Spider Solitaire

Introduction

Spider Solitaire is often regarded as the king of all patience games. While Klondike remains the most famous classic, Spider is the go-to choice for players seeking a deeper intellectual challenge. The game takes its name from the eight legs of a spider, which correspond to the eight foundation sequences you must build to win.

Popularized globally by its inclusion in Microsoft Windows, this game uses two full decks of cards. Unlike FreeCell, where almost every deal is solvable, Spider requires a mix of skill, foresight, and a little bit of luck. Whether you are playing the one-suit version for relaxation or the four-suit version for a real brain workout, it remains one of the most rewarding card games ever devised.

Setup

Spider Solitaire uses 104 cards (two standard 52-card decks). At the start of the game:

• The Tableau: 54 cards are dealt into 10 columns. The first four columns have 6 cards each, and the remaining six columns have 5 cards each. Only the top card of each column is face up.
• The Stock: The remaining 50 cards are set aside in a pile to be used later.
• The Foundations: There are 8 foundation slots (though in many digital versions, completed sequences simply vanish from the board to save space).

How to Play

The primary goal is to assemble 13 cards of the same suit in descending order (from King down to Ace) within the tableau columns. Once a full sequence is created, it is removed from the game.

Moving Cards

• You can move any face-up card to another column if the receiving card is exactly one rank higher. For example, a 7 of any suit can be placed on an 8 of any suit.
• However, you can only move a group of cards together if they are all in the same suit and in perfect descending order.
• While you can stack different suits to get cards out of the way, this often "blocks" your columns, as you won't be able to move that mixed pile later.

Empty Columns

If you manage to clear a column entirely, you can move any card or any legal sequence of cards into that empty space. This is a crucial mechanic for reorganizing your board.

Using the Stock

When you have no more moves left, you can click the stock pile. This deals one face-up card to every single column on the tableau. You can only do this if no columns are empty.

Strategy and Tips

Winning at Spider Solitaire requires more than just moving cards. Here are a few expert tips:

• Prioritize Same-Suit Moves: Always try to build sequences in the same suit first. Mixed-suit sequences are temporary solutions that limit your mobility.
• Expose Hidden Cards: Your main priority should be to flip over the face-down cards. The more cards you see, the more options you have.
• Manage Empty Columns: An empty column is your most powerful tool. Use it to temporarily park cards while you rearrange other sequences. Try not to fill it back up permanently until necessary.
• The "Last Resort" Stock: Don't rush to use the stock pile. Exhaust every possible move, including reorganizing your current columns, before dealing more cards, as the stock often buries useful sequences.
• Uncover the Kings: Since Kings cannot be placed on any other card, they are best moved into empty columns as soon as you are ready to build a long sequence.

If you enjoy the sequencing challenge of Spider but want a different layout, you might also enjoy Scorpion or the unique mechanics of Yukon.