Canfield Solitaire

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About Canfield Solitaire (Demon Patience)

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 computer solvers finding roughly 71% of three-card-draw deals to be theoretically winnable, while expert players achieve an average of only about 35% wins — a figure that drops significantly for occasional players. On this page you can play Canfield Solitaire free online, with no download or registration, in both one-card and three-card draw modes.

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 (tableau columns).

The goal, as in most Solitaire card games, is to build the foundations by suit in ascending order. The key twist that makes Canfield unique is that the foundations do not start with an Ace — they start with a randomly dealt base card.

How to Set Up Canfield Solitaire (Step by Step)

Step 1 — The reserve pile (the "demon"): 13 cards are dealt face down into a column on the left. Only the last card, closest to the player, is turned face up and available for play. This hidden reserve is the origin of the "Demon" nickname.

Step 2 — The base card and foundations: The next card off the deck is placed on the first of four foundations, face up. This card becomes the base card. For example, if it is a 7, then all four foundations must start with a 7, and the next card in each will be an 8. Kings are followed by Aces, and the sequence continues in ascending order, wrapping around until each foundation is complete.

Step 3 — The game area (tableau): 4 cards are dealt face up below the foundation spaces to form the four tableau columns.

Step 4 — The stock and waste: The remaining cards form the stock pile, kept face down. Cards are turned over (one or three at a time depending on the mode) into a waste pile from which the top card is playable.

How to Play Canfield Solitaire

Only the cards in the game area are directly playable there. Players 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 onto an 8 of the opposite color in another column.

The card facing forward on the reserve pile cannot be played unless it is sent directly to a foundation or moved into the game area. In this online Canfield Solitaire game, this card is sent automatically to an empty slot in the game area. Players can also build sequences to target the reserve card — for example, if the reserve shows a 4, it can move into the game area when a 5 becomes free.

Once the face-up reserve card is removed, the next in line is turned over. When the reserve is exhausted, any card can be placed into an empty slot — a major strategic advantage.

In the stock pile, players find useful cards to build the foundations or tableau sequences. There are two game modes: the easier turns one card at a time, the harder turns three. In both, the stock has no limit — once finished, it can be recycled and dealt again from the beginning.

One rule players often forget: in Canfield you may also move cards back from the foundations to the tableau, which can be crucial for unblocking key cards.

Canfield Solitaire Win Rate and Odds

Canfield is widely regarded as one of the hardest solitaire variants, and the numbers back this up. Because the reserve cards are hidden and the stock is often dealt three at a time, cards played early affect which stock cards are available much later — so real-world win rates fall far below the theoretical maximum.

Metric	Canfield Solitaire	Klondike Solitaire
Theoretically winnable deals (computer solver, 3-card draw)	~71%	~82%+
Realistic expert win rate	~35%	—
Average random-play win rate	~9% (one large sample of 122,678 games showed 8.94%)	~33% (32.91% in the same study)
Average cards moved to foundation per game	~39.9 of 52	—

Sources vary by playing conditions, but the takeaway is consistent: even skilled players lose the majority of their Canfield games, which is exactly what earned it the "Demon" name. The easier Storehouse variant raises the practical ceiling to about a 44% win rate for most players, largely because all four foundations are seeded from the start.

Tips and Strategies to Win at Canfield Solitaire

Cycle through the stock before your first move

Because you can only play face-up cards and start with very few, running through the stock once reveals most hidden cards. You can spot base-card matches and deduce which 13 cards are locked in the reserve — invaluable planning before you commit to any move.

Create empty slots

Empty slots are the easiest way to move cards from the reserve into the game area to make them playable, without depending on building sequences. Best of all, once the reserve is exhausted, any card can be moved into an empty slot, giving you far more freedom to rearrange the board.

Balance the foundations

Do not build the foundations one at a time, even if that is your first impulse. The tableau sequences must be built in alternating colors, so if you complete one color's foundation too early, you may lack the cards needed to build the opposite color and can block your own progress.

Prioritize the reserve, not the stock

Regardless of mode, the stock is unlimited — once finished, you can go through it again. The reserve cards are far harder to reach, since they only become playable in the game area and are revealed one at a time. Emptying the reserve quickly is one of the biggest keys to winning.

Delay waste-pile moves when needed

Every card you take from the waste pile shifts the position of the remaining cards on the next pass through the stock. If you need a specific card to line up, it can pay to hold off on another move so the cycle brings the crucial card into reach.

