Thirteen Up

What is Thirteen Up?

Thirteen Up is a Canfield variant with two unusual restrictions: the foundation base rank is fixed at 2 (all foundations start on 2 and build upward by suit with wraparound), and the tableau builds by the same suit instead of alternating colors. Same-suit tableau building is significantly more restrictive than Canfield’s alternating-color — each card has at most one valid tableau destination instead of two. This makes Thirteen Up considerably harder than standard Canfield.

Fixed base rank 2

With the base rank always 2, the wrapping foundation sequence is always: 2→3→4→5→6→7→8→9→10→J→Q→K→A (then complete). This predictability removes the base-rank planning decision present in Canfield, but the same-suit tableau restriction makes working toward those foundations much harder.

Aces are the last cards needed on each foundation — they wrap in at the very end. Early in the game, focus on routing 3s, 4s, and 5s to their foundations, as these are the first ranks needed after the starting 2s.

Read the Thirteen Up strategy guide →

Canfield family variants

• Canfield — random base rank; alternating-color tableau; draw-three
• Variegated Demon — same same-suit rule; two decks; 8 foundations
• Selective Canfield — player chooses base rank; alternating-color

Related games and reference

• Thirteen Up strategy guide
• Canfield strategy guide
• Solitaire glossary
• All solitaire games