, so you don’t have to remember.
What is the reserve?
The reserve is the pile of thirteen cards on the left side of the table. Only its top card is face up, and only that card can be played, either to a foundation or onto a column. When a column becomes empty, the top reserve card moves into it by itself. Emptying the reserve is the biggest step toward winning.
Why won’t a card move?
A card can only go onto a card one rank higher of the opposite color, or onto its foundation when it is the next card that pile needs. In the traditional game a column also moves only as a whole, so tap the first card of the column to move all of it. A card in the middle of a column can’t be pulled out unless you turn on Move part of a column in Settings. If you’re stuck, press Hint.
What’s the difference between Draw 3 and Draw 1?
In Draw 3, the traditional way, you turn over three cards from the deck at a time and can only play the top one. In Draw 1 you turn over one card at a time, so every card in the deck comes up on every pass. Draw 1 is easier. You can switch in Settings, and you may go through the deck as often as you like either way.
Can I undo a move?
Yes. Press Undo to take back your last move. There’s no limit, so you can keep pressing it all the way back to the start of the deal.
Does the game save my progress?
Yes. Your game is saved in your browser after every move. Close the page and come back later on the same device, and your game will be right where you left it. Your statistics are saved the same way.
Is Canfield the same as Klondike?
No, although the names get mixed up. In the United States, Canfield is this game, with the thirteen-card reserve and four short columns. In Britain this game is usually called Demon, and the name Canfield is often given to Klondike, the seven-column game most people simply call solitaire.
Can I play the same deal again?
Yes. Press Restart to start the current deal over from the beginning. Every deal also has a number, such as Deal #48213. Type that number in Settings to play the same deal later, or share it with a friend so you can both try the same cards.
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