Triple Canfield

Game Objective:

The primary goal in Triple Canfield Solitaire is to build up all cards into the foundation piles by suit in ascending order, starting from the designated base card for each suit, until all cards from the three decks are placed in the foundations.

Setup & Layout:

• Deck Composition: Triple Canfield Solitaire uses three standard 52-card decks, totaling 156 cards.
• Reserve (Demon): Deal 25 cards face-down into a single pile; turn the top card face-up. This pile is called the reserve or demon. Only the top face-up card is available for play.
• Foundations: Above the reserve, deal one card face-up. This is the base card for the foundations. The other three foundations for each suit are started with cards of the same rank as the base card when they become available during play.
• Tableau: Below the foundations, deal four cards face-up, each forming a tableau pile. These are the main play areas for building descending sequences.
• Stock: The remaining cards (after reserve, foundations, and tableau are set) form the stock pile, placed face-down.
• Waste: Cards drawn from the stock are placed face-up into a waste pile. Only the top card of the waste is available for play.

Summary of Play Areas:

• Reserve: 25 cards (top card face-up)
• Foundations: 4 piles (one base card face-up, others started as matching ranks appear)
• Tableau: 4 piles (each with one face-up card)
• Stock: Remaining cards face-down
• Waste: Cards drawn from stock, face-up

Triple Canfield Solitaire Rules:

• Foundation Building: Foundations are built up by suit, starting from the base card, wrapping from King to Ace if necessary, until each pile contains 52 cards (one complete suit from each deck).
• Tableau Building: Tableau piles are built in descending order and must alternate colors (red/black). Sequences can wrap from Ace to King.
• Card Movement:
• Cards may be moved individually or as complete sequences within the tableau, provided the sequence follows descending order and alternating colors.
• The top card of the reserve, tableau, or waste may be moved to a foundation pile if it fits the ascending suit sequence.
• The top card of the reserve may also be moved to the tableau if it fits the descending, alternating color sequence.
• Stock and Waste:
• When drawing from the stock, three cards are dealt face-up to the waste pile. Only the top card of the waste is playable.
• Unlimited passes through the stock are permitted; when the stock is exhausted, the waste pile is turned over to become the new stock (without shuffling).
• Filling Spaces:
• If a tableau pile becomes empty, it must be filled immediately with the top card from the reserve. If the reserve is depleted, the empty tableau may be filled from the waste pile.

Gameplay:

• Turn Sequence:
• Play begins by moving available cards (top of reserve, tableau, or waste) to foundations or tableau piles according to the building rules.
• When no further moves are available, draw three cards from the stock to the waste pile. Continue playing from the newly available waste card.
• Move cards between tableau piles to create descending, alternating color sequences, either as single cards or entire sequences.
• Always fill empty tableau spaces from the reserve; if the reserve is empty, fill from the waste.
• Introducing New Cards:
• Cards are introduced into play from the stock (drawn in sets of three to the waste), from the reserve (top card only), and from the waste (top card only).
• No Legal Moves:
• If no legal moves remain and the stock is exhausted, the waste pile is recycled as the new stock. Play continues until no further moves are possible.

Winning & Losing Conditions:

• Winning Condition: The game is won when all cards from all three decks are built into the four foundation piles, each completed in suit and ascending order starting from the base card.
• Losing Condition: The game is lost or unwinnable if no legal moves remain and all cards cannot be built into the foundations, even after recycling the stock.

Special Rules & Edge Cases:

• Filling Empty Tableau: Whenever a tableau pile is emptied, it must be filled immediately with the top card from the reserve. If the reserve is exhausted, fill the space with the top card from the waste pile.
• Foundation Base Card: The foundation piles start with a base card of random rank. All foundation piles for each suit must begin with the same rank, which may not be Ace.
• Sequence Movement: Entire sequences of cards may be moved within the tableau, provided they maintain descending order and alternate colors.
• Unlimited Stock Passes: There is no limit to the number of times the stock can be recycled by turning over the waste pile.
• Wrapping Sequences: Both foundation and tableau sequences can wrap around from King to Ace (and vice versa) as needed for continuous building.

Note: Triple Canfield Solitaire is a rare variant and may have minor rule differences depending on the source; the above guide synthesizes the most authoritative rulesets available.