What Is Spider Solitaire?
Spider Solitaire is one of the most popular and challenging solitaire card games in the world. Unlike Klondike, which uses a single deck and relies on foundation piles, Spider is played with two full 52-card decks (104 cards total) and challenges you to build complete descending sequences from King down to Ace within the tableau itself. When a full 13-card run of a single suit is assembled, it is automatically removed from play.
The game earns its name from the eight foundation piles you must ultimately fill — one for each leg of a spider. Spider Solitaire comes in three difficulty levels based on the number of suits in play, making it accessible to beginners while remaining fiercely challenging for experts.
The Setup at a Glance
Spider Solitaire is dealt across 10 tableau columns using all 104 cards:
- Columns 1–4: Each receive 6 cards (5 face-down, 1 face-up).
- Columns 5–10: Each receive 5 cards (4 face-down, 1 face-up).
- Stock pile: The remaining 50 cards are set aside in 5 groups of 10, to be dealt later during play.
- Foundation area: Eight empty spaces where completed King-to-Ace runs are placed.
In total, 54 cards are dealt to the tableau and 50 cards go to the stock. For a detailed walkthrough of the dealing process, see our Spider Solitaire setup guide.
Choosing Your Difficulty: 1-Suit, 2-Suit, and 4-Suit
The number of suits in play is what determines Spider Solitaire’s difficulty. The deck composition changes based on the version you choose.
1-Suit Spider (Beginner)
All 104 cards are the same suit — typically Spades. Since every card shares a suit, any descending sequence is automatically same-suit, and sequences can be moved freely. This is the easiest version and an excellent starting point for new players.
2-Suit Spider (Intermediate)
The deck consists of two suits — typically Spades and Hearts (one black, one red), with each suit appearing across two full decks (52 cards per suit). You can stack any card of descending rank on any other card regardless of suit, but only same-suit sequences can be moved as a group. Mixing suits in a column is legal but tactically costly, as those cards cannot be relocated together.
4-Suit Spider (Expert)
All four suits are in play across two decks (26 cards per suit). This is the traditional and most challenging version. The likelihood of building clean same-suit runs is much lower, and the game demands careful planning, patience, and a high tolerance for dead ends.
Rules of Play
Building on the Tableau
- Cards are stacked in descending rank regardless of suit. You may place any 9 on any 10, any 5 on any 6, and so on.
- However, only a sequence of cards that are descending and of the same suit can be moved together as a group. A mixed-suit descending sequence must be moved one card at a time.
- Any card or valid same-suit sequence may be placed on an empty column.
Completing a Run
When you assemble a complete 13-card sequence from King down to Ace, all in the same suit, within a single tableau column, that entire run is automatically removed and placed on one of the eight foundation piles. This is the primary objective — clear all eight runs to win.
Dealing from the Stock
When you run out of useful moves on the tableau, you deal a new round from the stock. Each deal distributes one card face-up to each of the 10 tableau columns (10 cards total per deal). There are five deals available from the stock over the course of the game.
Important rule: You cannot deal from the stock if any tableau column is empty. Every column must contain at least one card before a new deal. This rule adds a critical layer of strategy — you must sometimes fill empty columns with suboptimal cards just to unlock a deal.
Winning the Game
The game is won when all eight complete King-to-Ace same-suit runs have been assembled and removed from the tableau. If you reach a state with no valid moves, no available deals, and incomplete runs remaining, the game is lost.
Key Strategies
1. Prioritize Uncovering Face-Down Cards
Just as in Klondike, revealing hidden cards should be your top priority. Every face-down card you flip expands your options and increases the likelihood of finding the cards you need to complete runs.
2. Build Same-Suit Sequences Whenever Possible
It is tempting to stack any card in descending order to clear space quickly, but mixed-suit sequences are inflexible — they cannot be moved as a group. Whenever you have a choice, build within the same suit. A clean same-suit sequence is far more valuable than a longer mixed sequence.
3. Keep Empty Columns Open
Empty columns act as temporary storage, similar to free cells in FreeCell. They let you rearrange cards, dig through columns, and manipulate sequences. Avoid filling empty columns unless it directly leads to uncovering face-down cards or completing a run.
4. Focus on One or Two Runs at a Time
Trying to build all eight runs simultaneously spreads your attention too thin. Concentrate your efforts on completing one or two runs at a time. A completed run removes 13 cards from play and dramatically simplifies the tableau.
5. Plan Before Dealing from the Stock
Each new deal adds 10 cards to the tableau, which can block partially built sequences and fill empty columns. Before dealing, organize the tableau as much as possible. Move cards into same-suit sequences, uncover face-down cards, and create empty columns (which you will then need to fill before dealing).
6. Use the “Undo” Feature Strategically
In digital versions, the undo button allows you to explore different lines of play without committing. Use it to test whether a sequence of moves leads to a dead end before locking in your decisions.
7. Track the Cards
With 104 cards in play, it is easy to lose track of which cards have appeared. Pay attention to how many of each rank and suit you have seen. For example, if three of the four Kings of Spades are already visible, you know the fourth is somewhere in the stock or under face-down cards — valuable information for planning.
Win Rates by Difficulty
Spider Solitaire’s win rate varies dramatically depending on the number of suits and the player’s skill level. The estimates below reflect experienced players making thoughtful decisions:
| Difficulty | Suits | Estimated Win Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1-Suit | 1 | ~75–90% |
| 2-Suit | 2 | ~35–50% |
| 4-Suit | 4 | ~8–15% |
Mathematical analysis suggests that the vast majority of 1-suit deals are theoretically winnable. For 4-suit Spider, the theoretical winnability is estimated to be higher than the practical win rate — around 30 to 40 percent of deals may be solvable — but the sheer complexity makes achieving that rate extremely difficult for human players.
Spider Solitaire vs. Klondike
| Feature | Spider Solitaire | Klondike Solitaire |
|---|---|---|
| Decks | 2 (104 cards) | 1 (52 cards) |
| Tableau columns | 10 | 7 |
| Building direction | Descending on tableau | Descending on tableau, ascending on foundation |
| Suit requirement (tableau) | Any suit (but same-suit to move groups) | Alternating colors |
| Win condition | 8 completed King-to-Ace runs | 4 foundation piles Ace-to-King |
| Typical game length | 15–30 minutes | 5–15 minutes |
| Difficulty | Higher | Moderate |
Common Mistakes
- Stacking mixed suits carelessly. Every mixed-suit placement reduces your future flexibility. Treat mixed-suit stacking as a last resort, not a default.
- Dealing from the stock too early. Exhaust all tableau moves before adding more cards. A premature deal can bury useful cards and block emerging sequences.
- Leaving empty columns unused. An empty column is a powerful tool. Use it to temporarily hold cards while rearranging sequences.
- Neglecting to plan ahead. Spider Solitaire rewards forward thinking more than almost any other solitaire variant. Before each move, consider not just the immediate benefit but the two or three moves that follow.
Start Playing
Spider Solitaire is a deeply strategic game that rewards patience, planning, and practice. Start with 1-suit to learn the mechanics, progress to 2-suit for a real challenge, and take on 4-suit when you are ready for one of the most demanding solitaire experiences available. For setup instructions using physical cards, see our how to set up Spider Solitaire guide.