How to Play Spider Solitaire – Rules & Strategy

What Is Spider Solitaire?

Spider Solitaire is the heavyweight of single‑player card games. Played with 104 cards (two standard decks) and ten tableau columns, it demands layered planning: build descending runs, juggle suits, and time your stock deals to perfection. The game offers three tiers:

• One Suit – all cards share a suit (typically Spades); forgiving, perfect for learning mechanics.
• Two Suits – black vs. red (♠ & ♣ vs. ♥ & ♦). Suit matching matters, so mis‑ordered colours can jam your web.
• Four Suits – true Spider. Every card wears its own suit, making orderly runs devilishly hard.

The genius of Spider lies in its scalable challenge. One-suit mode offers accessibility while four-suit provides a test that even veteran players find daunting. Whether you relish slow, thoughtful moves or speed‑run glory, Spider scales with you, offering the perfect balance of strategy and luck.

Objective

Remove all 104 cards by weaving eight complete, same‑suit runs from King down to Ace.

Each finished run leaps to the foundation, earning 100 points and freeing space for new manoeuvres. When all eight runs depart, the board is clear and victory is yours.

Unlike some solitaire variants, Spider isn’t about transferring cards to separate foundation piles during play. Instead, you build complete King-to-Ace sequences directly within the tableau. This makes the game both more strategic and more satisfying, as you literally watch your hard work vanish from the board with each completed run.

Complete Rules for Spider Solitaire

Setup

• Deal 54 cards to ten tableau columns:
  • Columns 1‑4: 5 cards each (top face‑up).
  • Columns 5‑10: 4 cards each (top face‑up).
• Stock retains the remaining 50 cards, facedown, in five ten‑card stacks.
• No foundations exist at first; completed runs create them automatically.

The asymmetrical initial layout—with some columns holding more cards than others—creates an immediate strategic puzzle. Columns with five cards contain more hidden information but also more potential for creating valuable card sequences once uncovered.

Building Sequences

• Place any card that is one rank lower than the target card (8 on 9, Q on K).
• Suit-agnostic placement: You may drop any lower-ranked card onto any higher-ranked card, regardless of suit or color. This differs from games like Klondike where alternating colors are required.
• Moving stacks: You can move a partial column only if the entire stack is of one suit and in perfect descending order. This is the core constraint that makes Spider challenging!

For example:

• You can move ♠6-♠5-♠4 as a group onto any 7
• You cannot move ♠6-♥5-♠4 together (mixed suits)
• You cannot move ♠6-♠4 together (not sequential)

Revealing and Empty Columns

• Move a face‑up card(s) away, the next card underneath flips face‑up automatically.
• An empty column can receive any card or any legal stack—empties are prime real estate for re‑ordering suits.

Empty columns are Spider’s most valuable resource. They function as temporary workspaces where you can rebuild sequences to achieve same-suit runs. Players who consistently maintain at least one empty column throughout the game see dramatically higher win rates.

Stock Deals

• When no profitable moves remain, click the stock: 10 new face‑up cards are dealt—one to each column.
• All tableau columns must contain at least one card before you may deal.
• The stock contains 50 cards divided into exactly 5 deals of 10 cards each.

Timing of stock deals is perhaps the most crucial decision point in Spider. Dealing too early clutters carefully arranged sequences, while delaying too long might mean missing opportunities to expose valuable face-down cards.

Completing Runs & Winning

• A full suited run (K→A) automatically slides to the foundation, granting +100 pts and opening space.
• The sequence must contain 13 cards of the same suit in perfect descending order (K-Q-J-10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-A).
• Win by clearing all eight suited runs.

When a run completes, the animation showing it sliding off the tableau provides both visual satisfaction and immediate spatial relief for your remaining cards. This cycle of tension and release is what makes Spider so addictive—you’re constantly building toward these moments of breakthrough.

Scoring System

Spider rewards efficiency and speed while punishing careless clicks.

Starting Score

• 500 points at the first deal.

