Spider Solitaire - Free Online Card Game

Spider Solitaire is the second most popular solitaire game in the world, trailing only Klondike. It earns that ranking through sheer strategic depth: two full decks, ten tableau columns, and the requirement to build complete 13-card sequences in the same suit before they can be removed. Whether you play the gentler one-suit version or tackle the notoriously difficult four-suit variant, Spider offers a challenge that keeps card game enthusiasts coming back year after year.

History of Spider Solitaire

Spider Solitaire first appeared in print in 1947, in a collection of card games compiled by the American author and game historian Albert Morehead. The game was already known among patience enthusiasts but had not been widely documented. Its name is thought to reference the eight foundation piles that must ultimately be completed, echoing the eight legs of a spider.

The game gained mainstream popularity when Microsoft included it in Windows 98 Plus! and later bundled it with Windows XP in 2001. The digital version introduced the one-suit and two-suit difficulty modes that made Spider accessible to a much broader audience. Before that, Spider was typically played with all four suits and considered one of the harder patience games.

Today Spider Solitaire is available on virtually every platform. Its combination of tactical decision-making and the satisfying payoff of clearing a complete sequence makes it one of the most engaging card games for solo play.

How to Play Spider Solitaire

Spider uses two standard 52-card decks shuffled together, totaling 104 cards. The playing area has 10 tableau columns and a stock pile. There are no visible foundation piles; completed sequences are removed from the table automatically.

Setup

Deal 54 cards across 10 columns. The first four columns receive six cards each, and the remaining six columns receive five cards each. Only the top card of each column is face up. The remaining 50 cards form the stock pile, which will be dealt in rows of 10 throughout the game.

Objective

Build eight complete sequences running from King down to Ace, all in the same suit. Each time a complete same-suit sequence is assembled on the tableau, it is automatically removed. The game is won when all eight sequences have been cleared.

Moving Cards

On the tableau, you may place any card on top of a card that is one rank higher, regardless of suit. However, only groups of cards that form a descending sequence of the same suit can be moved together as a unit. Mixed-suit sequences must be moved one card at a time, which consumes empty columns and limits your maneuverability.

When you have no more productive moves, deal a new row of 10 cards from the stock, one onto each column. Every column must contain at least one card before you can deal. There are five deals available from the stock.

Difficulty Levels

Spider offers three difficulty settings based on how many suits are in play:

• One Suit (Spades only): All 104 cards are Spades. Every card matches in suit, making it easy to build movable sequences. Win rates exceed 99% with careful play, making this the ideal starting point.
• Two Suits (Spades and Hearts): The deck contains two suits, adding significant complexity. You must think ahead to avoid creating mixed-suit blockages. Skilled players win roughly 30-40% of deals.
• Four Suits (all suits): The full-difficulty original. Managing four suits across ten columns demands deep planning. Even expert players win only 10-15% of games.

Strategy Tips for Spider Solitaire

Spider rewards patience and forethought more than almost any other solitaire variant. The following strategies apply across all difficulty levels:

• Build in-suit sequences whenever possible. A same-suit run can be moved as a group, giving you far more flexibility. Avoid mixing suits unless doing so reveals a face-down card.
• Protect empty columns. An empty column is the most powerful asset in Spider. It serves as temporary storage and allows you to rearrange long sequences. Never fill an empty column without a clear purpose.
• Uncover face-down cards aggressively. Hidden cards are the enemy. Prioritize moves that flip face-down cards, even if it means temporarily breaking a useful sequence.
• Delay dealing from the stock. Each deal adds 10 new cards and covers your carefully arranged sequences. Exhaust all useful moves on the tableau before dealing.
• Focus on one or two suits at a time. In four-suit Spider, trying to build all four suits simultaneously spreads your resources too thin. Concentrate on completing sequences in one suit before shifting attention.
• Use empty columns to rearrange. When you have an empty column, you can use it to temporarily hold cards while you reorder a sequence from mixed-suit to same-suit.
• Think in terms of releases. Every completed sequence removes 13 cards from the table, dramatically opening up space. Plan your moves toward completing the sequence that is closest to done.

Spider Solitaire vs Other Solitaire Games

Spider stands apart from other solitaire games in several key ways. Unlike Klondike, which uses one deck and builds foundations incrementally, Spider requires you to assemble full 13-card sequences on the tableau before they are removed. Unlike FreeCell, where all cards are visible from the start, Spider deals many cards face down, introducing hidden information that must be uncovered through play. The two-deck format means duplicate cards exist, creating both opportunities and traps that do not arise in single-deck games.