About Spider Solitaire
How to Play Spider Solitaire
The game starts with 10 columns. The first four have six cards each and the other six have five. Only the top card of each column is face up. Moving it may reveal a hidden card underneath.
Build downward by placing a card on one exactly one rank higher. For example, any 7 can be placed on any 8, regardless of suit.
You can move a group of cards together only when they form a descending sequence in the same suit. A mixed-suit sequence can be built, but it cannot be moved as a group.
Any single card or movable same-suit sequence can be placed in an empty column. You do not need a King to fill it.
Dealing from the stock places one face-up card on each of the 10 columns. You cannot deal while any column is empty, so fill empty columns before drawing from the stock.
A complete same-suit sequence from King down to Ace clears automatically. Clear all eight sequences to win.
You can choose one-suit, two-suit or four-suit Spider. All three use 104 cards. More suits make it harder to build and move complete sequences.
Spider Solitaire Strategy and Tips
Reveal hidden cards
When you have several moves, favour one that turns over a face-down card. Revealing cards gives you more choices and helps you judge what remains buried.
Build runs in the same suit
You can place a card on one of a different suit, but a mixed-suit stack cannot move together. Where possible, build descending runs in the same suit so you can move them later.
Use empty columns to rearrange cards
An empty column gives you space to move a card or same-suit run out of the way. Use that space to separate mixed stacks and reach cards underneath.
Compare moves before filling a space
Any card can go into an empty column, but filling it takes away that space. Check whether the move will reveal a hidden card, extend a useful run or help you free the column again.
Organise before dealing
A stock deal adds a card to every column and may cover moves you could have made first. Look for useful rearrangements and hidden cards to expose before taking the next deal.
Plan for the five stock deals
You cannot draw from the stock while a column is empty. Before dealing, make use of that empty space, then fill it with a card or movable run.
Spider Solitaire FAQs
How many times can I deal from the stock?
You can deal five times. Each deal places one card on every tableau column, using 10 cards. You must fill all empty columns before dealing.
Can every Spider Solitaire game be won?
No. Some deals may not have a winning route. More suits make it harder to assemble movable sequences, so four-suit games are generally much more difficult than one-suit games.
Why is four-suit Spider harder if it uses the same number of cards?
You can place cards of different suits together, but you can move a group only when it forms a descending sequence in one suit. With four suits, mixed sequences are more common and harder to separate.
Why is it called Spider Solitaire?
The name refers to the eight complete King-to-Ace sequences needed to win, matching a spider’s eight legs.
How is Spider different from FreeCell?
Spider uses two decks, starts with hidden cards and adds new rows from a stock. FreeCell uses one deck with every card visible from the start, four temporary holding cells and four foundation piles.