Spider Solitaire Rules and Strategy

What Is Spider Solitaire?

Spider Solitaire is the most popular two-deck solitaire card game and the second most played solitaire variation after Klondike. The game uses 104 cards dealt across ten tableau columns, and the objective is to build complete same-suit sequences from King down to Ace, which are then removed from play.

What sets Spider apart from other solitaire games is its depth and complexity. With twice as many cards as Klondike and a focus on same-suit sequence building, Spider requires long-term planning, careful suit management, and the ability to think many moves ahead. Games can last anywhere from ten minutes to over half an hour, and the satisfaction of completing a difficult four-suit Spider game is unmatched in the solitaire world.

Spider comes in three difficulty levels based on the number of suits in play: one suit, two suits, and four suits. Each level offers a dramatically different experience, from the relaxing one-suit version to the brutally challenging four-suit variant. This guide covers rules and strategy for all three levels.

Complete Rules of Spider Solitaire

Setup: Shuffle two standard 52-card decks together to create a 104-card deck. Deal 54 cards across ten tableau columns: the first four columns receive six cards each, and the remaining six columns receive five cards each. In every column, only the top card is face-up. The remaining 50 cards form the stock pile, arranged in five groups of ten for dealing.

Objective: Build eight complete same-suit sequences from King down to Ace. When a complete thirteen-card sequence is assembled within a tableau column, it is automatically removed from play. The game is won when all eight sequences have been removed.

Tableau Building: You may place any single card on a card that is exactly one rank higher, regardless of suit. A 6 of any suit can go on a 7 of any suit. However, only sequences where every card is the same suit can be moved as a group. Mixed-suit sequences are stuck and must be moved one card at a time.

Dealing from Stock: When no more productive moves exist, deal one card face-up on top of each of the ten tableau columns from the stock. All ten columns must contain at least one card before dealing. There are five stock deals in a game, each adding ten cards to the tableau.

No Foundations: Unlike Klondike, Spider does not have separate foundation piles. Completed sequences vanish from the tableau directly. This means the tableau serves as both the working area and the destination for completed sequences.

For general solitaire terminology and concepts, refer to our solitaire card terminology guide.

One-Suit Spider Strategy

One-suit Spider uses two decks of the same suit (typically spades), creating a game where suit management is irrelevant. With only one suit, every card can be placed on any higher-ranked card, and all sequences can be moved as groups. This makes one-suit Spider the easiest version, with a win rate approaching 99%.

Focus on uncovering face-down cards. Just as in Klondike strategy, revealing hidden cards should be your top priority. Each face-down card uncovered expands your options and brings you closer to assembling complete sequences.

Build long sequences when possible. Since every sequence is automatically same-suit, build the longest sequences you can. A King-through-Ace sequence can only be assembled from cards scattered across multiple columns, so creating long partial sequences makes it easier to connect them later.

Create empty columns before dealing. Try to empty at least one column before each stock deal. Having an empty column when ten new cards arrive gives you immediate flexibility to handle whatever appears.

Use empty columns as staging areas. Move cards to empty columns temporarily while rearranging other columns. The ability to park a card or sequence in an empty column is your primary tool for complex reorganizations.

Two-Suit Spider Strategy

Two-suit Spider uses four decks of two suits (typically spades and hearts), introducing the critical distinction between same-suit and mixed-suit sequences. Only same-suit sequences can be moved as groups, which adds a significant strategic layer.

Prioritize same-suit building. When you have a choice between placing a card in suit or out of suit, always prefer the in-suit placement. Mixed-suit sequences are rigid since they cannot be moved as a group and must be dismantled card by card before the underlying cards become accessible.

Accept mixed-suit sequences tactically. While same-suit building is ideal, sometimes you must build mixed-suit sequences to uncover face-down cards or prevent a deadlock. The key is to do so deliberately, with a plan for eventually breaking the mixed sequence apart.

Track suit distribution. Keep a mental count of how many cards of each suit you have seen. If you know that most hearts are already in play but many spades remain hidden, you can adjust your building priorities accordingly.

