How to play Spider solitaire
You start with 54 cards dealt into ten columns, top cards face up, and 50 cards in the stock. Place any card on a card one rank higher, whatever the suit. But only a run of the same suit can be picked up and moved as one. Assemble a full King-down-to-Ace run in one suit and it flies off the table. Eight runs clears the game.
1 suit, 2 suits or 4 suits?
1 suit (all spades) is relaxing; every run you build is movable. 2 suits is where the game becomes Spider: you'll need to think about which card sits on which. 4 suits is a serious puzzle where emptying a column is worth more than almost anything else.
Tips that work at every level
- Build same-suit whenever you have the choice. Mixed runs are stuck in place.
- Aim to empty a column early. An empty column lets you reorder runs and dig out buried cards.
- Before dealing a new row, make every useful move first. The deal covers every column.
- Kings are hard to move. Placing a King in an empty column is only worth it when it starts a same-suit run.
Ask the puzzle coach
Stuck on a rule or a tactic? Ask in plain words. The coach only talks puzzles, and the answer is written for you on the spot.
Questions players ask
How does Spider solitaire work?
Spider uses two decks in ten columns. Build down by rank in any suit, but only same-suit runs can be moved as a group. A complete King-to-Ace run in one suit is removed automatically. Clear all eight runs to win.
What is 2-suit Spider?
The same game using only spades and hearts (four copies of each). It sits between the gentle 1-suit game and the demanding 4-suit game, and is the most popular setting.
When can I deal a new row?
Whenever you like, as long as no column is empty. Each deal puts one card on every column; there are five deals in the stock.
Is 4-suit Spider winnable?
Many deals are, but it is hard. Expect to lose most 4-suit games while learning; 1-suit deals are nearly always winnable.