Solitaire (Canfield Classic)

What Is Canfield Classic?

Canfield Classic — sometimes simply called Solitaire or Demon — is the original casino solitaire game invented in the 1890s. It plays very similarly to Canfield Solitaire but with the stock drawn three at a time and a particularly punishing reserve pile rule. The win rate hovers around 30%, making every completed game genuinely satisfying. The foundations start on a randomly determined rank and wrap around rather than always starting on Ace.

What You Need

• One standard deck of 52 playing cards
• One player

Setting Up the Game

1. Deal 13 cards face-down in a pile — the Reserve. Flip the top card face-up.
2. Deal the next card face-up to start the first Foundation pile. Whatever rank this card is, all four Foundation piles will start on the same rank.
3. Deal 4 cards face-up in a row for the Tableau — four columns.
4. The remaining cards form the Stock pile.

How to Play

1. The top Reserve card is always available. Play it to the Tableau or Foundation whenever possible.
2. Build Tableau columns downward in alternating colors — Red on Black, one rank lower each time.
3. Build Foundation piles upward by suit, wrapping around from King to Ace if needed. Example: if foundations start on 7, each pile builds 7, 8, 9, 10, Jack, Queen, King, Ace, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
4. When an entire Tableau column empties, it MUST be immediately filled from the Reserve — you cannot leave it empty while the Reserve has cards.
5. Flip Stock cards THREE at a time onto the Waste pile. The top card of the Waste pile is always available. When the Stock runs out, flip the Waste pile over to make a new Stock. Repeat as many times as needed.

Winning

Move all 52 cards to the four Foundation piles.

How This Differs from Standard Canfield

• Stock is drawn three at a time (not one at a time) — harder
• Foundations wrap around rather than always starting on Ace — adds complexity
• The forced Reserve fill rule remains the same — empty Tableau columns must come from Reserve first

Tips for New Players

• Prioritize the Reserve above everything — playing Reserve cards is how you create Tableau space and build momentum.
• Count cards cycling through the Stock — in three-at-a-time draw, the same card is accessible only every third flip. Know when your needed card comes up.
• The wrap-around foundation can be disorienting — write down the starting rank and the sequence at the start so you don’t accidentally misplace cards.

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