How to Play Spider Solitaire

Spider Solitaire is a deeper, more strategic solitaire game played with two decks of cards. Instead of building four foundation piles like Klondike Solitaire, your goal is to build full same-suit sequences from King down to Ace and clear them from the tableau.

It is easy to understand once you know the layout, but it takes planning to win. Good Spider Solitaire play is about revealing hidden cards, building clean same-suit runs, and using empty columns carefully.

You can play Spider Solitaire online on Solitaire Arcade while you learn the rules.

What Is Spider Solitaire?

Spider Solitaire is a single-player card game usually played with two standard 52-card decks. That gives the game 104 cards in total.

The game is played across 10 tableau columns, with a stock pile used to deal extra cards when the board runs out of useful moves.

Spider Solitaire comes in different difficulty levels: 1 Suit Spider Solitaire is the easiest version, 2 Suit Spider Solitaire is medium difficulty, and 4 Suit Spider Solitaire is the hardest standard version.

The rules are mostly the same across each version. The difference is how many suits are used, which changes how difficult it is to build clean same-suit sequences.

The Goal of Spider Solitaire

The aim is to clear all cards from the tableau.

To do this, you build complete sequences in the same suit from King down to Ace: King, Queen, Jack, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, Ace.

When a full same-suit sequence is completed, it is removed from the board.

You win when all eight complete King-to-Ace sequences have been built and cleared.

Spider Solitaire Setup

Spider Solitaire uses 104 cards.

At the start of the game, 54 cards are dealt into 10 tableau columns. The first four columns have six cards each. The last six columns have five cards each. Only the top card of each column is face-up. The rest are face-down.

The remaining 50 cards form the stock pile.

Each time you use the stock, one new card is dealt to the bottom of every tableau column.

How to Play Spider Solitaire

Start by looking at the face-up cards in the tableau.

You can place a card onto another card that is one rank higher. For example, a 9 can be placed on a 10, a Queen can be placed on a King, or a 4 can be placed on a 5.

Unlike Klondike, colour does not matter when building in the tableau. You can place a heart on a spade, a club on a diamond, or any other suit combination as long as the rank is correct.

However, same-suit sequences are stronger because they can move together.

For example, if you have 9♠, 8♠, 7♠, that same-suit sequence can move as a group. But if you have 9♠, 8♥, 7♠, the cards are in descending order but mixed suits. They can help temporarily, but they cannot move together as one clean sequence.

Revealing Face-Down Cards

Revealing hidden cards is one of the most important parts of Spider Solitaire.

When you move the face-up card from a column and uncover a face-down card, that card is turned face-up and becomes available.

The more cards you reveal, the more choices you have.

Early in the game, focus on moves that uncover face-down cards. Even if a move does not build a perfect same-suit run, it may still be useful if it opens a hidden card.

Using the Stock Pile

When you run out of useful moves, you can deal from the stock pile.

A stock deal adds one new card to the bottom of each of the 10 tableau columns.

This can create new moves, but it can also bury useful sequences under fresh cards. For that reason, you should not deal from the stock too quickly.

Before using the stock, check the whole tableau carefully. Look for moves that reveal cards, create empty columns, or join same-suit sequences.

In standard Spider Solitaire rules, you cannot deal from the stock if any tableau column is empty. You may need to fill empty columns before dealing.

For stock timing depth, read When to Deal From the Stock in Spider Solitaire.

Empty Columns

Empty columns are powerful in Spider Solitaire.

An empty column gives you space to move cards around, rebuild sequences, and uncover hidden cards. You can usually move any card or valid sequence into an empty column.

Use empty columns with care. They are often more valuable as temporary workspace than as a place to dump the first available card.

A good empty-column move should help you reveal a hidden card, move a long sequence, build a same-suit run, or prepare for a safer stock deal.

1 Suit, 2 Suit, and 4 Suit Spider Solitaire

1 Suit Spider Solitaire is the easiest version because every card belongs to the same suit. Every descending sequence is automatically a same-suit sequence. It is a good place to learn the flow of Spider Solitaire without worrying about suit management.

2 Suit Spider Solitaire adds more strategy. You can still build descending sequences across suits, but only same-suit sequences move cleanly together and clear from the board. This makes planning more important. Two Suit is a good middle ground once 1 Suit feels too easy.