Point Adjustments

• Every move or undo: –1 pt
• Each suited run completed: +100 pts

Time Bonus

• Finish in ≤ 10 min: +200 pts
• Finish in 10–20 min: +100 pts
• > 20 min: no bonus

Perfect theoretical score: 500 – minimal moves + (8 × 100) + 200 = approaches 1,400 pts in speed‑run scenarios, but typical strong games land 650‑900.

This scoring system creates an interesting balance between speed and precision. Every move costs a point, so random clicking is penalized. Yet the time bonus rewards quick completion. Players must decide whether to optimize for clean, minimalist play or rapid completion, as these approaches can lead to similar final scores through different paths.

Strategy Guide

1. Manufacture Empty Columns Early

An empty column doubles maneuverability: shift half‑formed stacks aside, straighten suits, rescue buried Kings. Try to empty your first column within the first 20-30 moves, before dealing from the stock even once.

2. Build Same‑Suit Whenever Possible

Mix‑suit descending piles might be legal, but only same‑suit runs can march as a block. Align colors proactively—future reordering is costly. A 5-card same-suit sequence is worth protecting even if it means making “suboptimal” moves elsewhere on the board.

3. Flip Face‑Down Cards Above All

Each hidden card is untapped potential. Before a flashy stack move, ask: Will it expose a face‑down? If not, reconsider. This single focus—exposing face-down cards—should guide approximately 60% of your decisions in early and mid-game.

4. Delay Stock Deals

Dealing too soon scatters fresh cards atop hard‑won order. Exhaust every tableau shuffle first; the fewer face‑ups when you deal, the tidier the influx. Try to establish at least one empty column before each stock deal to provide immediate flexibility.

5. Reserve Low Cards

Aces and Twos are “glue” cards—once anchored, nothing can sit atop them. Avoid parking them mid‑column until they’re ready to finish a run. When possible, keep low cards (especially Aces through Fours) at the far right of sequences where they’re accessible for completing runs.

6. Use the “Suit Ladder”

In two‑ or four‑suit play, alternate colors to free up same‑suit ladders. Example: stack red 7‑6‑5 under a black 8 so a black 7 later unlocks a deep red 6. This temporary “scaffolding” approach creates options for recovering buried cards.

7. Undo Intelligently

Undos cost one point—cheap insurance. Test hypothetical lines, reverse if they stalemate, but avoid brute‑force scrolling; points drain fast. Most expert players limit themselves to 3-5 undos per difficult decision rather than mindlessly cycling through possibilities.

8. End‑Game Compression

Once two runs remain, consolidate suits aggressively. It’s often worth losing a few points on extra moves to ensure the final draw doesn’t splatter mis‑suits across columns. This “table cleanup” becomes increasingly important as you near victory.

Advanced Tactics

Suit Segregation

In four-suit play, establish “suit territories” across your columns. For example, dedicate columns 1-3 to Hearts, 4-5 to Spades, 6-7 to Clubs, and 8-10 to Diamonds. This zoning approach reduces cross-contamination and creates clearer pathways to complete runs.

Deep Stock Management

Monitor the remaining stock deals carefully. If you’ve used 3 of 5 stock deals, you should have completed at least 3-4 runs to stay on pace. Each stock deal should enable at least one completed run in efficient play.

Empty Column Discipline

Never surrender your last empty column unless it directly leads to completing a run. Having zero empty columns severely constrains your options and can quickly lead to deadlocked positions where no progress is possible.

Strategic Scenarios

Difficulty Progression

The difficulty jump between variants is dramatic. Consider your readiness for advancement based on these benchmarks:

One-Suit Mode

• Basic proficiency: 40% win rate
• Ready for Two-Suit: 80%+ win rate across 20+ games
• Mastery: 95%+ win rate with average score above 800

Two-Suit Mode

• Basic proficiency: 25% win rate
• Ready for Four-Suit: 50%+ win rate across 20+ games
• Mastery: 70%+ win rate with average score above 700

Four-Suit Mode

• Basic proficiency: 10% win rate
• Advanced play: 25%+ win rate
• Mastery: 35%+ win rate with average score above 600

Many players find their “home” in Two-Suit mode, which balances challenge with reasonable win rates. Four-Suit is genuinely difficult and should be approached as a true test of skill rather than casual entertainment.

