Play Fascination Solitaire Free Online

Fascination Solitaire

Fascination is a Canfield variant with modified dealing rules that change the initial tableau setup. The reserve pile mechanic and wrapping foundations remain, but the altered starting position creates different strategic landscapes from the first move. Named for its captivating ability to keep players coming back, Fascination delivers the Canfield challenge with a fresh opening game.

How to Play Fascination Solitaire

Layout

A stock pile and waste pile on the left. One card is dealt face-up to start the first foundation — its rank becomes the base for all four foundations. 13 cards are dealt to a reserve pile (only the top card face-up). 4 tableau columns of 1 card each.

Objective

Move all cards to the four foundation piles, building up by suit and wrapping from King back to Ace.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Note the foundation starter card — all four foundations must start with this same rank (e.g. if a 7 is dealt, all foundations start from 7).
2. Build foundations up by suit, wrapping around: e.g. if starting at 7, build 7-8-9-10-J-Q-K-A-2-3-4-5-6.
3. Build tableau columns in descending order with alternating colors (e.g. red 9 on black 10). Tableau also wraps (Ace goes on 2, King goes on Ace).
4. Click the stock pile to draw cards (1 or 3 depending on variant) to the waste pile. Play the top waste card.
5. Play the top card of the reserve pile whenever possible — clearing the reserve is crucial.
6. When a tableau column is empty, the top reserve card automatically fills it. If the reserve is empty, any card can fill the space.
7. Win when all four foundations are filled (13 cards each).

Other Canfield Variations

Or go back to Canfield Solitaire.

Why Play Fascination Solitaire Online?

Originally a casino betting game, Canfield challenges you to beat the house. With a 13-card reserve pile and a rotating foundation base, no two games start the same way. Its casino heritage means the scoring is built around risk versus reward.

Game Features

• Casino Heritage — Originally a real casino betting game with Vegas scoring
• Random Foundation Base — Every game starts from a different rank
• 13-Card Reserve — Clear the reserve pile for maximum flexibility
• Unlimited Undo — Master the wrapping sequences at your own pace
• Smart Hints — Navigate the complex reserve-to-foundation strategy
• Mobile Friendly — Compact layout works beautifully on small screens

Fascination Tips and Strategies

Adapt standard Canfield strategy to the modified initial layout. The reserve pile remains your primary constraint — clear it first. Pay attention to how the different dealing affects which cards are initially accessible. Foundation building priority stays the same: deplete the reserve before chasing completions.

Fascination Solitaire Rules

Scoring System

In Canfield, originally a casino game, each card placed on a foundation earns 10 points. Moving a card from waste to tableau earns 5 points, and revealing a face-down card earns 5 points. Moving a card back from the foundation costs 15 points.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Canfield players often forget to use the reserve pile strategically. Play from the reserve whenever possible, as clearing it opens up many more moves. Don't rush cards to the foundation if they're needed for building tableau sequences.

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about Fascination Solitaire.

History of Fascination Solitaire

Canfield is named after Richard A. Canfield, a famous 19th-century American gambler who operated casinos in New York and Saratoga Springs. In his casino, players paid $52 for a deck and earned $5 for each card placed on foundations. The house edge was substantial — average payouts were around $25, netting Canfield a steady profit. Today, the original casino rules are known as the "Vegas" scoring variant.

Cognitive Benefits of Fascination

Canfield exercises adaptive planning — the random foundation base means you must recalculate your strategy every game. Managing the 13-card reserve while tracking wrapping sequences builds working memory capacity. The game's casino origins also train intuitive probability assessment.