4 Suit Spider Solitaire is the classic hard version. With all four suits in play, it is much easier to create mixed-suit stacks that block movement later. You need more patience, better empty-column use, and stronger planning before each stock deal.

Compare modes in Spider 1 Suit vs 2 Suit vs 4 Suit.

Playing Spider Solitaire on Solitaire Arcade

Solitaire Arcade Spider includes 1 Suit, 2 Suit, and 4 Suit modes, smart hints, unlimited undo and redo, and standard stock rules.

Drag a legal same-suit run or tap to select, then tap a highlighted column. Use Deal to add one card to each column when you need fresh options—but remember, you cannot deal while any column is empty.

Start with 1 Suit to learn the rhythm, then step up to 2 Suit and 4 Suit when you are ready for more suit management.

Basic Spider Solitaire Strategy

Build same-suit sequences whenever possible. Mixed-suit builds can help in the short term, but same-suit builds are what win the game. If you have a choice between placing an 8♠ on a 9♠ or an 8♠ on a 9♥, the same-suit move is usually stronger.

Reveal hidden cards early. Face-down cards are locked information. Moves that reveal them are often more valuable than moves that simply tidy the visible cards.

Create empty columns. An empty column gives you breathing room to shift cards, rebuild sequences, and escape tight positions. Try to create an empty column before dealing from the stock if you can.

Delay the stock deal. The stock pile adds 10 new cards to the board at once and can break up your plans. Use the stock when you need it, not just because you can.

Keep long clean runs together. If you build a strong same-suit sequence, try not to split it unless there is a clear benefit. Clean runs are the path to clearing the board.

See How to Build Same-Suit Runs in Spider Solitaire for run-building habits.

Common Spider Solitaire Mistakes

Dealing from the stock too early is one of the easiest ways to make the board harder. A stock deal can cover useful cards and interrupt sequences. Always check for tableau moves first.

Building too many mixed-suit stacks can trap cards and reduce movement. Mixed suits are sometimes necessary, especially in 2 Suit and 4 Suit Spider, but use mixed builds as temporary scaffolding, not as your final structure.

Wasting empty columns leaves you without room to reorganise. An empty column is one of your best tools—do not fill it without a reason.

Ignoring face-down cards keeps too much of the board locked. A neat visible board does not matter if too many cards are still hidden.

Splitting strong same-suit sequences makes it harder to complete a full King-to-Ace run later. A clean same-suit sequence is valuable—break it apart only when there is a clear gain.

Spider Solitaire vs Klondike Solitaire

Spider and Klondike are both solitaire games, but they feel very different.

Klondike uses one deck, seven columns, and four foundation piles built Ace to King by suit.

Spider uses two decks, ten columns, and eight King-to-Ace same-suit sequences cleared from the tableau.

Klondike rewards alternating-colour tableau builds and careful foundation timing. Spider rewards same-suit run-building, empty-column management, and patience before each stock deal.

If you know Klondike already, our How to Play Solitaire guide covers the full rules. For another strategic layout, try How to Play FreeCell or How to Play Tri Peaks.

Quick Spider Solitaire FAQ

How many decks are used in Spider Solitaire?

Spider Solitaire usually uses two standard 52-card decks, for a total of 104 cards.

How many tableau columns are there?

There are 10 tableau columns.

How many cards are in the stock pile?

After the initial deal, 50 cards remain in the stock pile.

Can you build cards regardless of suit?

Yes. You can place a card on another card that is one rank higher, regardless of suit.

Can mixed-suit sequences move together?

Usually, no. A sequence must be in the same suit to move together as a group.

What happens when you complete King to Ace in the same suit?

The completed sequence is removed from the tableau.

Which Spider Solitaire version is easiest?

1 Suit Spider Solitaire is the easiest. 2 Suit is medium difficulty, and 4 Suit is the hardest standard version.

Play Spider Solitaire

Spider Solitaire rewards careful planning. The aim is not just to make any descending sequence — it is to build clean same-suit runs that can be moved, completed, and cleared.

Reveal hidden cards early. Protect empty columns. Delay stock deals until you have done everything useful on the tableau. In 1 Suit, focus on learning the flow. In 2 Suit and 4 Suit, be patient with suit management.

The more you treat every move as part of a longer sequence, the better your Spider Solitaire game becomes.

Ready to try it? Play Spider Solitaire online, or explore our other guides: How to Play Solitaire, How to Play FreeCell, and How to Play Tri Peaks.

