Canfield (draw 3), deal #18

Deal #18 is among the hardest deals in this series. Our solver won it in a line of 129 moves, so it can certainly be won.

Notes on this deal

• The base rank of this deal is 4: every foundation runs from 4 up to K, then A and on to 3.
• 3 of the 4s are locked in the reserve, so the reserve has to be worked through before those foundations can start.
• The reserve starts with J♥ on top.
• Playing without a plan stalls early here: a test play of the most promising moves gets only 3 of 52 cards home.
• Only one useful move is open at the start, so the opening plays itself; the thinking starts after it.
• The solver's line turns the stock 77 times.

Stuck? The solver's first moves

These are the first moves of the solver's winning line, with automatic moves to the foundations switched on.

#	Card	From	To
1	Turn the stock 12 times
2	Turn the waste back over
3	Turn the stock 4 times
4	7♠	waste	8♥, column 2
5	Turn the stock 5 times
6	6♦	waste	7♠, column 2

Canfield in a nutshell

The first foundation card sets the base rank. Build the foundations up by suit from it, wrapping from King to Ace, and the four columns down in alternating colours. The reserve refills empty columns.

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