How to play Spider Solitaire
Spider Solitaire is a patience game for one player, played with 104 cards: the size of two standard decks. It became widely known as one of the games that came with Windows, and the version here uses the same standard rules.
The setup
The game deals 54 cards into 10 columns. The first four columns get 6 cards and the other six get 5. Only the top card of each column is face up. The other 50 cards wait in the stock in the top right corner, enough for five deals of 10 cards.
The goal
Build eight complete runs from King down to Ace, each in a single suit. As soon as a run is complete, it leaves the table and moves to the foundation row at the top. When all eight runs are done, you win.
Moving cards
- You can place a face-up card on any card exactly one rank higher, whatever the suit. A 7 of hearts can go on an 8 of spades.
- Cards in an unbroken run of the same suit, such as 9-8-7 of spades, can move together as one unit. A mixed run such as 9 of spades, 8 of hearts cannot move together; you would have to move the 8 first.
- An empty column accepts any card or any same-suit run. A King can only move into an empty column.
- When you move the last face-up card off a column, the card below turns face up by itself.
- Aces are low. Nothing can be placed on an Ace.
To move cards here, drag them with your mouse or finger, or tap a card: it jumps to the best legal spot. Tap the same card again to try the next spot. Undo is unlimited.
Dealing from the stock
When you run out of useful moves, press Deal. One face-up card lands on every column, so all ten columns get covered at once. You may only deal when no column is empty; fill any gap first. After the fifth deal the stock is gone and you have to finish with the cards on the table.
1 suit, 2 suits or 4 suits?
The rules never change between the three modes. Only the mix of suits does, and that changes the game a lot.
| Mode | Cards | What it feels like |
|---|---|---|
| 1 suit | 8 sets of spades | Every card fits every run, so the game is about uncovering face-down cards and using empty columns. Good for learning, and most deals can be won. |
| 2 suits | 4 sets of spades, 4 of hearts | You can still stack a heart on a spade, but only same-suit runs move as one and count as complete. You need to plan which runs to keep clean. |
| 4 suits | 2 sets of each suit | Mixed stacks build up quickly and are hard to untangle. Empty columns become precious. A real challenge even for experienced players. |
In 4-suit mode the cards here use four colors (blue diamonds, green clubs) so the suits are easy to tell apart on a small screen.
Spider Solitaire strategy tips
- Uncover face-down cards first. Every hidden card you turn over gives you new options. When you have a choice, play from the column with the fewest face-down cards, because clearing it gives you an empty column.
- Build in suit whenever you can. If a 6 could go on two different 7s, choose the 7 of the same suit. Same-suit runs can be moved later as one unit; mixed runs cannot.
- Treat empty columns as tools, not parking spots. An empty column lets you take apart a mixed stack and rebuild it in suit. Example: one column ends with 8 of spades, 7 of hearts and another with 8 of hearts, 7 of spades. Move the 7 of hearts into the empty column, put the 7 of spades on the 8 of spades, then the 7 of hearts on the 8 of hearts. Both runs are now in suit and the column is empty again. Avoid dropping a single low card into an empty column just because you can.
- Be careful with Kings. A King can only go into an empty column, and anything under it stays buried until a whole run is finished on top of it. Move a King into an empty column only when it frees cards you really need.
- Get ready before you deal. A deal drops a card on every column, often splitting your runs. Before you press Deal, make every useful move, tidy runs into single suits and turn over as many face-down cards as possible.
- Do not break good runs for nothing. Moving the end of a same-suit run onto a card of another suit rarely helps unless it uncovers a face-down card or frees a column.
- Use undo to explore. If you are not sure which of two moves is better, try one and undo it. Restarting the same deal with what you have learned is a good way to get better.
Frequently asked questions
Is every game of Spider Solitaire winnable?
No. Some deals cannot be won however well you play, because the order of the stock is fixed and can bury the cards you need. With 1 suit nearly every deal can be won with careful play. With 4 suits even strong players lose a good share of games, which is why unlimited undo helps.
How many cards are in Spider Solitaire?
104 cards, the same number as two standard 52-card decks. 54 are dealt into 10 columns (6 cards in each of the first four, 5 in the other six) and 50 stay in the stock for five deals of 10. In 1-suit mode all 104 cards are spades; in 2-suit mode they are spades and hearts.
How do you win Spider Solitaire?
Build eight complete runs from King down to Ace, each in a single suit. A finished run leaves the table automatically. The game is won when all eight runs are complete and the table is empty.
Can you deal new cards when a column is empty?
No. Under the standard rules every column must hold at least one card before you deal from the stock. Move any card or run into the empty column first.
What can go into an empty column?
Any single card or any run of the same suit in descending order. A King can only be moved into an empty column, since there is no higher card to place it on.
Can you put a card on an Ace?
No. The Ace is the lowest card, so nothing can be placed on it. An Ace only leaves the table as the last card of a completed King-to-Ace run.
What is the difference between 1, 2 and 4 suits?
The rules are the same; only the suits change. With 1 suit every card can join any run, so the game is mostly about uncovering cards. With 2 suits (spades and hearts) and 4 suits you can still place a card on any card one rank higher, but only same-suit runs move together and count as complete, so you have to untangle mixed stacks. 4 suits is much harder.
Is this Spider Solitaire free?
Yes. It is free, runs in your browser on phones, tablets and computers, and needs no download or account. Your game and your stats are saved in your own browser.