How to Play Spider Solitaire

Spider Solitaire is a deeper, more strategic solitaire game played with two decks of cards. Instead of building four foundation piles like Klondike Solitaire, your goal is to build full same-suit sequences from King down to Ace and clear them from the tableau.

It is easy to understand once you know the layout, but it takes planning to win. Good Spider Solitaire play is about revealing hidden cards, building clean same-suit runs, and using empty columns carefully.

You can play Spider Solitaire online on Solitaire Arcade while you learn the rules.

What Is Spider Solitaire?

Spider Solitaire is a single-player card game usually played with two standard 52-card decks. That gives the game 104 cards in total.

The game is played across 10 tableau columns, with a stock pile used to deal extra cards when the board runs out of useful moves.

Spider Solitaire comes in different difficulty levels: 1 Suit Spider Solitaire is the easiest version, 2 Suit Spider Solitaire is medium difficulty, and 4 Suit Spider Solitaire is the hardest standard version.

The rules are mostly the same across each version. The difference is how many suits are used, which changes how difficult it is to build clean same-suit sequences.

The Goal of Spider Solitaire

The aim is to clear all cards from the tableau.

To do this, you build complete sequences in the same suit from King down to Ace: King, Queen, Jack, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, Ace.

When a full same-suit sequence is completed, it is removed from the board.

You win when all eight complete King-to-Ace sequences have been built and cleared.

Spider Solitaire Setup

Spider Solitaire uses 104 cards.

At the start of the game, 54 cards are dealt into 10 tableau columns. The first four columns have six cards each. The last six columns have five cards each. Only the top card of each column is face-up. The rest are face-down.

The remaining 50 cards form the stock pile.

Each time you use the stock, one new card is dealt to the bottom of every tableau column.

How to Play Spider Solitaire

Start by looking at the face-up cards in the tableau.

You can place a card onto another card that is one rank higher. For example, a 9 can be placed on a 10, a Queen can be placed on a King, or a 4 can be placed on a 5.

Unlike Klondike, colour does not matter when building in the tableau. You can place a heart on a spade, a club on a diamond, or any other suit combination as long as the rank is correct.

However, same-suit sequences are stronger because they can move together.

For example, if you have 9♠, 8♠, 7♠, that same-suit sequence can move as a group. But if you have 9♠, 8♥, 7♠, the cards are in descending order but mixed suits. They can help temporarily, but they cannot move together as one clean sequence.

Revealing Face-Down Cards

Revealing hidden cards is one of the most important parts of Spider Solitaire.

When you move the face-up card from a column and uncover a face-down card, that card is turned face-up and becomes available.

The more cards you reveal, the more choices you have.

Early in the game, focus on moves that uncover face-down cards. Even if a move does not build a perfect same-suit run, it may still be useful if it opens a hidden card.

Using the Stock Pile

When you run out of useful moves, you can deal from the stock pile.

A stock deal adds one new card to the bottom of each of the 10 tableau columns.

This can create new moves, but it can also bury useful sequences under fresh cards. For that reason, you should not deal from the stock too quickly.

Before using the stock, check the whole tableau carefully. Look for moves that reveal cards, create empty columns, or join same-suit sequences.

In standard Spider Solitaire rules, you cannot deal from the stock if any tableau column is empty. You may need to fill empty columns before dealing.

For stock timing depth, read When to Deal From the Stock in Spider Solitaire.

Empty Columns

Empty columns are powerful in Spider Solitaire.

An empty column gives you space to move cards around, rebuild sequences, and uncover hidden cards. You can usually move any card or valid sequence into an empty column.

Use empty columns with care. They are often more valuable as temporary workspace than as a place to dump the first available card.

A good empty-column move should help you reveal a hidden card, move a long sequence, build a same-suit run, or prepare for a safer stock deal.

1 Suit, 2 Suit, and 4 Suit Spider Solitaire

1 Suit Spider Solitaire is the easiest version because every card belongs to the same suit. Every descending sequence is automatically a same-suit sequence. It is a good place to learn the flow of Spider Solitaire without worrying about suit management.

2 Suit Spider Solitaire adds more strategy. You can still build descending sequences across suits, but only same-suit sequences move cleanly together and clear from the board. This makes planning more important. Two Suit is a good middle ground once 1 Suit feels too easy.