Probabilities & Performance Benchmarks

Pro Tip: Reach a 90% one‑suit win rate before graduating to two suits; similar habits propel you through higher tiers.

The dramatic drop in win rate between difficulty levels reflects the exponential increase in complexity. Even skilled players accept that many Four-Suit games are effectively unwinnable, which is why it remains the ultimate challenge for solitaire enthusiasts.

Pattern Recognition & Card Distribution

Understanding the distribution of cards across suits can give you a strategic advantage:

• In One-Suit: Each rank appears 8 times (e.g., eight Kings, eight Aces)
• In Two-Suit: Each rank appears 4 times per suit color (e.g., four red Kings, four black Kings)
• In Four-Suit: Each rank appears 2 times per suit (e.g., two ♠Kings, two ♥Kings)

This distribution knowledge helps with probability calculations. For example, if you’ve already seen both ♥6 cards in Four-Suit, you know any remaining 6s must be from other suits. This informs decisions about which sequences to prioritize.

Common Pitfalls (and Fixes)

1. Filling the Last Empty Column Pre‑Deal
   Fix: Always keep one column empty before dealing new cards.

2. Moving Mixed‑Suit Stacks
   Fix: Stop at the first suit break; split stacks to preserve pure sequences.

3. Grounding Low Cards Under High Ones
   Fix: Keep low ranks on the right side of columns—they’re hardest to move later.

4. Undo Paralysis
   Fix: Limit yourself to a “three‑undo rule” per decision. If a line fails thrice, shift strategy.

5. Premature Stock Dealing
   Fix: Implement a “double-check” habit—before dealing, scan the tableau once more for hidden opportunities.

6. King Hoarding
   Fix: Don’t be afraid to build onto Kings in early game; keeping them “clean” too long wastes valuable sequencing opportunities.

7. Ignoring Card Counting
   Fix: Track how many of each key card (especially Kings and Aces) have appeared to calculate probabilities in upcoming deals.

Psychology of Spider

Spider tests more than card strategy—it challenges your decision-making psychology:

• Patience vs. Impulse: The urge to deal from stock when progress slows can sabotage careful positioning.
• Planning Horizon: Successful players think 5-10 moves ahead while maintaining flexibility.
• Loss Aversion: Many players make suboptimal moves to protect “good” sequences that actually need dismantling.
• Time Pressure: The scoring system creates subtle stress that can lead to rushed decisions in late-game.

Developing awareness of these psychological factors can improve decision quality, especially in Four-Suit mode where emotional composure becomes as important as technical skill.

History & Trivia

• Invented mid‑1940s; name references a spider’s eight legs → eight completed runs.
• Microsoft introduced one‑suit Spider in Windows ME (2000); win rates soared, prompting demand for two‑ and four‑suit modes.
• World‑record four‑suit time (RNG seed 1049) is under 6 minutes.
• Spider maintains a dedicated competitive community, with annual tournaments held online since 2006.
• The highest documented Four-Suit winning streak is 7 consecutive games, achieved by Finnish player Marko Nieminen in 2015.
• Spider has been used in cognitive science research as a model for studying decision-making under uncertainty.

Beginner FAQ Highlights

Why can’t I deal from stock?

All tableau columns must hold at least one card; fill empties first.

What’s the fastest way to improve?

Practice one‑suit speed clears focusing on column‑empty timing—those habits transfer directly upward.

Is there ever a guaranteed unwinnable game?

Rare in one suit, common in four suit. If after three stock deals you still can’t open a second empty column, odds are grim—restart and save time.

Do the remaining 50 cards in stock follow any pattern?

No, they’re randomly distributed, which is why timing stock deals strategically is crucial.

Should I always complete a run when possible?

Not always! Sometimes keeping a near-complete run is useful for building other sequences. Only complete runs when doing so creates strategic advantages elsewhere on the board.

Does the variant I play affect my solitaire skill?

Absolutely. Spider develops pattern recognition, sequence planning, and resource management skills that transfer well to other solitaire games and even some strategy board games.

Ready to weave your web?
▶ Play Spider Solitaire now and see if you can spin eight perfect runs before the clock hits 10 minutes!