Introduction to Spider Solitaire
If you're looking for a more challenging version of Solitaire, you can test your skills with Spider Solitaire. There are three versions that progressively increase in difficulty. With 1 Suit, the beginner version, you only have to manage one suit in the entire tableau. With 2 Suits (intermediate), you play with two different suits, and with 4 Suits you play the most advanced variation by managing a tableau of four suits.
The Objective of Spider Solitaire
To win the game, you must clear the tableau by creating complete same-suit sequences that descend from king to ace within the tableau. Once a sequence is completed, it is moved to one of the eight foundation piles.
The Spider Solitaire Setup
Spider Solitaire uses 104 cards. 54 cards are placed in the tableau and 50 are placed in the stockpile.
- Tableau: The tableau uses 54 cards dealt into ten columns, but only the last card in each column is face up. You sequence cards within the tableau but can only play with cards that are face up.
- Stockpile: The stockpile is filled with 50 cards. If you get stuck one face-up card is dealt to the bottom of each column. So with just 50 cards, you can only use the stockpile a total of five times.
- Foundation piles. You have to make same-suit sequences descending in order before you can move them to one of eight foundation piles.
Spider Solitaire Basic Rules
- Only face-up cards can be moved on the tableau.
- You can move a face-up card on top of another card that's one rank higher.
- If you uncover a facedown card, it turns face up and becomes a playable card.
- You can move same-suit sequences that descend in order as a group.
- Empty columns can be filled with any rank of card or a descending sequence of cards.
- If you run out of moves, you can use the stockpile to deal a new face-up card to the bottom of each column.
- Once you complete a same-suit sequence in the tableau that descends in order (king to ace), it moves to a foundation pile.
How to Play Spider Solitaire
Keeping the rules in mind, these steps explain how to play Spider Solitaire.
1. Arrange the Cards into Descending Sequences
Because you can only move completed sequences into foundation piles, you must arrange face-up cards on the tableau into descending order sequences. You can move single cards or sequenced groups of cards on top of a card that is one rank higher.
For example, you can take an eight and place it on top of a nine, or you can take a sequence that is a nine through five and move the entire group onto a ten.
Once you move cards off of a facedown card, that card is turned face up so that you have an additional, playable card. Prioritize revealing facedown cards so that you put more cards into play.
If you clear an entire column, you can fill the empty column with any single card or with a sequence of cards. An empty column gives you additional space to arrange cards.
2. Use the Stockpile When You Run Out of Moves
In Spider Solitaire, the stockpile works differently than other variations. If you use it, a single card gets dealt to the bottom of each column. So while you may find a useful card, you could also block sequences you've built or other moves you can make.
For example, if you had a sequence of jack to six in one column, but you were out of moves. Using the stockpile could place an unusable card on top of the six, such as a ten. Then you have to wait until you can move the ten to a jack before you can continue the sequence.
Additionally, the stockpile is finite. You have 50 cards, and once you've used it five times, you've depleted your stockpile and will no longer be able to use it.
3. Place Completed Sequences into Foundation Piles
Only completed sequences can be moved to foundation piles. So once an entire sequence from king to ace is built, it can then be placed into its foundation pile, and once all eight piles are complete and the tableau is empty, you win the game.
Spider Solitaire Strategies and Tips to Win
Use these tips to build a winning strategy and take your gameplay further by trying these advanced strategies as well:
- Focus on building sequences on higher-ranking cards. If you try to start sequences on higher-ranking cards like tens or nines as opposed to fives or fours, you open up the possibility of building longer sequences. So you'll use more cards, make more moves, and reveal more facedown cards.
- Prioritize revealing facedown cards. Only 10 of the 54 tableau cards are face up at the start of the game. To build your sequences, you need more options than 10 cards can give you. So reveal facedown cards to access more cards and complete sequences.
- Empty columns quickly. Because you can move any card or sequence of cards into an empty column, depleting a column opens another space for arranging cards. Use it to free blocked cards or rearrange the tableau.
- Use empty columns effectively. Assess the tableau and your needs before putting anything into an empty column. Placing a high-ranking card into the column is typically more effective than a lower rank so you can build a longer sequence, but a single card placed into an empty column can help you reveal a facedown card you might need.
- Use the stockpile as a last resort. Drawing a new card sounds helpful, but this stockpile puts a new card at the bottom of each column, blocking sequences and potential moves. So be sure you can't make any more moves before accessing the stockpile, and remember that you can only use it five times.
- Use the undo or hint buttons if needed. Everybody needs a little help from time to time, so when you get stuck, first use the hint button to see if you missed a play. You can also use the undo button if you get stuck or if you notice a better move. Using these buttons helps you practice different strategies and may help you win.
Other Solitaire Variations
If you enjoy playing Solitaire, you can try several other variations:
- FreeCell: Easier than Classic Solitaire, you can use four free cells as additional space to move cards.
- Solitaire Turn 3: A bit harder than Solitaire Turn 1, you have to turn over three cards from the stockpile at a time, which keeps some cards inaccessible.
- Spider Solitaire 2 Suits: More challenging that Spider Solitaire 1 Suit, you have to manage two suits in this variation.
- Spider Solitaire 4 Suits: The most challenging of Spider Solitaire, you play with four suits.
- Pyramid: Rather than sequencing cards, this variation has you pairing cards that equal 13 to clear the tableau.
- Golf: With this variation, you clear the tableau by selecting a card that is one rank higher or lower than the waste pile card, and that card becomes the new waste pile card.