4 Suit Spider Solitaire is the classic hard version. With all four suits in play, it is much easier to create mixed-suit stacks that block movement later. You need more patience, better empty-column use, and stronger planning before each stock deal.

Compare modes in Spider 1 Suit vs 2 Suit vs 4 Suit.

Playing Spider Solitaire on Solitaire Arcade

Solitaire Arcade Spider includes 1 Suit, 2 Suit, and 4 Suit modes, smart hints, unlimited undo and redo, and standard stock rules.

Drag a legal same-suit run or tap to select, then tap a highlighted column. Use Deal to add one card to each column when you need fresh options—but remember, you cannot deal while any column is empty.

Start with 1 Suit to learn the rhythm, then step up to 2 Suit and 4 Suit when you are ready for more suit management.

Basic Spider Solitaire Strategy

Build same-suit sequences whenever possible. Mixed-suit builds can help in the short term, but same-suit builds are what win the game. If you have a choice between placing an 8♠ on a 9♠ or an 8♠ on a 9♥, the same-suit move is usually stronger.

Reveal hidden cards early. Face-down cards are locked information. Moves that reveal them are often more valuable than moves that simply tidy the visible cards.

Create empty columns. An empty column gives you breathing room to shift cards, rebuild sequences, and escape tight positions. Try to create an empty column before dealing from the stock if you can.

Delay the stock deal. The stock pile adds 10 new cards to the board at once and can break up your plans. Use the stock when you need it, not just because you can.

Keep long clean runs together. If you build a strong same-suit sequence, try not to split it unless there is a clear benefit. Clean runs are the path to clearing the board.

See How to Build Same-Suit Runs in Spider Solitaire for run-building habits.

Common Spider Solitaire Mistakes

Dealing from the stock too early is one of the easiest ways to make the board harder. A stock deal can cover useful cards and interrupt sequences. Always check for tableau moves first.

Building too many mixed-suit stacks can trap cards and reduce movement. Mixed suits are sometimes necessary, especially in 2 Suit and 4 Suit Spider, but use mixed builds as temporary scaffolding, not as your final structure.

Wasting empty columns leaves you without room to reorganise. An empty column is one of your best tools—do not fill it without a reason.

Ignoring face-down cards keeps too much of the board locked. A neat visible board does not matter if too many cards are still hidden.

Splitting strong same-suit sequences makes it harder to complete a full King-to-Ace run later. A clean same-suit sequence is valuable—break it apart only when there is a clear gain.

Spider Solitaire vs Klondike Solitaire

Spider and Klondike are both solitaire games, but they feel very different.

Klondike uses one deck, seven columns, and four foundation piles built Ace to King by suit.

Spider uses two decks, ten columns, and eight King-to-Ace same-suit sequences cleared from the tableau.

Klondike rewards alternating-colour tableau builds and careful foundation timing. Spider rewards same-suit run-building, empty-column management, and patience before each stock deal.

If you know Klondike already, our How to Play Solitaire guide covers the full rules. For another strategic layout, try How to Play FreeCell or How to Play Tri Peaks.

Quick Spider Solitaire FAQ

How many decks are used in Spider Solitaire?

Spider Solitaire usually uses two standard 52-card decks, for a total of 104 cards.

How many tableau columns are there?

There are 10 tableau columns.

How many cards are in the stock pile?

After the initial deal, 50 cards remain in the stock pile.

Can you build cards regardless of suit?

Yes. You can place a card on another card that is one rank higher, regardless of suit.

Can mixed-suit sequences move together?

Usually, no. A sequence must be in the same suit to move together as a group.

What happens when you complete King to Ace in the same suit?

The completed sequence is removed from the tableau.

Which Spider Solitaire version is easiest?

1 Suit Spider Solitaire is the easiest. 2 Suit is medium difficulty, and 4 Suit is the hardest standard version.

Play Spider Solitaire

Spider Solitaire rewards careful planning. The aim is not just to make any descending sequence — it is to build clean same-suit runs that can be moved, completed, and cleared.

Reveal hidden cards early. Protect empty columns. Delay stock deals until you have done everything useful on the tableau. In 1 Suit, focus on learning the flow. In 2 Suit and 4 Suit, be patient with suit management.

The more you treat every move as part of a longer sequence, the better your Spider Solitaire game becomes.

Ready to try it? Play Spider Solitaire online, or explore our other guides: How to Play Solitaire, How to Play FreeCell, and How to Play Tri Peaks.