Spider Solitaire

Spider Solitaire is the second most popular solitaire game in the world, originally included in Microsoft Windows. Deal 54 face-down cards across ten tableau columns, then build descending same-suit sequences from King to Ace and remove completed runs. The remaining cards are dealt from the stock in rounds of ten. Choose from 1, 2, or 4 suits to control difficulty from beginner-friendly to brutally challenging.

How to Play Spider Solitaire

Layout

104 cards (2 decks) are dealt into 10 tableau columns. The first 4 columns have 6 cards each, the last 6 have 5 each. Only the top card of each column is face-up. The remaining 50 cards sit in the stock pile.

Objective

Build eight complete same-suit sequences from King down to Ace. Completed sequences are automatically removed.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Build tableau columns in descending order (e.g. 9 on 10). You can mix suits, but only same-suit sequences can be moved as a group.
Move individual cards or same-suit sequences between columns to arrange cards.
Try to create at least one empty column — it acts as free storage for rearranging cards.
When no more moves are available, click the stock pile to deal one new card to each of the 10 columns (all columns must have at least one card).
When you build a complete King-to-Ace sequence in the same suit, it is removed from the board automatically.
Win when all 8 same-suit sequences (King through Ace) have been built and removed.

Guides & Strategy

Read our in-depth guides to master the rules and improve your win rate.

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Spider Variations

Spider 1 Suiteasy

Play Spider Solitaire 1 Suit online free - the easiest and most relaxing Spider variation. All 104 cards are Spades, eliminating suit conflicts and allowing you to focus on strateg...

Spider 2 Suitmedium

Play Spider Solitaire 2 Suit free - the perfect middle ground between easy and expert Spider. This version uses Spades and Hearts, providing a balanced challenge that tests your pl...

Spider 4 Suithard

Play Spider Solitaire 4 Suit online - the ultimate Spider challenge for expert players. Using all four suits (Spades, Hearts, Diamonds, Clubs), this version is considered one of th...

Spiderette

Play Spiderette Solitaire online for free — a Spider variant.

Why Play Spider Solitaire Online?

Spider Solitaire is the ultimate test of planning and patience. With 1-suit, 2-suit, and 4-suit difficulty levels, it offers a progressive challenge for beginners and experts alike. Our online version tracks your combo streaks and offers hints when you're stuck — features impossible with two physical decks.

Game Features

1, 2, or 4 Suit Modes — Start easy and work up to the ultimate challenge
Unlimited Undo — Experiment with different sequence-building strategies
Sequence Completion Effects — Satisfying animations when you clear a full suit run
Smart Hints — Highlights same-suit building opportunities you might miss
Statistics Tracking — Compare your win rates across difficulty levels
No Download — Play instantly in your browser on any device

Spider Tips and Strategies

Empty columns are your most powerful tool — protect them at all costs. Build same-suit sequences whenever possible, as mixed-suit stacks can't be moved as a group. Before dealing new cards, make sure every column has at least one card. Focus on completing one suit at a time rather than spreading effort across all four.

Spider Solitaire Rules

Spider Solitaire Rules: The game uses two standard decks (104 cards total). Ten tableau columns are dealt - the first four columns have 6 cards each, the last six columns have 5 cards each. Only the top card in each column is face-up initially. The remaining 50 cards form the stockpile. Gameplay: Build tableau columns in descending order (King to Ace). You can move sequences of cards if they are in the same suit and in descending order. When you have no more moves, deal one card to each tableau column from the stockpile. Complete sequences from King to Ace in the same suit are automatically removed. The game is won when all eight complete sequences (King through Ace) are built and removed. Difficulty: One suit (easiest) - all cards are Spades. Two suits (medium) - Spades and Hearts. Four suits (hardest) - all suits in play. Strategic planning is essential as poor moves can block important cards.

Scoring System

Spider Solitaire awards 1 point for each tableau move. Completing a full King-to-Ace suited run and removing it earns a bonus of 100 points. Turning over a face-down card earns 5 points. The fewer moves you use, the higher your score.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

In Spider, the most common error is creating out-of-suit sequences. While mixing suits is sometimes necessary, suited sequences are worth much more and can be removed. Avoid dealing new cards when you have available moves, as it restricts your options.

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about Spider Solitaire.

What is the difference between Spider 1, 2, and 4 Suit?

Spider 1 Suit uses only Spades (easiest, ~95% win rate). Spider 2 Suit uses Spades and Hearts (medium, ~50% win rate). Spider 4 Suit uses all four suits (hardest, ~30% win rate). The difficulty increases because mixed suits cannot be moved together as sequences.

How do you clear a sequence in Spider Solitaire?

A complete sequence from King down to Ace in the same suit is automatically removed from the tableau when built. You need to clear eight complete sequences (one of each suit depending on the variation) to win the game. Only complete same-suit sequences are removed.

When should you deal new cards in Spider?

Only deal new cards from the stockpile when you have no productive moves available. Dealing adds one card to each of the ten columns, which can bury useful cards and create difficult situations. Try to make as many moves and clear as many sequences as possible before dealing.

Can you move mixed suit sequences in Spider?

You can build tableau columns with mixed suits in descending order, but only same-suit sequences can be moved as a unit. For example, you can place a Heart 7 on a Spade 8, but you cannot move them together unless you build them into a complete same-suit sequence.

History of Spider Solitaire

Spider Solitaire rose to fame with its inclusion in Windows XP's game suite in 2001. The name refers to the eight foundation piles in the four-suit version — like a spider's eight legs. Its origins are unclear, but two-deck solitaire games have been documented since the late 19th century. The 1-suit variant was designed for beginners, while the full 4-suit version remains one of the most strategically demanding solitaire games ever created.

Cognitive Benefits of Spider

Spider Solitaire demands advanced planning across 10 columns simultaneously. Tracking suit sequences and managing column depths strengthens spatial reasoning and multi-step problem solving. The progressive difficulty (1 to 4 suits) offers a natural cognitive training ladder.

Play Spider Solitaire Free Online