Canfield is a solitaire card game with a very low probability to win. According to legend, it is originally a casino game, named after the casino owner who invented it. In England, it is known as Demon.

Mr. Canfield (first name never mentioned) owned a casino in Saratoga Springs, New York during the 1890s. Gamblers at his casino would play the game by "buying" a deck of cards for $50. The gambler would then play the game and earn $5 for every card he managed to place into the foundations. Although players make a loss (about an average of five to six cards), the game proved to be popular, and Mr. Canfield became rich. The disadvantage of this new game was to hire an attendant for every gambler playing the game.

Mr. Canfield himself called the game Klondike, but the name Canfield stuck and became synonymous with solitaire itself. Sometimes, Canfield and Klondike are even interchangable to refer to each other's games.

To play the game, one must first deal thirteen cards faced down and then turned up. These cards would be the reserve, the top cards of which is available for play. Then a card is placed on first of the four foundations to the left of the reserve. This card is the first card of its foundation and all other cards of the same rank must also start the other three foundations.

Below the foundations are four piles, each starting with a card each. This will be the tableau and the tops cards of each pile are available for play. Cards on the tableau are built down by alternating colors, while the foundations are built up by suit, wrapping from King to Ace if necessary. Any gaps on the tableau are filled from the reserve; in case the reserve is used up, cards from the waste pile are used. Cards on the reserve can also be distributed to the foundations or to the tableau.

When no more plays are possible on the tableau and no more cards can be placed to the foundations, especially from the reserve, one can deal cards from the stock (the undealt cards) three at a time into the waste pile and use these cards to build to the foundations or to the tableau. One can use the stock as long as there are moves.

The game is won when all cards are placed in the foundations. But as Mr. Canfield knew very well, winning this game is unlikely, as one can manage to place an average of five to six cards.

Below are some variations to the game:

• In Rainbow Canfield (or just Rainbow), one can deal the stock one card at a time. Only two redeals are allowed.
• In Selective Canfield, one can deal five cards right after the reserve is dealt. One can place either one of these five into the foundations and the rest become the tableau.
• In Storehouse Canfield (or just Storehouse), one should remove the deuces (twos) and place them on the foundations. The reserve and the cards on the tableau is then dealt. The stock is dealt one card at a time and it can be used only twice.
• In Superior Canfield, the entire reserve is visible and gaps can be filled by any card, not just those from the reserve.