Spider Solitaire - Rules & Tips
Spider Solitaire is played with two decks (104 cards) dealt into 10 columns. Only the top card of each column starts face up. Your goal is to build eight complete runs from King down to Ace in one suit. Each finished run is removed from the table automatically, and the game is won when all eight are gone.
You may place any card on a card exactly one rank higher, whatever the suit, which helps you dig out hidden cards. But a group of cards can only be picked up and moved together when it is in order and all in the same suit. That is what makes Spider a game of planning rather than luck.
When you run out of useful moves, tap the stock to deal one new card onto every column. There are five deals in a game, and every column must have at least one card before you can deal. Choose 1 suit for a relaxing game, 2 suits for a fair challenge, or 4 suits for the full classic test.
Playnook Spider Solitaire is free, works on phones, tablets and computers, needs no download or sign-up, and has Undo, Hints and a best-time record for each difficulty.
How to Play Spider Solitaire: Step by Step
- Pick 1, 2 or 4 suits. Ten columns are dealt, with the top card of each face up.
- Tap a card to pick it up together with the cards on top of it (they must be in order and the same suit).
- Tap another column to drop it there. It must go on a card exactly one higher, or into an empty column.
- When a column loses its last face-up card, the next hidden card turns over.
- Build King-to-Ace runs in one suit. Each finished run goes to the completed piles at the top.
- No more moves? Tap Deal to add one card to every column (5 deals per game).
Spider Solitaire Tips
- Turn over hidden cards first. A move that reveals a new card is almost always better than one that does not.
- Prefer building in the same suit. Mixed-suit stacks can hold cards, but they cannot be moved as one group later.
- An empty column is your most powerful tool. Use it to rearrange stacks, and do not fill it with a single low card without a reason.
- Before you deal, make every move that tidies your columns, because a deal covers every column with a new card.
- Use Undo to test an idea. There is no penalty.
Spider Solitaire FAQ
How many suits should I start with?
Start with 1 suit. It is the easiest version and most games can be won. 2 suits is a good next step, and 4 suits is the classic hard game.
Can I deal new cards when a column is empty?
No. As in classic Spider Solitaire, every column must have at least one card before you deal 10 new cards from the stock.
Can every Spider Solitaire game be won?
Almost every 1-suit game can be won. With 2 and 4 suits some deals are very hard or impossible, so Undo is your friend.
Does it work with a screen reader?
Yes. Every card and column has a spoken label, and moves, hints and new cards are announced. Tap a card, then tap the column where it should go.
More card games: Klondike Solitaire and FreeCell. Or see all free games.