Spider Solitaire

Spider Solitaire Rules

Spider Solitaire is played with two full decks — 104 cards. The game opens with 54 cards dealt across 10 tableau columns: the first four columns receive 6 cards each and the remaining six receive 5, with only the top card of every column face-up. The other 50 cards form the stock, dealt later in five rounds of 10. The goal is to assemble each suit from King down to Ace. Once a column holds a complete same-suit run (K→Q→J→…→2→A), those 13 cards move to the foundation automatically, and any face-down card beneath them flips face-up. You can place a card (or a properly sequenced stack) onto any card exactly one rank higher — the target's suit doesn't matter for a single move. Any descending run also moves as a group regardless of suit; only same-suit runs can be collected, which is why building within one suit matters so much. Any single face-up card may also move to an empty column. When you run out of useful moves, deal a new row from the stock — one card to each of the 10 columns. Classic rules (which this game follows) require every column to be non-empty before dealing. Complete all eight foundation runs to win.

Spider Solitaire Tips & Strategy

Spider rewards patience more than speed. A few habits consistently raise your win rate: ● Empty columns are your most powerful resource. Use them to park cards, break up mixed-suit stacks, and reach the face-down cards you need. Don't fill your last empty column without a clear reason. ● Dig for face-down cards early. Every column you clear adds flexibility to the whole board. Prefer moves that flip hidden cards over moves that only tidy the layout. ● Build same-suit runs before you need them. In Four Suits especially, keep each suit's sequence on its own track so a completed run can come together the moment its missing cards appear. ● Don't rush to deal. Each deal drops a face-up card onto all 10 columns and can bury the runs you've built. Exhaust your current options first — use the Hint button if you're unsure a move exists. ● Use Undo freely while learning. Replaying a few moves to test a different line is the fastest way to understand why a deal went wrong. ● Start with One Suit to learn the flow, then graduate to Two Suits, and finally Four Suits — the version Spider veterans consider the real game.

One, Two or Four Suits?

The suit count is the difficulty dial of Spider Solitaire: the more suits, the more often cards of different suits block each other. ● One Suit (Easy): all 104 cards are spades, so every in-sequence move is also a same-suit move. Almost every deal is winnable with sensible play — the recommended starting point. ● Two Suits (Medium): spades and hearts, 52 cards each. You must keep the two suits' runs separate, and empty columns become essential. This is the classic format most long-time players enjoy. ● Four Suits (Hard): a full double deck, two copies of every suit. Runs collide constantly, and careful long-range planning is the only way through. Expect to lose often at first — wins here feel earned. Switch difficulty anytime from the mode selector above. Your current game stays in place until you start a new one.

Play Free on Phone or Computer — No Download

This Spider Solitaire runs entirely in your browser, so there is nothing to download, install, or sign up for. It works the same on desktop (mouse or trackpad) and on phones and tablets (tap and drag), and the layout adapts to your screen automatically. Prefer an app-like experience? Open this page in your mobile browser and add it to your home screen — it launches full-screen like an installed game and always stays up to date. The game runs on the page itself, so an internet connection is required. Everything is free, with unlimited games and all three suit modes unlocked from the start.