How to Play Spider Solitaire
Last reviewed on 2026-10-03
Spider Solitaire is played with two decks (104 cards). Instead of building on separate foundations, you assemble complete runs from King down to Ace inside the tableau. Each finished same-suit run is removed from play; clear all eight and you win.
The layout
- Ten tableau columns holding 54 cards: the first four columns get 6 cards and the other six get 5. Only the bottom card of each column is face up.
- The stock holds the other 50 cards, enough for five deals of ten (shown as “deals left” in the top-right corner).
- Completed runs are collected in the top-left corner (0 / 8 at the start).
Rules and legal moves
- Build down regardless of suit. Any card can go on a card one rank higher: a 7 of any suit fits on any 8.
- Only same-suit runs move together. A sequence such as 8♥ 7♥ 6♥ can be moved as one piece. Mixed-suit sequences have to be taken apart card by card.
- Empty columns take anything. Any card or movable run can be placed in an empty column (not only Kings).
- Face-down cards turn over automatically when they are uncovered.
- Deal from the stock to add one face-up card to each of the ten columns. You cannot deal while a column is empty.
- Complete runs are removed. When a column ends in a full King-to-Ace run of one suit, it is taken off the table.
- Win by removing all eight runs (all 104 cards).
The three difficulty levels
| Level | Suits in the 104 cards | What it feels like |
|---|---|---|
| 1 suit | 8 × spades | Every natural sequence is also a same-suit run, so long runs move freely. Good for learning. |
| 2 suits | 4 × spades, 4 × hearts | You must start thinking about colours: a heart on a spade blocks the run. The classic level. |
| 4 suits | 2 × each suit | Same-suit runs are rare and precious; empty columns and careful un-stacking decide the game. |
Spider Solitaire Strategy
- Prefer same-suit moves. When a card could go on two different 8s, put it on the one of its own suit: that keeps the run movable.
- Work towards an empty column. An empty column is the most powerful thing in Spider. It lets you park a card, split a mixed run, or reorder cards. Target the shortest columns first.
- Uncover hidden cards. Every face-down card you turn over gives you more information and more options.
- Exhaust your moves before dealing. Each deal drops ten new cards on top of your work. Before dealing, try to tidy up runs so the new cards land on as few important cards as possible.
- Don’t fill an empty column too quickly. Use it as a workspace and only fill it with a card or run that you actually want there (a King-led run is ideal because it never needs to move again).
- Break mixed runs from the top. In 2- and 4-suit games, move the lowest same-suit section away to expose the card it was hiding, then rebuild in suit.
- Use Undo freely. Spider rewards trying a line, backing up, and trying another.
History
Spider is a traditional two-deck patience game. Its name is usually explained by the eight runs you have to complete, like a spider’s eight legs. It became one of the most played computer card games after Microsoft bundled a version with the Plus! 98 pack and then with Windows Me and later Windows releases, which also popularised the 1-, 2- and 4-suit difficulty levels.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I play Spider Solitaire with 1, 2 or 4 suits?
Start with 1 suit to learn how runs and empty columns work, because every card can join every run. 2 suits (spades and hearts) is the classic middle level and the one most regular players settle on. 4 suits is a serious challenge: most of your stacking will be in mixed suits that cannot move as a unit. See our 1 vs 2 vs 4 suits guide for a detailed comparison.
How many decks does Spider Solitaire use?
Spider always uses two full decks, 104 cards, whatever the difficulty. The suit setting only changes which suits those 104 cards have: 1 suit means eight sets of spades, 2 suits means four sets each of spades and hearts, and 4 suits means two of every suit.
Can I move a mixed-suit sequence in Spider?
Not as one unit. You may place a card on any card one rank higher, but only an unbroken run of the same suit can be picked up together. With 9♠ 8♥ 7♥ you can move the 7♥ alone or the 8♥7♥ pair, but not all three at once.
Why can't I deal from the stock?
In this version (as in the classic Windows rules) every column must hold at least one card before you deal a new row of ten. Move any card or run into the empty column first, then click the stock.
What happens when I complete a King-to-Ace run?
A full run from King down to Ace in one suit is removed from the table automatically and counted in the completed-runs pile. Remove all eight runs to win.
Is every Spider Solitaire game winnable?
No, a few deals cannot be won even with perfect play, and the share of difficult deals rises sharply with more suits. Because the stock hides most of the cards, nobody can tell for certain from the opening layout. Undo, the Hint button and Restart Deal help you find a winning line when one exists.
Can I replay a Spider deal?
Yes. Note the deal number shown above the table, or press Restart Deal. Typing a deal number into the Deal # box plays that shuffle at the currently selected number of suits.