Selective Canfield strategy
Five cards appear before play. The one you select starts its suit foundation and fixes the base rank for all four suits; the other four become the tableau. The thirteen-card reserve shows only its top. After selection, tableau groups build down in alternating colors with wraparound, and the stock draws three cards with recycling.
Last updated: September 2026
Compare the four cards you leave in the tableau
A base choice changes both the foundation sequence and the four opening columns. Check whether a remaining card can start another foundation of the chosen rank, and whether the other exposed cards can build without immediately covering that route.
The reserve top is visible during the choice, but the twelve cards below it are not. An attractive base rank is useful only if the resulting tableau can receive the reserve top or uncover the next foundation rank.
Constructed opening: the five choices include Nine of Spades, Five of Hearts, Nine of Diamonds, Ten of Diamonds, and Eight of Clubs. Choosing Nine of Spades leaves Nine of Diamonds exposed to start its foundation, after which Ten of Diamonds can advance it. Choosing Five of Hearts does not open that same immediate diamond route. This comparison illustrates a short route, not a guaranteed winning choice.
Reassess after the selection
Once the chosen card moves to a foundation, the selection pile disappears and play follows Canfield's reserve, tableau, and waste rules. Only the reserve top can move. A three-card draw may cover a useful waste card; cycling the waste does not reveal hidden reserve cards.
The Canfield guide explains the shared base-rank and wrapping-tableau mechanics. Selective Canfield needs a separate opening decision because the four unchosen cards become the first tableau.