How to Play Spider Solitaire

There’s something timeless and satisfying about a great card game—and when it comes to single-player challenges, Spider Solitaire stands tall as one of the most rewarding games of strategy and skill. Introduced to many players through Microsoft Windows in the early 2000s, Spider Solitaire quickly developed a reputation for being both deceptively simple and deeply challenging.

What is Spider Solitaire?

Spider Solitaire is a single-player card game that uses two standard decks of 52 cards, totaling 104 cards. Unlike classic Solitaire (also called Klondike), Spider Solitaire is more complex, offering a steeper learning curve but also greater rewards for strategic thinking. The game is played by building sequences of cards in descending order (from King to Ace) within the same suit. Once a full sequence is built, it is cleared from the board. The ultimate goal is to clear all the cards from the tableau.

Spider Solitaire offers three levels of difficulty:

⭐One Suit– All cards belong to the same suit (e.g., spades). Ideal for beginners.

⭐Two Suits– A mix of two suits, commonly spades and hearts. Moderate difficulty.

⭐Four Suits– All four suits are used, making it the most challenging and complex version of the game.

Each version requires different strategies, levels of attention, and planning. To win Spider Solitaire, you must do more than just move cards around—you must think several moves ahead, understand the mechanics of stacking, and learn when to hold back or commit to a sequence.

How to Play Spider Solitaire:

1. Understand the Setup

Spider Solitaire begins with 10 tableau columns.

⭐The first four columns each receive 6 cards, and the remaining six columns get 5 cards.

⭐Only the top card of each column is turned face-up; all others are face-down.

⭐The remaining cards form the stock pile, used to deal new cards as the game progresses.

The objective is to move cards within the tableau to create stacks in descending order (King down to Ace), and preferably within the same suit. Once you complete a sequence from King to Ace of the same suit, it is automatically removed from play.

2. Making Move

⭐A single card to another tableau column if it continues a descending sequence.

⭐A full or partial sequence of face-up cards only if the cards are in proper descending order and of the same suit.

If you're moving a sequence across suits, only the top card or correctly stacked cards can be moved.

3. Using the Stock Pile

Once you've run out of strategic moves—or want to refresh the board—you can click on the stock pile, which deals one new card to each tableau column.

Important Rule: You can only deal from the stock pile if each tableau column contains at least one card. If even one column is empty, you must make a move to fill it before dealing.

4. Building and Clearing Runs

The heart of Spider Solitaire lies in constructing full sequences of cards (K → A) in the same suit. When such a sequence is created, it’s cleared from the board. The game ends when all 104 cards have been organized into these completed sequences and removed.

How to Win Spider Solitaire:

Winning Spider Solitaire consistently—especially on higher difficulties—requires more than luck. Here's how to stack the odds in your favor:

1. Empty Tableau Columns Are Your Greatest Weapon

An empty column is like an extra hand. It gives you space to temporarily move cards and reorganize existing stacks. Always aim to create and preserve empty columns—they give you flexibility and breathing room in tight situations.

2. Reveal Face-Down Cards Quickly

The biggest hurdle in Spider Solitaire is the unknown—face-down cards. Your first priority should be freeing up and flipping over these cards. The more visible cards you have, the more strategic moves become available.

3. Build Long, In-Suit Runs

Try to create long sequences using the same suit, even if it means avoiding some legal moves in the short term. Same-suit sequences can be moved entirely from one column to another, whereas mixed-suit stacks are harder to manage.

4. Avoid Dealing New Cards Too Soon

The stock pile is powerful—but dangerous. Each deal adds a new layer of cards to every column, potentially burying your hard-earned sequences. Use the stock pile only when no better moves are available, and only after ensuring every column has a card.

5. Plan Several Moves Ahead

Much like chess, Spider Solitaire rewards long-term thinking. Don’t just move a card because you can—consider what options that move opens or closes. Will it help flip a face-down card? Will it trap useful cards behind a mismatchedsuit?

6. Don’t Rush to Clear a Stack

Ironically, completing a full King-to-Ace sequence isn’t always the best immediate move. Sometimes it’s better to delay clearing a suit if that stack is serving as a useful placeholder or helping manage other cards.

7. Use Undo Strategically (if available)

If you're playing digitally and the “Undo” feature is allowed, use it to experiment with tricky decisions. Test what would happen if you moved a certain card—or didn’t—and learn from the outcomes.

8. Master the Suit Progression

In 2-suit or 4-suit versions, one of the biggest challenges is recognizing and isolating suits. Make it a habit to sort your columns in a way that makes suit separation easier over time.

Tutorial Video of Spider Solitaire (1):

Tutorial Video of Spider Solitaire (2):

Tutorial Video of Spider Solitaire (3):

Tutorial Video of Spider Solitaire (4):

Conclusion:

Spider Solitaire is not just a game—it’s a mental workout, a relaxing escape, and a true test of patience and strategic thinking. It’s easy to pick up but takes real insight and practice to master. With its increasing levels of complexity—from 1-suit simplicity to the tangled puzzles of the 4-suit version—Spider Solitaire keeps you coming back for “just one more game.” By understanding the rules, respecting the power of empty columns, and learning to plan multiple steps ahead, you can not only play Spider Solitaire—you can win it.