Spider Solitaire

Spider Solitaire is a sequence-building game played across ten tableau columns. Instead of sending individual cards to four foundations, you organize the tableau into complete same-suit runs from King down to Ace. The immediate move may be simple—place a card on the next higher rank—but the deeper puzzle is keeping enough suited cards together so that the resulting sequence can move as a unit later.

The objective in Spider Solitaire

A completed sequence contains thirteen cards of one suit in descending order: King, Queen, Jack, 10, and so on through Ace. When the implementation recognizes a complete run, it removes that sequence from the tableau. The usual objective is to complete eight runs and clear all cards.

This differs from Klondike and FreeCell, where cards rise into separate suit foundations one rank at a time. Spider keeps its work in the tableau. A low card is not automatically “finished”; it must eventually become part of an uninterrupted same-suit King-to-Ace run.

Basic card movement rules

1. Place a face-up card on another card that is exactly one rank higher.
2. Some versions permit a single card to be placed across suits, but a multi-card group normally moves together only when it is both descending and all one suit.
3. Reveal a face-down card by moving every face-up card above it.
4. An empty column commonly accepts any single card or valid movable sequence.
5. Using the stock deals another card to each tableau column. Many versions require every column to contain a card before the deal can occur.

The current iframe entrance has been verified, but features such as undo, hints, and selectable suit levels have not been confirmed inside the live table for this title. Use the active start screen and in-game controls as the source of truth for implementation-specific options.

One-suit, two-suit, and four-suit Spider

Many Spider games offer difficulty based on the number of suits. One-suit mode repeats a single suit and is the clearest place to learn how sequences form. Two-suit mode introduces mixed groups that must be separated. Four-suit mode uses all suits and makes clean movable runs much harder to preserve.

These levels describe common Spider design, not a promise that this particular embedded title exposes all three choices. If the player presents a difficulty selector, confirm the suit count shown there before starting.

Five priorities that improve a Spider position

1. Reveal face-down cards. Each reveal increases information and may expose a rank needed to continue a suited sequence.
2. Preserve same-suit groups. A cross-suit placement can be useful temporarily, but it creates a break that must later be separated.
3. Create an empty column. The space acts as a workbench for splitting and rebuilding mixed stacks.
4. Delay the next stock deal. A new row covers every tableau column, so complete all productive rearrangement first.
5. Protect nearly complete runs. Avoid placing an unrelated suit on top of a sequence that is close to King through Ace.

How to use an empty column

An empty column is most valuable as temporary workspace. Before moving a large stack into it, decide which internal card you need to reach and where the displaced cards can return. Filling the space with a mixed group that has no exit can remove the flexibility you worked to create.

For example, suppose a suited 6-5-4 run is covered by an off-suit 3. Moving the 3 into an empty column can let you extend or relocate the suited run. The move is useful only if the 3 can later join another 4 or be incorporated into a better sequence. Plan both the outward and return moves.

Checklist before dealing another row

• Can any move expose a face-down card?
• Can two short same-suit groups be joined?
• Can an off-suit break be removed without sacrificing an empty column permanently?
• Will the new row cover a sequence that is one or two cards from completion?
• Does the player require every empty column to be filled before dealing?

The stock is not a generic “no moves” button. Each deal adds ten new obstructions, and late deals become especially difficult when the tableau already contains several mixed suits.

Spider compared with Klondike and FreeCell

Klondike builds alternating-color tableau sequences and four ascending foundations. FreeCell uses four temporary cells and open information. Spider’s distinguishing challenge is creating long pure-suit sequences across ten columns. Explore the complete solitaire library for removal-style and other tableau variants.

Frequently asked questions

Can different suits be placed together?

Many Spider implementations permit a single card to be placed on the next higher rank regardless of suit, but only a same-suit descending sequence can normally move as a group.

When should I deal from the stock?

Deal after using the productive tableau moves available, especially moves that reveal cards, join suited groups, or create usable space.

Which suit level is best for a beginner?

If the player offers the choice, one-suit mode is the clearest way to learn sequence and empty-column management before progressing to two or four suits.

What can be placed in an empty column?

Common Spider rules allow any card or valid movable sequence. Follow the embedded player’s actual move validation if its rule differs.