Plan for stock deals. Before dealing from the stock, assess your position. Ideally, have at least one empty column and several short columns. The ten incoming cards will be more manageable if you have room to work.

Four-Suit Spider Strategy

Four-suit Spider is widely considered one of the most difficult popular solitaire games, with a win rate of approximately 33% even with optimal play. All four suits are in play, and managing the suit complexity requires advanced planning.

Suit purity is everything. The central challenge of four-suit Spider is building same-suit sequences when four different suits are competing for the same columns. Every mixed-suit move you make creates future work to undo. Minimize out-of-suit moves as much as possible.

Focus on one or two suits initially. Rather than trying to build all four suits simultaneously, concentrate on completing one or two suits first. Removing a complete sequence from the tableau frees up space and simplifies the remaining position.

Preserve column flexibility. In four-suit Spider, columns that contain cards of only one or two suits are extremely valuable. Avoid mixing three or four suits in a single column if possible, as untangling such columns is extremely difficult.

Accept that many games are unwinnable. With a 33% win rate, approximately two-thirds of four-suit Spider deals cannot be won. Recognizing an unwinnable position early saves time. If the initial deal looks particularly unfavorable, with critical cards deeply buried and few same-suit building opportunities, consider starting a new game.

Use the stock deals wisely. Each stock deal adds ten cards and dramatically changes the board. Before dealing, maximize your position by creating empty columns, building same-suit sequences, and uncovering as many face-down cards as possible. The better your position before a deal, the better your chances of handling the new cards.

Common Spider Solitaire Mistakes

Spider has its own set of common errors beyond the general solitaire mistakes that apply to most card games.

Building mixed-suit sequences carelessly. The most common Spider mistake is placing cards out of suit without considering the consequences. Every out-of-suit move creates a sequence that cannot be moved as a group, increasing the rigidity of your tableau.

Dealing from stock too early. Adding ten new cards when your tableau is cluttered makes the situation worse. Exhaust all productive moves and try to empty at least one column before dealing.

Neglecting to create empty columns. Empty columns are even more important in Spider than in Klondike because they are your primary tool for rearranging the larger tableau. Consistently work toward creating and maintaining empty columns.

Forgetting about the stock. With five deals of ten cards each, 50 cards will arrive during the game. Forgetting to account for these incoming cards in your planning leads to surprises and suboptimal positions.

Spider Solitaire on Different Devices

Spider Solitaire is available on virtually every platform. The larger tableau (ten columns) means it benefits from larger screens, but modern apps adapt well to smaller devices too.

On Windows 10 and Windows 11, Spider is included in the Microsoft Solitaire Collection. On Mac, several excellent Spider apps are available in the App Store. For iPhone and Android users, numerous free Spider Solitaire apps offer all three difficulty levels with touch-optimized interfaces.

For the best experience on mobile devices, choose an app that allows landscape orientation and has a clean, uncluttered interface. The ten-column layout needs as much screen real estate as possible.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How many decks does Spider Solitaire use?

Spider Solitaire always uses two standard decks shuffled together, for a total of 104 cards. The number of suits in play varies by difficulty level (one, two, or four suits), but the total card count is always 104.

Q: What percentage of Spider Solitaire games are winnable?

One-suit Spider is winnable approximately 99% of the time. Two-suit Spider is winnable roughly 85% of the time. Four-suit Spider is winnable about 33% of the time with optimal play. These figures reflect theoretical maximums, and actual human win rates are lower.

Q: Can you move partial sequences in Spider Solitaire?

You can only move a sequence as a group if every card in the sequence is the same suit. Mixed-suit sequences must be moved one card at a time. This rule is the fundamental strategic driver of Spider Solitaire.

Q: Is Spider Solitaire harder than Klondike?

Four-suit Spider is significantly harder than Klondike, with a much lower win rate. One-suit Spider is actually easier than Klondike. Two-suit Spider is roughly comparable in difficulty to draw-three Klondike, though the strategic challenges are different.

---

💡 Variant Strategy Note (2026)

Each solitaire variation demands unique table space management. In column-heavy formats like Spider or Yukon, prioritize unlocking hidden columns early to act as temporary staging areas.