Spider Solitaire Rules and Strategy: How to Win More Games
A lot of people open Spider Solitaire once and close it again. Ten columns, two decks, cards everywhere. It looks like work.
But it is easier than it looks. Learn the few rules, then learn three habits, and the game suddenly makes sense. This guide gives you both.
The rules in two minutes
- Cards: 104 cards, two decks. 54 go into ten columns (four columns of 6, six columns of 5). Only the top card of each column is face up.
- Stock: the other 50 cards. Each deal puts one new card on every column. That gives you five deals.
- Building: a card can go on any card one rank higher. A 4 on a 5, a Jack on a Queen. The suit does not matter for a single card.
- Moving groups: a group can only move together if it is in order and all one suit.
- Empty columns: take any card or same-suit group.
- Dealing: only when no column is empty.
- Winning: build King down to Ace in one suit. That run leaves the board. Do it eight times and you win.
1 suit, 2 suits or 4 suits?
| Mode | What changes | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| 1 suit | All cards are spades. Every run in order can move. | Learning the game. Relaxed play. |
| 2 suits | Spades and hearts. You must keep the two suits apart. | The real challenge for most players. |
| 4 suits | All four suits. Very easy to get stuck. | Experts with a lot of patience. |
My advice: play 1 suit until you win most games. Then move to 2 suits. Don't jump straight to 4.
Habit 1: Hunt the hidden cards
Hidden cards are your biggest problem. Each one could be the card you need. So before every move, ask: does this turn a card over?
Start with the first four columns. They hide five cards each, the others hide four. Emptying one of them early is a big win, because it also gives you an empty column.
Habit 2: Same suit first
Say you have a 6♥ and two places for it: a 7♥ and a 7♠. Both are legal. But only 7♥ 6♥ can later move as a group. 7♠ 6♥ is stuck together until you take it apart card by card.
So the rule of thumb is: same suit if you can, other suit only if it opens something. A mixed build is fine when it turns a hidden card or empties a column. Then you can fix it later.
Habit 3: Treat empty columns like gold
An empty column is the most powerful thing in Spider. With it you can:
- park a card for a moment while you sort a mixed pile,
- split a long mixed run into same-suit pieces,
- move a King out of the way so the cards under it are free.
The mistake most beginners make is to drop any random card in there and then forget it. Before you fill an empty column, have a plan: what will this card do there?
When should you deal?
Deal when you really have no useful move left. Not before. A deal drops ten cards on your board at once and can bury a run you almost finished.
Two small tricks before you deal:
- Fill empty columns with high cards. You must fill them anyway. A King or Queen there is not in anyone's way.
- Tidy up same-suit runs. If you can join two pieces of the same suit, do it now. After the deal they may be covered.
How to fix a mixed column
Sooner or later you will have a column like 9♠ 8♥ 7♠ 6♥. It looks hopeless, but it is not. Go from the top: move 6♥ onto another 7♥ if there is one, or into an empty column. Then 7♠ can go onto an 8♠. Step by step, each piece goes to a card of its own suit. An empty column makes this much easier, which is one more reason to keep one free.
Five common mistakes
- Dealing as soon as the first idea runs out.
- Building on the other suit "because it is possible".
- Filling an empty column with a low card that blocks it.
- Ignoring the columns with the most hidden cards.
- Never using Undo. Trying a move and undoing it is the fastest way to learn.
Is every game winnable?
No. Some random deals can't be won, especially with four suits. That is frustrating when you don't know it. In our Spider Solitaire game every level was checked by a computer solver before it went online, so you know every level can be won. If you get stuck, it is the moves, and Undo or Hint will help you find the way.
Spider vs. classic Solitaire
If you know classic Klondike Solitaire, three things are new: two decks instead of one, any card may go into an empty column (not only Kings), and in the tableau the suit matters, not the colour. Everything else will feel familiar.
FAQ
Is Spider Solitaire harder than normal Solitaire?
With 1 suit it is about as hard as classic Klondike. With 2 or 4 suits it is harder, because only cards of the same suit can move together as a group.
How many cards does Spider Solitaire use?
Two full decks, so 104 cards. 54 are dealt into ten columns and 50 stay in the stock for five deals of ten cards.
Can you put any card in an empty column in Spider?
Yes. Unlike Klondike, any card or any same-suit run can go into an empty column.
Why can't I deal in Spider Solitaire?
The classic rule says every column must have at least one card before you deal. Fill empty columns first.
What is the best first move in Spider Solitaire?
There is no single best move, but a good habit is to turn over hidden cards in the first four columns, because they hide the most cards.
Should I build on a different suit?
Only when it helps you turn a hidden card or empty a column. A same-suit build is almost always better, because it can move as a group later.
Can every game of Spider Solitaire be won?
No, not every random deal. On SepoGames every level was checked by a solver first, so every level there can be won.
Where can I play Spider Solitaire for free?
On sepogames.com/spider-solitaire.html. It runs in your browser, has 1 and 2 suit modes, and Undo and Hint are free.
Ready to try?
Start with 1 suit, use the three habits, and see how many levels you can clear today.
More card and puzzle games
For real Spider you need two decks of the same size.
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