Canfield Solitaire Variants

Canfield has spawned a large family of variations, several of which are worth learning once you have mastered the standard game. The table below summarizes the most common ones.

Variant	Key Rule Difference	Difficulty vs. Standard Canfield
Double Canfield	Uses two decks (104 cards) with a larger reserve and layout	Easier
Superior Canfield	The entire reserve is visible, and empty columns can be filled with any card, not just reserve cards	Easier
Storehouse (Thirteen Up / Reserve)	The twos are pre-placed on the foundations; stock deals one card at a time, used only twice; tableau builds by suit	Much easier (~44% win rate)
Selective Canfield	Five cards are dealt after the reserve; the player chooses which one becomes the base card	Easier
Chameleon	Reserve of 12 cards, only three tableau columns, tableau builds down regardless of suit, stock dealt one at a time with no redeals	Comparable / Hard
Rainbow	Tableau builds down regardless of suit, cards turned one at a time, limited or no redeals	Comparable
Eagle Wing (Thirteen Down)	Similar to Storehouse with a distinctive wing-shaped layout	Easier
Variegated Demon	Double-deck game where Aces are always the base cards, five-card tableau, two redeals	Comparable

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 name for Canfield Solitaire with the same rules	Hard
TriPeaks Solitaire	Low	Uses a matching system (one higher/lower) instead of building sequences	Easy

The History of Canfield Solitaire

Canfield Solitaire has one of the richest backstories in the patience family, and understanding it explains why the game carries two very different names on either side of the Atlantic.

The game was first recorded in 1891 in England by Mary Whitmore Jones, who called it Demon Patience and described it as "by far the best game for one pack that has yet been invented." She noted that its "very uncomplimentary name" derived from its ability to frustrate: "Truly a mocking spirit appears to preside over the game, and snatches success from the player often at the last moment, when it seems just within his grasp." When the player finally succeeds, she wrote, "it is a triumph to have conquered the demon."

The Demon reputation stuck. A 1910 issue of Fry's Magazine, edited by cricketer C.B. Fry, explained the game was called Demon Patience "because the player is so often beaten by the awkward position of a single card... in a perverse manner which at times is quite demoniacal."

The American name comes from gambler Richard A. Canfield, who took over the Clubhouse casino in Saratoga Springs, New York in 1894. Sometime after 1900, he offered a novelty gambling version: a player would "buy" a deck of 52 cards (sources say $50 or $52), then earn $5 for every card successfully moved to the foundations. Placing all 52 cards would win the player $2,600 — but on average players lost about five to six cards per game, making it profitable for the house. The novelty never really took off: a single game lasted longer than a typical casino game, and each player required a dedicated croupier. Canfield sold the casino to the City of Saratoga Springs in 1907 at a loss.

Interestingly, historians dispute which game Canfield actually offered. He himself called it "Klondike," and it has been argued that the casino game was closer to modern Klondike than to the game Americans now call Canfield. This is the source of enduring confusion: in North America the name Canfield was attached to the British Demon, while Britain adopted the name Canfield for the game now known worldwide as Klondike.

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 cycle through the stock first, 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?

Computer solvers find that around 71% of three-card-draw deals are theoretically winnable, yet realistic win rates are far lower — roughly 35% for expert players and often under 10% in large samples of random play, compared with about 33% for Klondike. Win rates vary depending on the source and playing conditions.

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. Random-play win rates are roughly 9% for Canfield versus about 33% for Klondike.

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 (or Demon Patience) is the original British name, while Canfield Solitaire became the popular American name after Richard Canfield promoted the game.

What Are the Main Variants of Canfield Solitaire?

Popular variants include Double Canfield (two decks, easier), Superior Canfield (visible reserve), Storehouse or Thirteen Up (twos pre-placed, much easier), Selective Canfield (choose your base card), Chameleon, Rainbow, and Eagle Wing.

Was Canfield Solitaire Originally a Casino Game?

According to historical accounts, Richard Canfield offered the game in his Saratoga Springs casino in the early 20th century. Players paid roughly $52 for a deck and earned $5 for every card successfully moved to the foundations, potentially winning $2,600 for a complete game.

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. As Mary Whitmore Jones wrote in 1891, "a mocking spirit appears to preside over the game," snatching victory away at the last moment — so beating it feels like conquering a demon.

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.