Comparison
Canfield vs Aces Up
| Canfield | Aces Up | |
|---|---|---|
| Decks | One deck | One deck |
| Suits | 4 | 4 |
| Typical length | 15 min | 5 min |
| Difficulty | Hard | Easy |
| How much skill matters | High | Low |
| How much the shuffle matters | Medium | High |
| Family | Canfield family | Standalone |
| Good for beginners | No | Yes |
We have not written a verdict for this pairing. The comparison above is drawn from each game's own recorded facts — follow either link for its full rules and strategy.
Canfield
Foundations start on a random rank instead of Aces, and a 13-card reserve pile adds real strategic pressure.
Thirteen cards go face down into a reserve with only the top one showing, four columns are dealt, and one card goes up to start the foundations — whatever rank that card happens to be becomes the base rank for all four. Columns build down in alternating colours and turn the corner, so a King can go onto an Ace; foundations build up in suit and wrap the same way.
Aces Up
Discard cards that rank below another card of the same suit across four piles, aiming to end with only the four Aces left.
Four cards are dealt face up, one to each of four piles. Whenever two or more visible cards share a suit, all but the highest-ranked of them are discarded — and Aces count high, so an Ace beats a King.
Frequently asked questions
- Which is harder, Canfield or Aces Up?
- Canfield is generally rated hard difficulty, while Aces Up is rated easy — so most players find one noticeably harder than the other.