Spider Solitaire is the most challenging mainstream solitaire variant. Played with two decks (104 cards), it rewards patience and deep strategic thinking. Whether you play 1-suit (beginner), 2-suit (intermediate), or 4-suit (expert), this guide covers everything you need.
What Is Spider Solitaire?
Spider Solitaire uses two standard 52-card decks (104 cards total). Cards are dealt into 10 tableau columns. The goal is to build complete sequences of 13 cards from King to Ace in the same suit — when a complete sequence is formed, it's automatically removed from the tableau. Remove all 8 complete sequences to win.
Spider was included in Microsoft Windows ME (2000) and later in the Microsoft Solitaire Collection, where it became one of the most popular variants alongside Klondike and FreeCell.
Game Setup
Deal 104 cards into 10 tableau columns:
- Columns 1–4 receive 6 cards each (first 5 face-down, top card face-up)
- Columns 5–10 receive 5 cards each (first 4 face-down, top card face-up)
The remaining 50 cards form the stock pile. There are no free cells and no foundation piles visible on screen — completed sequences are removed automatically.
Difficulty Levels
| Level | Suits Used | Win Rate | Recommended For |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-Suit | Spades only | ~60% | Beginners, casual play |
| 2-Suit | Spades + Hearts | ~15% | Intermediate players |
| 4-Suit | All four suits | ~5% | Expert players only |
In 1-suit, all cards are the same suit so any card can go on any card of the next higher rank. In 4-suit, you must carefully manage suit sequences, making it exponentially harder.
Complete Rules
Tableau Rules
- Cards are stacked in descending order (King, Queen, Jack, 10... Ace)
- Any card can be placed on a card one rank higher, regardless of suit
- However, only same-suit sequences can be moved as a group
- Any card can fill an empty column (unlike Klondike, where only Kings can)
Completing a Sequence
- A complete sequence is King through Ace in the same suit (13 cards)
- When formed, the sequence is automatically removed from the tableau
- You need to complete 8 sequences to win (since there are 2 decks)
Dealing from the Stock
- When stuck, deal a new row of 10 cards (one to each column) from the stock
- Important: You cannot deal if any tableau column is empty — fill all columns first
- There are 5 deals available from the stock (50 cards / 10 columns)
Strategy Guide
1. Build Same-Suit Sequences Whenever Possible
While you can place any card on a higher-ranked card, only same-suit sequences can be moved as groups. Mixed-suit piles become dead weight. Always prefer a same-suit placement.
2. Create Empty Columns
Empty columns are your most powerful tool. They let you temporarily store cards, rearrange sequences, and access buried cards. Getting even one empty column dramatically increases your options.
3. Focus on Uncovering Face-Down Cards
Like in Klondike, hidden cards are the enemy. Prioritize moves that reveal face-down cards, especially in columns with many hidden cards.
4. Think Before Dealing
Each deal from the stock adds 10 new cards to the tableau, which can block sequences and fill empty columns. Always exhaust all possible moves before dealing. Each deal makes the game harder, not easier.
5. Don't Chase Completions Too Early
It's tempting to try to complete a King-to-Ace sequence as soon as possible, but premature completions can leave you without the flexibility you need. Focus on organizing the tableau first, and completions will happen naturally.
6. Start with 1-Suit
Seriously. 1-suit Spider is not “easy mode” — it teaches the core mechanics (empty columns, sequence management, deal timing) without the added complexity of suit management. Master 1-suit before moving to 2-suit.
Spider vs Other Solitaire Variants
| Feature | Spider | Klondike | FreeCell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Decks | 2 (104 cards) | 1 (52 cards) | 1 (52 cards) |
| Tableau columns | 10 | 7 | 8 |
| Win condition | 8 complete K-to-A sequences | 4 foundations A-to-K | 4 foundations A-to-K |
| Game length | 15–45 min | 5–15 min | 5–15 min |
| Difficulty (4-suit) | Very Hard | Medium | Medium-Hard |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Spider Solitaire?
Spider Solitaire is a card game played with two decks (104 cards) dealt into 10 tableau columns. The goal is to build complete sequences of cards from King to Ace in the same suit, which are then removed from the table.
How many suits should I play Spider Solitaire with?
1-suit Spider uses only Spades and is the easiest (win rate ~60%). 2-suit uses Spades and Hearts (win rate ~15%). 4-suit uses all four suits and is extremely challenging (win rate ~5%). Start with 1-suit to learn the mechanics.