Canfield and Klondike are cousins in the solitaire family. They both use a normal 52-card deck and both build foundations up by suit. But once you deal the cards, they feel like two different games. Let's break down what sets them apart.
- Klondike is the classic solitaire most people already know.
- Canfield starts with a reserve pile and a random starting rank.
- Canfield is much harder to win than Klondike.
- Both build foundations up by suit, but the setups are very different.
- Klondike is better for beginners. Canfield is a fun step up.
The basics of each game
Klondike is the game that comes to mind when someone says "solitaire." You deal seven columns, flip cards, and try to move all 52 cards onto four foundation piles. You can play it on the home page any time.
Canfield came from a casino long ago. The story says a resort owner named Canfield sold decks and paid players for each card they got to the foundations. That gambling root is why the game is stingy with wins. You can try it on the Canfield page.
How the setup differs
The deal is where these two games split right away. Klondike lays out seven columns. The first has one card, the second has two, and so on up to seven. Only the top card of each column faces up.
Canfield does something bolder. It gives you a reserve pile of 13 cards, a single tableau row of four cards, and one starting card on a foundation. That first foundation card sets the base rank for all four foundations. So if the game starts you on a 7, all foundations begin at 7 and wrap around past the King back to the Ace.
That reserve pile is the heart of Canfield. You must dig through it, and it can block you fast if the cards fall wrong.
Rule differences that matter
Both games build foundations up by suit and build the tableau down in switching colors. But a few rules change the feel a lot.
- Starting rank: Klondike foundations always start at Ace. Canfield starts at a random rank and wraps around.
- The reserve: Canfield has one. Klondike does not.
- Empty columns: In Klondike, only a King can fill an empty column. In Canfield, a card from the reserve usually feeds the gap first.
- Deck deals: Canfield lets you go through the stock over and over, three cards at a time.
If you want a full refresher on the shared rules, the rules page covers the basics both games share. New terms like "reserve" and "foundation" are explained in the glossary.
Win rates compared
This is the biggest split of all. Klondike is winnable a fair amount of the time. Canfield is famously hard. Here is a rough look, with the bars showing about how often skilled players win.
These are rough ranges, not exact numbers. But the point holds. You will win Klondike far more often than Canfield. Canfield rewards you with a bigger sense of pride when you do pull it off.
| Feature | Klondike | Canfield |
|---|---|---|
| Reserve pile | No | Yes, 13 cards |
| Foundation start | Always Ace | Random rank |
| Tableau columns | 7 | 4 |
| Difficulty | Medium | Hard |
| Best for | Beginners | Players wanting a challenge |
Which one should you play
If you are new to solitaire, start with Klondike. The rules are simpler, the wins come more often, and it teaches you the moves both games use. Once you feel steady, Canfield is a great next step. It uses the same basic ideas but adds the reserve twist and the wrap-around rank.
If you already love a challenge and don't mind losing a lot, jump straight into Canfield. Just know that patience pays off more than raw speed there.
The real difference between Canfield and Klondike
Boiled down, the difference is the reserve pile and the random start. Klondike gives you seven open columns and a friendly Ace start. Canfield hands you a stubborn reserve, four columns, and a rank that changes every deal. That makes Canfield harder and Klondike easier to win.
Pick Klondike for a smooth, satisfying game. Pick Canfield when you want the same family with a harder edge. Try both back to back and you will feel the gap right away.