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Spider Solitaire
Spider Solitaire is one of the most popular solitaire variants, included in every version of Windows since XP. It uses two full decks (104 cards) dealt across 10 tableau columns. The goal is to build eight complete same-suit runs from King down to Ace, which are automatically removed from play. Three difficulty levels — 1 suit, 2 suits, or 4 suits — make it accessible to beginners and challenging for experts.
Spider Solitaire Rules
104 cards are dealt across 10 columns: the first 4 columns get 6 cards and the last 6 columns get 5 cards. Only the top card in each column is face-up. The remaining 50 cards form the stock.
Build descending sequences on the tableau regardless of suit. However, only same-suit sequences can be moved as a group. Any card or valid same-suit sequence can be placed on an empty column.
When you complete a King-to-Ace run of the same suit (13 cards in descending order), it is automatically removed to the foundations. You win when all 8 runs are completed.
Click the stock to deal one card to each of the 10 columns. You cannot deal if any column is empty — fill all empty columns first. There are 5 deals available (50 cards in the stock).
Spider Solitaire Strategy & Tips
Build with the same suit whenever possible
Mixed-suit sequences can't be moved as a group, which clogs your columns. Always prefer placing a card on a same-suit sequence over a different suit, even if it means leaving a column messy temporarily.
Uncover face-down cards first
Your top priority should always be revealing hidden cards. A column with many face-down cards is dead weight. Focus moves that flip face-down cards over moves that just rearrange visible cards.
Keep empty columns available
Empty columns are your most valuable resource — they act as temporary storage for rearranging sequences. Try to create and maintain at least one empty column before dealing from the stock.
Plan before dealing from the stock
Each deal adds 10 new cards and can make the board much harder. Before dealing, clear as many cards as possible and try to have columns organized by suit. A deal on a messy board often leads to an unwinnable game.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you win every Spider Solitaire game?
No. Roughly 1 in 3 Spider Solitaire games (4 suits) is unwinnable regardless of play. With 1 suit, almost every deal is winnable with perfect play. With 2 suits, the win rate for skilled players is around 50-60%.
What is the difference between 1, 2, and 4 suit Spider Solitaire?
1 suit uses only Spades (easiest — all sequences are automatically same-suit). 2 suits uses Spades and Hearts (medium — you need to separate suits). 4 suits uses all four suits (hardest — building same-suit runs requires careful planning).
Why can't I deal from the stock in Spider Solitaire?
You can only deal when all 10 tableau columns have at least one card. Fill any empty columns first, then you can deal. This rule prevents you from having orphaned columns.