Spiderette

Spiderette Solitaire Objective

Spiderette is an easier version of Spider Solitaire in which you must complete four foundation piles by arranging tableau cards into descending order (king to ace) in the tableau. The completed sequences can be moved to foundation piles. Spiderette uses just one suit of cards, so you only have to focus on sequencing by rank.

Because Spiderette begins with an empty space on the tableau, uses just 52 playing cards, and has just one suit to deal with, this card game is a very easy Solitaire variation.

Spiderette Quick Play Rules

• Cards can only be moved on top of a card of higher rank to put them in descending order (king to ace).
• A sequence must be completed in the tableau before it can move to a foundation pile.
• You can only move face-up cards.
• Uncovering a facedown card allows you to turn it face up, putting the card into play.
• Any single card or sequence of cards can fill an empty column.
• Properly sequenced cards can move as a unit as long as the first card in the sequence is placed on top of a card of higher rank or in an empty column.
• If you get stuck, you can use the stockpile to deal a single card to the bottom of each tableau column, but you must have a card in every column before using the stockpile.
• You can only use the stockpile three times.

Spiderette Solitaire Setup

Although Spiderette follows the same rules as Spider Solitaire 1 Suit, the tableau looks more like a variation of Klondike Solitaire. To lay out the gameplay area, use 52 cards of the same suit and set it up as follows:

• Tableau: Use the tableau to arrange cards in descending order and reveal as many facedown cards as you can. The tableau has eight columns with a total of 28 cards. The first column has zero cards dealt into it, and then subsequent columns have one more card than the previous column. So the second column has one card, the third has two, and so on until the eighth column has seven cards. All but the last card in each column is facedown. The final card is dealt face up.
• Stockpile: You can use the stockpile to get additional cards when you can no longer make moves on the tableau, but you need a card in each column to utilize the stockpile. It consists of 24 facedown cards—note that you have no waste pile to use. The stockpile will deal a single card to the bottom of each column, and you only get to use the stockpile three times before it runs out. So use it sparingly as a last resort.
• Foundation piles: Four spaces are left at the top for foundation piles. You must complete descending sequences in the tableau columns first, and then the sequence is moved to a foundation pile. Once all four piles are completed, you win the game.

How to Play Spiderette Step-by-Step

If you know how to play Spider Solitaire, then Spiderette will be easy. This Solitaire card game follows the same basic rules. Just follow these steps to play:

1. Arrange cards into descending sequences in the tableau. Before you can place a sequence into its foundation pile, it must be complete and in descending order, so use the tableau to arrange cards. You can place any single face-up card or sequence of cards onto a card of a higher rank. For example, a 5♥ can be placed on a 6♥ or a sequence of 10♥-9♥-8♥ can be placed on top of a J♥. You can place any single card or sequenced group of cards into the empty column.
2. Use the stockpile when you can no longer make moves on the tableau. The stockpile will deal a single card to the bottom of each column, which means it can block sequences you’ve created. For example, if you have a sequence 8♥-7♥-6♥-5♥-4♥ built in a column, the stockpile will place a single card after the four. If it’s anything except a 3♥, it will block your sequence until you can move that card.
3. Place completed sequences into foundation piles. Once you have completed a descending sequence from king to ace, it is automatically placed into a foundation pile. You must complete four foundation piles to win.

Spiderette Solitaire Strategy

Many Spider Solitaire strategies can also help you with Spiderette. Use these strategies to keep cards moving and give you a better chance at winning the game.

• Use the empty space with intention. Unlike any other Spider Solitaire game, you start the game with an empty column space. So begin arranging cards on the tableau, and then consider what is best moved to the empty space. You might want to move a sequence of cards that opens up a long stack of facedown cards, a higher rank that allows you to build a lengthy sequence, or a single card or sequence of cards that empties another column.
• Focus on hidden cards. You can’t play facedown cards, so try to reveal facedown cards early in the game to get as many cards into play as possible. That means you should prioritize moving cards from the later columns with large stacks of facedown cards.
• Prioritize emptying columns. An empty column can be filled with any rank of card or sequence of cards. So removing cards from a column gives you another empty space to move cards, allowing you to reveal more hidden cards or move a troublesome card that is blocking a sequence. So focus on exhausting cards from a column to give yourself another empty space.
• Use the stockpile sparingly. The stockpile is not only limited, but it also can potentially block your moves. Because it deals one card to the bottom of every column and you can only use it three times, avoid relying on the stockpile too much, especially early in the game.
• Use the undo button to correct moves. You don’t always know you’ve made a wrong move until you get stuck. The undo button can help you go back to an earlier point in the game that may help you make better moves. For example, if you have two cards that you can move to uncover a facedown card, you might choose to move one but discover that you now have three 5♥, none of which you can use to continue sequence building. So using the undo button allows you to reveal the other facedown card instead, hopefully giving you a playable card.

Spiderette is played with the equivalent of a single deck of cards and just one suit, but if you find it easy, you can play other Spider Solitaire games that offer even more of a challenge. Spider Solitaire 2 Suits and Spider Solitaire 4 Suits play with double the amount of cards (104) and as their names suggest, one version uses two suits and the more difficult version uses four suits. But the most difficult version is Scorpion Solitaire. You can find these and other fun and challenging Solitaire games to play for free!