How to Play Spider Solitaire

Spider Solitaire is one of the most popular two-deck solitaire games. Your goal is to build 8 complete sequences from King down to Ace, all in the same suit. When you complete a sequence, it's automatically removed from the tableau.

Understanding the Layout

The game begins with 54 cards dealt into 10 tableau columns. The first 4 columns receive 6 cards each, and the remaining 6 columns receive 5 cards each. Only the top card of each column is face-up; all others are face-down. The remaining 50 cards form the stock pile.

Basic Rules

Build tableau piles in descending order (place any 8 on any 9)
You can move any properly descending sequence of the same suit
Any card or valid sequence can be placed on an empty column
Complete a K-A sequence of one suit to remove it from play
Deal 10 cards from the stock (one to each column) when stuck
You can only deal when all columns have at least one card

Difficulty Levels

Spider Solitaire offers three difficulty levels based on how many suits are used:

1 Suit (Easy): All cards are Spades. Every card can stack on any other card of the next higher rank, making it easy to build sequences.
2 Suits (Medium): Uses Spades and Hearts. You can stack any card on a higher rank, but must complete same-suit sequences. Requires more planning.
4 Suits (Hard): Uses all four suits. Very challenging since you need exact suit matches for moveable sequences and completed stacks.

Winning the Game

You win when all 8 sequences are completed and removed from play. The game ends in a loss if you can't make any more moves and have no cards left in the stock to deal.

Spider Solitaire Strategy Tips

Spider Solitaire rewards strategic thinking and patience. Here are proven techniques:

Prioritize same-suit sequences: While you can stack any descending cards, only same-suit sequences can be moved together. Build in-suit whenever possible.
Expose hidden cards: Focus on uncovering face-down cards early. The more information you have, the better your decisions will be.
Create empty columns: Empty columns are extremely valuable for maneuvering cards. Try to create and maintain at least one empty column.
Plan before dealing: Before dealing new cards from the stock, make sure you've made all beneficial moves. New cards can bury important cards.
Don't rush to complete sequences: Sometimes it's better to keep a nearly-complete sequence in play for maneuvering than to finish it early.
Watch the Kings: Kings can only go in empty columns or start new sequences. Plan carefully around where your Kings end up.
Use undo freely: Spider often requires trial and error. Use undo to explore different move sequences without committing.

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Our Spider Solitaire includes all three difficulty levels, unlimited undo, helpful hints, smooth drag-and-drop, and works beautifully on desktop and mobile devices.

About Spider Solitaire

Spider Solitaire gets its name from the eight legs of a spider, representing the eight foundation piles you must complete to win. It's one of the most popular solitaire variants worldwide.

The game gained widespread popularity when Microsoft included it in Windows 98 Plus! and made it a standard feature in Windows ME, XP, Vista, and 7. Millions of people discovered the addictive challenge of building same-suit sequences.

What makes Spider unique is the combination of accessibility and depth. The 1-suit version is gentle enough for beginners, while 4-suit Spider challenges even expert players. The dual-deck format creates longer, more strategic games than single-deck solitaires.

Today, Spider Solitaire remains one of the most-played card games in the world. Solitaire Scramble brings this classic to the modern web with a beautiful, responsive design that works on any device.

Challenge Your Friends! 🏆

Race against friends in real-time or send asynchronous challenges. Same shuffled deck, fastest solver wins. Create a room and share the code to start competing!

Play Multiplayer

More Solitaire Games

Love Spider? Try these other solitaire variants on Solitaire Scramble:

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Classic Solitaire

The classic Klondike solitaire everyone knows. A single deck game with hidden cards and alternating colors.

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FreeCell

All 52 cards dealt face-up for a pure skill challenge. Use 4 free cells strategically.

8️⃣

Eight Off

FreeCell variant with 8 free cells and same-suit stacking for extra challenge.

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Golf Solitaire

Fast-paced 2-5 minute games. Clear the tableau by playing cards one rank higher or lower.

Spider Solitaire FAQ

Can I play free Spider Solitaire with no download and no ads?

Yes! Solitaire Scramble offers 100% free Spider Solitaire with no download required and absolutely no ads. Play instantly in your browser on any device.

What is Spider Solitaire?

Spider Solitaire is a two-deck card game where you build 8 sequences from King down to Ace. Cards are arranged in 10 tableau columns, and you can stack cards in descending order. Complete sequences are removed from play.

How many decks does Spider Solitaire use?

Spider Solitaire uses 2 standard decks (104 cards total). This allows for 8 complete King-to-Ace sequences, which is how you win the game.

What do the 1, 2, and 4 suit options mean?

1 Suit (Easy) uses only Spades, making it easy to build sequences. 2 Suits (Medium) uses Spades and Hearts, adding complexity. 4 Suits (Hard) uses all suits, making it very challenging to complete same-suit sequences.

How do I win at Spider Solitaire?

You win by completing 8 sequences from King down to Ace in the same suit. When you complete a sequence (K-Q-J-10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-A of one suit), it's automatically removed from play.

Can I move any stack of cards?

You can only move cards that form a descending sequence of the same suit. For example, you can move a 9-8-7 of spades as a group, but not a 9♠-8♥-7♠ even though it's descending.

When can I deal more cards from the stock?

You can only deal from the stock when all 10 tableau columns have at least one card. This rule prevents you from having empty columns when new cards are dealt.

How many cards are dealt from the stock?

Each deal from the stock places one card on each of the 10 tableau columns (10 cards total). With 50 cards in the stock, you get 5 deals throughout the game.

What's the best strategy for Spider Solitaire?

Focus on creating same-suit sequences, expose hidden cards quickly, keep columns from getting too long, try to create empty columns for maneuvering, and plan several moves ahead before dealing new cards.

Is Spider Solitaire harder than regular Klondike?

Spider Solitaire with 4 suits is generally considered harder than Klondike due to the need for same-suit sequences. However, 1-suit Spider is often easier than Klondike since there's no color alternation to worry about.

What percentage of Spider Solitaire games are winnable?

The win rate varies by difficulty: 1-suit games are nearly always winnable (99%+), 2-suit games are winnable about 30-40% of the time with optimal play, and 4-suit games are winnable only about 10-15% of the time.