Spider Solitaire Rules: 1-Suit, 2-Suit, 4-Suit & Free Online Play

Anyone who’s spent an afternoon clicking through a stack of cards knows that Spider Solitaire is the kind of game that makes you think you have it under control — until the tableau locks up and you’re left staring at a single empty column. This guide breaks down the rules, the three difficulty levels, and how to get started for free. You’ll find the key differences between 1‑suit, 2‑suit, and 4‑suit versions, plus strategies that actually improve your odds.

Decks used: 2 (104 cards total) ·
Suit variants: 1 suit (easy), 2 suits (medium), 4 suits (hard) ·
Tableau columns: 10 ·
Foundations: 8 complete suits from King to Ace ·
Win rate (estimated): ~30% for 1 suit, <5% for 4 suits ·
First included in Windows: Microsoft Plus! 98 (and later Windows versions)

Six key facts that define the game at a glance:

What is Spider Solitaire?

Overview of the game

• Spider Solitaire uses two standard 52‑card decks, for a total of 104 cards (Solitaire Social community resource).
• The tableau is laid out in 10 columns; the goal is to arrange all cards into eight complete sequences of the same suit, each running King down to Ace (Solitaired strategy guide).
• Unlike Klondike, where cards are moved to foundations in ascending order, Spider builds entire sequences in the tableau before removing them (Solitaired strategy guide).

Origin and history

• The game was first bundled with Microsoft Plus! 98 for Windows 98 and later included in many Windows versions (Solitaire Social community resource).
• Its name is thought to come from the eight required sequences, resembling a spider’s eight legs (Solitaire Social community resource).
• A smaller variant, Spiderette, uses a single deck and seven columns (Solitaire Social community resource).

Bottom line: Spider Solitaire is a two‑deck patience game that demands more planning than Klondike. For casual players, the 1‑suit version offers a relaxing challenge; for veterans, the 4‑suit mode is a genuine test of patience.

“The 1‑suit version gives beginners a real shot at winning — around 30% of hands. That drops fast once you add suits.” — Solitaire Bliss rule‑explanation site

How do you play Spider Solitaire?

Setup

• Deal 10 columns: the leftmost 4 columns receive 6 cards each (5 face‑down, 1 face‑up); the remaining 6 columns receive 5 cards each (4 face‑down, 1 face‑up) (Solitaire Bliss rule‑explanation site).
• The remaining 50 cards are placed in a stock pile at the top left (Solitaire Bliss rule‑explanation site).

Dealing

• When no moves remain, deal one card face‑up from the stock to each of the 10 columns (Solitaire Social community resource).
• You can deal only when all columns have at least one card and no other moves are possible (Arkadium casual games publisher).

Movement rules

• You can move any face‑up card or a complete same‑suit sequence (in descending order) to another column (Spider Palace dedicated solitaire site).
• Empty columns can be filled with any face‑up card or sequence (Arkadium casual games publisher).
• Mixed‑suit sequences can be built in the tableau, but only same‑suit sequences can be moved as a unit or sent to the foundation (247 Spider Solitaire beginner guide).

Building sequences

1. Stack cards in descending order (King → Queen → Jack → 10 → … → Ace).
2. Once a complete King‑to‑Ace sequence of the same suit is formed, it is automatically removed to the foundation (Solitaired strategy guide).
3. The game ends when all eight sequences are removed and the tableau is empty.

Bottom line: Mastering movement rules — especially when to fill empty columns — separates beginners from consistent winners. Casual players treat empty columns as their most valuable resource.

“Dealing too early buries key cards. The patient player who exhausts tableau moves first will win more often.” — Arkadium casual games publisher

What are the different suit versions of Spider Solitaire?

1 suit (beginner)

• All 104 cards are from a single suit (e.g., spades). Sequences can be built with any suit because all are identical (Solitaire Bliss rule‑explanation site).
• Estimated win rate: around 30% (Solitaire Bliss rule‑explanation site).

2 suits (intermediate)

• Uses two suits (e.g., hearts and spades). Sequences must be built by alternating colors (red on red, black on black) and same suit within each sequence (Solitaire Bliss rule‑explanation site).
• Win rate drops to roughly 10–15% (Solitaire Bliss rule‑explanation site).

4 suits (expert)

• All four suits are used. Only cards of the exact same suit and descending rank can form a movable sequence (247 Spider Solitaire beginner guide).
• Win rate is often below 5% (Solitaire Bliss rule‑explanation site).

Three difficulty levels, one clear trade‑off:

Bottom line: Moving from 1 suit to 2 suits more than doubles the difficulty. For players seeking a relaxing session, 1 suit is the clear pick. For those who want a brain‑burning puzzle, 4 suits delivers, but be prepared for frequent restarts.

“In 4‑suit mode, the win rate sits below 5% for most players. That’s not a flaw — it’s the design.” — 247 Spider Solitaire beginner guide

Can you play Spider Solitaire for free online?

Top free online platforms

• Solitaired (curated solitaire collection) – offers 1‑, 2‑, and 4‑suit versions with no registration.
• Free‑Spider‑Solitaire (dedicated free‑play site) – browser‑based, no download.
• Solitr (lightweight solitaire host) – supports multiple suit versions and tracks statistics.

No download options

• Most browser versions run on HTML5 and work on any modern device (Solitaire Bliss rule‑explanation site).
• No app installation required; simply open the site and play.

Mobile play

• Many online platforms are mobile‑responsive, allowing touch‑based card moves (Solitaire Bliss rule‑explanation site).
• Official Microsoft Solitaire Collection (available on iOS, Android, and Windows) includes Spider Solitaire with daily challenges.

Bottom line: Free, instant access exists everywhere. The only real choice is whether you want a clean browser experience or the extra features of an app like the Microsoft Solitaire Collection.

What strategies can help you win at Spider Solitaire?

Basic tips

• Prioritize uncovering face‑down cards. Every hidden card is a potential move (Arkadium casual games publisher).
• Fill empty columns early — they give you flexibility to move sequences and reorganize (Arkadium casual games publisher).
• Avoid breaking built sequences unless it reveals a key card or creates an empty column.

Advanced tactics

• In 2‑ and 4‑suit games, always build sequences of the same suit when possible; mixed sequences are dead weight (247 Spider Solitaire beginner guide).
• Deal new cards only after you have exhausted all possible tableau moves — dealing early can bury key cards (Arkadium casual games publisher).
• Use the undo feature (if available) to explore different lines of play without penalty.

Common mistakes

• Moving a card to a column that blocks an empty column later.
• Filling a column with a mixed suit sequence that can never be moved.
• Redealing too early — a single deal can lock up the entire tableau.

Like solving a cryptic crossword, Spider Solitaire rewards pattern recognition and patience. For more on logic puzzles, check out our Daily Mail Cryptic Crossword Tips — and after a long session, relax with the Best TV Shows 2024.

Frequently asked questions