Comparison
Spider vs Canfield
| Spider | Canfield | |
|---|---|---|
| Decks | 2 decks | One deck |
| Suits | 4 | 4 |
| Typical length | 20 min | 15 min |
| Difficulty | Intermediate | Hard |
| How much skill matters | High | High |
| How much the shuffle matters | Low | Medium |
| Family | Spider family | Canfield family |
| Good for beginners | No | No |
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.
Spider
Build same-suit sequences from King to Ace across ten tableau columns using two full decks and four suits.
Two full decks are dealt into ten columns — 54 cards, with the last of each column face up. Columns build downward by rank, and here the suit does not matter for placing a single card: any nine goes onto any ten.
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.
Frequently asked questions
- Which is harder, Spider or Canfield?
- Spider is generally rated intermediate difficulty, while Canfield is rated hard — so most players find one noticeably harder than the other.